TopUp and Go dongle stopped working

[cassonian]

Hi all, sorry my first post is a problem.

A while back I bought the £39 TopUp and Go mobile broadband dongle as my usage is very low (I only use it at the odd hotel to check my mail when working away) so the £15 unlimited time 1GB top up was ideal for me.

However now a problem.

It's stopped working. No warning of low credit, just won't connect and last time I tried it came up with a message that the SIM wasn't activated? I've lost the number that was assigned to it also, that particular field now shows 'no number'.

I spoke to Vodaphone help and the guy suggested without a mobile number they can't help, I never made a note of it as I didn't need to really.

I still have the box with the IMEI and SIM numbers but he reckoned these are useless without a mobile number as 'no records are kept'.

I notice that this particular package is no longer available, is this simply a ploy to get me to buy something that is going to cost me more as the top ups will be time limited?

Thanks in advance.

[Retired-Daz_V]

Hi again Cassonian,

It's just me and Dave on the eForum today, so apologies if we haven't provided you the support you need - the moderator to post ratio today is rather overwhelming at weekends and we do work posts in time order.

It does sound like a SIM error - I'm popping you an email now so we can collect your account details and have a look tomorrow. There's not really much I can suggest in the meantime if this is the case, but please bear with us and I am confident we'll resolve this for you.


Daz

eForum Team

[cassonian]

It would seem that I'm not alone. Is this a common problem affecting ALL of these 'no time limit' dongles? This thread.....

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=45906

would seem to show another 3 customers with the same problems?

As I have explained via email I don't have my mobile number but I do have all of the packaging related to the device with the bar code, IMEI and SIM numbers. Surely there must be a way to identify the mobile number with this information or if this product has failed and I bought it direct from Vodaphone (which I did) you can simply send me another? This one doesn't work, I bought it online as I don't have time to get to the shops so why can't it simply be replaced? I don't care about keeping the same number, I just want access to the internet.

This really doesn't make sense to me?

[cassonian]

Again, due to a lack of any interest in my questions it leads me to believe that this is in fact a 'switch off' of unlimited time broadband due to the un-availability of the same service now?

I shall be visiting my local store tomorrow (stated as Burton on Trent under store locator, when it is in fact Burton upon Trent) and reporting back here with any further information.

I find this very difficult to understand why in fact I had internet and now I have none, the dongle I bought offered me a perfect solution to my low usage whilst out and about, a service which isn't available now on Vodaphone or any other network it would seem?

I still question why the SIM card when inserted into a mobile phone gives the error it does but it would seem this issue has also been glossed over by help available on here.

I continue to use my Vodafone SIM in my car phone with excellent coverage but am frankly disappointed by the lack of answers as to why the sudden loss of an undamaged dongle purchased in November last year and still under a one year guarantee suddenly is rendered useless?

[Retired-BenJ]

Hi cassonian,

I'm sure replied to your issue via email,

Can you let me know how you get on and reply back to my email.

all the best
BenJ_Vodafone
eForum

[cassonian]

Ok, so the story continues.

Visited Vodaphone store, helpful chap suggested I had another SIM card and phoned customer services to transfer my details from my card to the new one. I didn't understand why but hey, what the hell.

Phones customer services and tells them the number of the new SIM card, who say the number isn't recognised on the system?

The guy on the phone asks me for my current (not working and discussed at length on here and telephone tech) SIM number and BINGO, suddenly it has a phone number against it again and £12.73 credit!

Have to phone telephone tech up again to get it working as it wouldn't connect but now all seems well.

Work that one out, it's way, way beyond me.........?

[Retired-Claire_]

Hi cassonian

That does sound a little odd!

All now working though sounds even better! you know where we are if you need us again.

When you next Top Up, then bear in mind it has to be in £15 increments

Claire

eforum Team