Vodafone PAYG Broadband Dongle with NO time limit

[CupraR]

Hello.

Approximately two years ago I purchased a Vodafone Dongle to be able to go onto the internet via my Laptop on the few occasions I am away from my Home Router.

It was purchased from Argos and for £15 I got 3GB of Data, which didn't run out except for a time limit of 270days.

I have now gone to top it up and I see a message I'll only get 1GB for £15???

What's going on, have I read the wrong thing?? Certainly hope so, I have had no literature from Vodafone with regards this.

Please put me out of my misery!!!

[jimmiley]

Hi all,

I can't understand Vodafone's rationale in refunding some people and not others?? I intend to escalate my complaint to the ombudsman.  Normally Vodafone ask for 8 weeks to resolve any complaints, however having read Ben's comments on behalf of Vodafone this would appear to be pointless.  it would appear they sold me something leading me to believe it was suitable for my needs, changed their terms and conditions and are now keeping my money.  Kindly they are offering (if I pay the difference) to sell me a data pack which is of no use to me at all as I won't use it in the given period - worst of all they find it difficult to understand why I do not find this acceptable.

[g-mac-70]

Having been a Vodafone customer for at least 15 years, I'm very new to this forum having been driven here out of desparation with the changes to this PAYG mobile broadband.  It's gratifying that I'm not alone in feeling appalled of Vodafone's arrogance to make me pay to fuel Vodafone's profits instead of me being able to use my laptop at my convenience. 

I decided as this is the way of the world these days I would go along with the change and I was surprised it worked - even with better reception.  However, this lasted 10 days and I have been without access now since 24 Feb.  I keep getting the same message when I log in "sorry - we working hard to fix this" and yes, I've cleared by cache, etc. etc. 

So for my month's fee I've received 10 days and am now unable to find out what's happening.

I refuse to pay even more money towards Vodafone so if I don't hear from their Tech Team via this message, the dongle will go in the bin, that will end this beautiful relationship and I'll shout from the rooftops what I think of Vodafone........

[Retired-Dave]

Hi g-mac-70,

Are you just getting that when you try to log into your online account, or whenever you try to browse?

If you have an active pack, you should be able to use this even if you can't log in.

Dave

[RC99]

Don't put the dongle in the bin - there's nothing wrong with it. You can unlock it for free and put in any other SIM you want.

edit to say: I don't know why the Vodafone head office number is being deleted. It's not ex-directory and you can get it instantly from BT.com

[g-mac-70]

Many thanks for the info, RC99 - I didn't realise that I could unlock and change.

The way to go, I think.

[RC99]

Yes you can unlock the dongle with a very little effort. I have unlocked two different VF dongles, and others have reported here doing the same. Best not to post links here, but 'Google is your friend'.

[Blurt]

Its very easy to unlock your dongle for free. I was going to bin mine but now I'm using it on a much better  and cheaper network. Ofcom have been inundated with complaints about this non expiry scam !

[degogarn]

phone number to contact vodafone for a refund

<removed by moderator>

[Anthonytutt]

I called Vodfafone customer services and was refused a refund. The assistant went through to the refund section and checked. 

However we found a way of sorts around it. Vodafone has credited my wife's Vodafone sim card with the £20.40 that I wanted back.

I shall be using my tablet from now on with Three at one penny per megabyte, or Talk Mobile (who uses Vodafone) at 25p per day for 25 megabytes of data.

Oh and there is Ovivo who uses Vodafone too. They have a free service if you are prepared to look at some of their on line adverts. You browse three or four pages and then get transported to Ovivo to load one page of adverts, and then return to your browsing.

Good luck everyone.

[g-mac-70]

If anyone's interested, I thought I'd share my ongoing experience wiith you on my dongle situation. 

Firstly, let me be clear and, as I previously mentioned, I've been a phone user with Vodafone for 15+ years and dongle user for 6+ years.  I responded to the Tech Teams request to get in touch and sort it out, gave all the information they requested and waited for their response.  They couldn't trace me on their records so asked for the following:

Clarification of my dongle number;

Date and time and amount I last topped-up;

My last ineraction (sic) with Vodafone.

All information was provided.

I've now received another message telling me my address isn't updated on my account so they are unable to confirm the verification checks and I must physically go to a Vodafone store with ID proof.  I then have to provide the last top up: date, time and amount and activation date of the dongle SIM card.

Is this a deliberate ploy to drive me to distraction and for me to walk away leaving what credit there is on the account?

Meanwhile, another week has passed with no access and no information - WHAT IS GOING ON!!!!