Very briefly, I took a Vodafone contract a year ago in Jan 14. I took the contract from Birmingham which was about 30 miles from my home address. When I got home, I couldn't get a signal. After multiple calls with customer services, tech support etc I got nowhere. I found out I was moving to Lincolnshire so assumed the problem wouldn't follow me (I gave up) and secretly hoped Vodafone did actually provide a usable network somewhere in the UK.
Enjoy.....
"Hi,
I’ve checked the coverage in your area (PE10 0QB) and while there's no indoor 3G, you should get good 2G.
Your local sites are performing fine and there aren’t any faults in your area.
Try changing your phone settings to 2G only, as this should improve the coverage you get.
When you take out a contract, you get a cooling off period, to check you're happy with the phone and the coverage - Vodafone can’t be held responsible for people moving house mid-contract.
As this is due to general coverage and not a fault, if changing to 2G only doesn't improve the coverage you get, you could purchase a Sure Signal to use at home as this would provide you with 3G.
Thanks,
JimBob (Name Changed)Social Media Comms"
My Response
Many thanks for your response, despite quite simply how unbelievably poor I am finding Vodafone!
I sent this email after @VodafoneHelp tweet suggested I did so after publicly voicing my concerns with your service. It didn't take long before quite a few others came forward sharing similar diabolical experiences. As you read this email please keep in the back of your mind that YOU asked me to email you, and I am now writing, for what feels like the one millionth time, the same thing.
Let's break down your email;
"I’ve checked the coverage in your area (PE10 0QB) and while there's no indoor 3G, you should get good 2G. Your local sites are performing fine and there aren’t any faults in your area."
This exact statement was said from my frankly rather disgusting conversation with your relations team on a 40 minute phone call last week that cost me £5. I know, and can find and provide witness testimonies rather easily from other people on this street and even the surrounds that cannot be with Vodafone due to signal. You are quite simply insinuating I am lying and I am more than happy to have someone come to my house and witness it with their own eyes if you really feel it necessary. This aside, as the initial contract I took out WAS for 3G you are still not providing me the service I am legally obliged.
"Try changing your phone settings to 2G only, as this should improve the coverage you get."
Yes. Let's try and reduce the data that I have already stated I don't get anyway because I don't get a signal. Again because guess what? I've done that. Four times after speaking to four different people who appear to be reading off the same script.
"When you take out a contract, you get a cooling off period, to check you're happy with the phone and the coverage - Vodafone can’t be held responsible for people moving house mid-contract."
If you actually read my letters, emails or tweets, have listened to me on the multiple phone calls I've made you'd perhaps notice that the original address I had when I took out the contract didn't get signal either! You are now contradicting yourself anyway as you state there's no issues with the signal at this address so you'd have allowed me to take a contract anyway.
"As this is due to general coverage and not a fault, if changing to 2G only doesn't improve the coverage you get, you could purchase a Sure Signal to use at home as this would provide you with 3G."
I could purchase a sure signal yes. At £100 I believe? What a bargain considering you are quite happy to take almost £30 per month to not let me use my phone in my house. Or at work. I imagine that this sure signal will boost my signal at work too? Yes I get no signal at work either, though I'm sure that you are aware of that as Vodafone are clearly quite diligent, meticulous and professional when it comes to customer care and clearly paid attention to the multiple calls I've made.
I am also exceptionally happy to inform you that you are probably due a pay rise as my last bill was £53. I'm sure due to calling your customer relations team three times which has got me so far to date.
Many thanks, and please, for my sanity, take more care and attention when formulating your response. I am a human, albeit now very poor, spending my money and what should be precious family time reformulating emails or making phone calls to Vodafone.
Kindest Regards"
