tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post7824511234414447678..comments2024-03-20T22:57:03.923+00:00Comments on Dean Bubley's Disruptive Wireless: An open letter to Vodafone on data roaming pricingDean Bubleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719150957239368264noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-22582044716119548012010-06-12T01:12:26.488+01:002010-06-12T01:12:26.488+01:00I actually did try to churn, as my contract has ex...I actually <b>did</b> try to churn, as my contract has expired and I haven't upgraded to a new phone. Tough luck: they don't give you a chance!<br /><br />Long ago I had noticed a very cunning plan by Vodafone to reduce Customer Care workload and raise Satisfaction Index scores: their IVR menu doesn't offer a 'Complain' option (!?!). Even if you try to file a complaint with a live CSR, they <b>won't</b> take it. The Call Centre does <b>not</b> accept complaints. At all. (!??) You can only complain in writing, on paper - but who, in the 21st century will bother to type a letter, print it out, find envelope and stamp and go out to post it? Relying on people's inertia and lazyness, Voda made great cost savings in complaint answwering personnel. Also, since there are 0 (zero) complaints registered on the call centre stats, they can report 'happy' customers!<br /><br />Now this apparently also works with the extremely unhappy. The IVR option "<i>Press 2 if you want to leave us</i>" puts you on hold, listening to endless music loops and periodic recorded promises to put you through. My patience 'only' lasted 11 minutes, but I have reason to believe this is just a closed door. To churn, you probably have to write a letter - and deliver it in person, accompanied by your lawyers. Which I may actually do, thinking of it...V. Dimitroffhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/vdimitroffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-70052383523683168222010-06-11T12:26:40.364+01:002010-06-11T12:26:40.364+01:00Yes, I could probably get out of the contract lega...Yes, I could probably get out of the contract legally.<br /><br />On the other hand, do I really want to port my number *again*, lose service *again*, re-do my handset settings *again* etc etc.... ?<br /><br />Or perhaps I'll just get better ROI by using this as a case study - and input to advice I give operators about their chances for generating loyalty & new service revenues.<br /><br />DeanDean Bubleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05719150957239368264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-69651239045168912922010-05-18T13:46:08.040+01:002010-05-18T13:46:08.040+01:00You are legally allowed to cancel your contract if...You are legally allowed to cancel your contract if the company changes it terms in a way that adversely affects you.<br /><br />In your case, as your roaming charges are going up, and you anticipate a large increase in costs, that is justification for cancellation.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06762210764646447838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-72361969596159584262010-05-18T10:18:59.600+01:002010-05-18T10:18:59.600+01:00there's alway some fanboid trying to latch him...there's alway some fanboid trying to latch himself onto the comments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-74746594327065476582010-05-18T09:57:53.188+01:002010-05-18T09:57:53.188+01:00I work in the industry and agree with you. The pri...I work in the industry and agree with you. The price of data roaming is totally outrageous. By the way, the VLR is part of the circuit switched network not the packet switched so is not used (much) during data usage.00tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371237165356578721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-12630581642076591842010-05-18T08:56:02.271+01:002010-05-18T08:56:02.271+01:00Vodafone really seem to be stepping backwards - th...Vodafone really seem to be stepping backwards - they had a unique offer for pay as you go data only sim. 1GB for £15 (which is reasnoble) but crucially didnt expire! This made it fantastic for occasional travellers etc. - my GB lasted me nearly a year but probably saved me more than £100 on hotel/airport wifi. Obviously this was too handy for people so they changed to 3GB for £15 but it expires in 30 days! So you have to pay £15 every month...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-2424701808629204242010-05-17T08:50:28.196+01:002010-05-17T08:50:28.196+01:00Data roaming is priced the way it is due to the ve...Data roaming is priced the way it is due to the very strange structure of GSM and the carrier relationships. But really, when it comes down to it, they charge as much as they do simply because they can. It's like business class.<br /><br />My company, <a href="http://www.vircado.com" rel="nofollow">Vircado</a>, is taking a different approach to making data roaming easier - we simply reduce, drastically, the amount of data you actually need to use on your smartphone. (Sorry for the plug, but it really is useful...)Guy Rosenhttp://www.vircado.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-44780407294570270742010-05-16T17:18:02.271+01:002010-05-16T17:18:02.271+01:00PS Google didn't do the Maps app, it is an App...PS Google didn't do the Maps app, it is an Apple one, albeit using Google data and maps.John Daviiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-91069487160115307842010-05-16T14:20:06.569+01:002010-05-16T14:20:06.569+01:00Dean, good to hear someone making this point. I ce...Dean, good to hear someone making this point. I certainly agree with all your points. As an ex-3 and ex-O2 user, Voda has dissapointed me big time. <br /><br />One more point I want to make is Voda's 3G coverage seems to be in shambles. I seem to be getting put to GPRS and EDGE as soon as I start browsing. I have this problem on the dongle as well as the phone.<br /><br />They need to get their act back on track.Zahid Ghadialyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11618208626682295272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-79570493482626176002010-05-15T23:02:16.573+01:002010-05-15T23:02:16.573+01:00john davies.. I think anyone can cancel due to thi...john davies.. I think anyone can cancel due to this change, most people dont go on holiday three months in a row.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-31882835017042570112010-05-15T20:25:57.964+01:002010-05-15T20:25:57.964+01:00I am not sure what the laws are in your jurisdicti...I am not sure what the laws are in your jurisdiction, but European laws are usually less one-sided in favor of corporations as US ones. In France, certainly, jurisprudence has severely limited the ability of carriers to alter contract terms unilaterally. The options left to them are to freeze your terms for the duration of your contract, or allow you to leave without penalty.Fazal Majidhttp://www.majid.info/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-62614373049452683292010-05-14T22:40:26.747+01:002010-05-14T22:40:26.747+01:00I feel sorry for you - you have been well and trul...I feel sorry for you - you have been well and truly done over!! Shame you wanted an iphone. HTC desire is superior and then you could have got it from T-Mobile withy their phenomenal data roaming rates...<br /><br />http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/euroboostersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-28546679280407768882010-05-14T18:37:34.716+01:002010-05-14T18:37:34.716+01:00If you have used the roaming in the three months y...If you have used the roaming in the three months you might be able to end your contract early as they have moved prices up by more than x%. (I think x~=5 but not sure. The whatmobile forum is a good place to check.)<br /><br />I agree that this is bad and stupid, but my experience with network quality is the opposite of yours. I was on O2 for 18 months then churned to a Vodafone SIM only 30 day rolling contract. Much better for me, in terms of speed and coverage - also in central LondonJohn Daviesnoreply@blogger.com