Vodafone Mobile Broadband. Not even close to working properly

Bjornsk · ‎01-02-2012

Primarily I want to state that the problem is not likely to be a bad configuration on my end. I had got it to work and I used it without any problem for some hours the first evening, and about half an hour the morning after. Then it would disconnect, from then on not being willing to connect properly again. When I click connect now, it will say "Connected", count to one seconds, freeze there for some seconds and then disconnect again.

It would start working again about 11-12 o´ clock that next evening, and then off again next morning (which was this morning).

My location is Teneriffe, The Canari Islands, in Spain.

If this is a central problem on Vodafone´s end, will I still have to pay for this time when it´s not working?

Bjornsk · ‎01-02-2012

Why have I not received a reply?

Jebelious · ‎31-01-2008

Well i think for anyone to be able to offer any assistance a little more information is needed

Modem version
Windows version
do you get an error message?
Is it a Vodafone UK SIM or a VF spain?
Have you received an SMS on your modem SIM (located in the SMS tab in the software) advising if you may have been barred for reaching a limit? (data cap reached)
Have you tried a DUN connection? (not using the vodafone software)

If i have helped please feel free to click on the Thumbs Up below

Bjornsk · ‎01-02-2012

Never mind. Now it says I used my saldo and I have had for three days, probably used it for like two-three hours.

Don't take this personally Vodafone, but this is the worst deal I have ever done. The people in the store I bought it from were highly incompetent. They entered the wrong code when registering my product, and then blamed my Mac which obviously wasn't the problem as the software was made to work on Mac too.

I then spent four hours running around town trying various computer stores for help, of course nobody could find the sollution. When I returned and demanded they fixed it, they would call their own customer support and go over the process again. They now realized they had put in the wrong code and of course it now worked.

I decided to forget it, as I had got what I wanted even if it took so much time for no reason.

It worked that day, and about half an hour next morning too. Then it disconnected and it wouldn't work anymore. This happened suddenly without any action from me. Late that same night it started working again -_-

Now it didn't work next morning, so it would appear it only worked in nighttime? O_o

Of course later that night it started work again, but this time it disconnected pretty soon and told me I had no money left on my saldo.

CONCLUSION: The service in the store was horrible, and anyone, regardless of education and intelligence could have done a better job. The people didn't understand English, German, French or any language other than Spanish, so all that would be required of a replacement would be the ability to communicate with hand movements.

They had absolutely no knowledge of the product they sold and no dedication either.

The product was outdated so I had to download a patch manually for it to work. (The customer service instructed me to do this, so I know it was right). Such a product need an autoupdater!

The software kept freezing when it came into certain states, needs to be recoded so that it isn't such a challenge to use.

The worst of all must have been the fact that it only worked at night, which is not only weird but utterly stupid. You could at least have made sure it worked at daytime instead, it would have been a great improvement.

Also, when 30 euro buys me a few hours of connection time then that is unrealisticly overpriced. I suspect you guys charged me for my failed connection attempts.

TIPS FOR THE FUTURE:

Hire people who know what they do in your stores, don't just pick up someone on the street, and if you do, at least give them a course in courtesy and technology.

Make a network that actually works, and 24 hours, not just at night, I don't want to choose between sleep and internet.

FIx your prices, or at least don't charge for failed attempts at connecting.

Make your software work properly so that it does not induce rage in the customer by freezing every five minutes.

Oh, and the "My Account" links to a non-existing site.

Put SOME dedication into this, I will not use Vodafone again, but I feel it is fair you get to know what I think of the experience.

Jebelious · ‎31-01-2008

From looking at your final comments it would seem that you had purchased a VF Spain dongle which is not supported by the UK support teams, all Vodafone operating companies in each country are essentially their own company just branded Vodafone and overseen by the Group side of Vodafone (vodafone.com).

Other than the name there is no real connection between the operating companies and they all have their own direction/strategy. If you are in Spain then i would imagine that their primary language is Spanish? hence the lack of support in English and i believe only in the UK arm at the moment do the Vodafone stores have a technical team available.

If you would have provided more information in your original post then perhaps someone may have been able to offer a level of support or us customers may have been able to at least given a few suggestions.

There was nothing about the make/model of the modem - software version - OS you were using - Symptoms - when it started - If you were using a UK or Spanish SIM.

If this information was provided then assistance may have come along that much faster...

Conclusion! Remember this site is for users of the Vodafone UK network (while roaming/in the UK) if you require support for a VF Spain SIM card/modem then you can try the VF Spain support forums or support team over the phone.

APN help here: http://www.marbella-guide.com/vodafone-spain-wap-settings/

http://foro.vodafone.es/t5/Soporte-t%C3%A9cnico-Internet-M%C3%B3vil/ct-p/77 for the spanish forums for mobile internet support . Chrome translates this site quite well

and check the top post on this forum for UK users

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Broadband/Mobile-Broadband-Help-Including-troubleshooting/td-p...

If i have helped please feel free to click on the Thumbs Up below