Configuration texts on rSAP disconnect!

[RS3100]

Since August 2011I have been battling with Vodafone telephone support line to stop the sending of text messages regarding configuration settings each time the phone disconnects from the car.

I get a text saying the following:

"To make sure you can access the internet on your mobile we are sending your phone settings by text. Depending on your choosen price plan some internet services may incur a charge. For meinformation go to vodafone.co.uk/paygcosts".

Then a second message arrives

"Select 'Save' from 'Oprions' to configure all settings.
Access points
PAYG MMS
PAYG WAP
Multimedia access points:
PAYG MMS
Web Settings:
PAYG WAP"

Vodafone say the only way the messages will stop is if I change the settings on the cars system but when I enter the phone menu, the only options the car covers is adding or deleting a user and changing a user name. All other menus access my phone directly. I have had the car two years, no firmware updates on the car, had the phone the same time. What's more confusing is that it happens on my wifes car which is 18 months old. Both our cars are from the same manufacturer but different model ranges.  The phones we have are a Nokia 5230 and a Nokia 2730.

I'd be surprised if it is the cars unit becasue it happens on both cars when phones disconnect, both mobiles are on Vodafone network.  Both cars have been back to the dealer and there are no faults.  I fail to see why it could be a car fault as it only uses rSAp to allow a hands free control via Bluetooth.  This doesn't happen with any other bluetooth connection I make.

Why would my car instruct Vodafone to send instructions to my phone on how to connect to their services?

Any help greatly appreciated as we have missed some important messages as they get lost in the Vodafone list, approximatly 26 per day!  My wife has missed out on job interviews because of the same problem.

Hope someone can help here, otherwise it is a letter to Vodafone instructing them that I will bill them for the time it takes to delete the messages and take up with Ofcom as these are unsolicited messages.

[Retired-Dave]

Hi guys,

To clarify, Andy was correct when he said the car kit uses a virtual IMEI number, so when you disconnect from it, the phone starts connecting again using it's own. The network sees this as an IMEI change so it thinks you've changed phones and sends you the settings.

This is designed as a helpful service we offer when you switch to a new phone, but it may not be done by every provider. That could be why you only get it sent by certain ones when you're testing.

No details are passed about, so there's no issues with your data protection being at risk.

brentrobbo - Click here to get us your details and we'll look to stop these.

sapped1 - I'm getting mixed messages on this. Are you still getting messages or have these now stopped?

Dave

[Sapped1]

Dave,

I did not intend any mixed message.   I only responded to the prompt that the forum had emailed to me because I would not wish another loyal VF user to go through the misery that I endured before the matter was eventually solved.

I made it clear in my post above (at 01:03 pm) that the rSAP disconnect messages had stopped being sent to me just as I was planning to leave VF.   On 29 August 13, I emailed Tech Team’s Aftab, who had finally resolved the matter for me.   I confirmed this to him and I thanked him and the Tech Team.   I have been with VF since GSM arrived two decades ago and apart from this incident have been very happy and did not want to leave.

People should understand that the DPA is about more than just protecting personal data.  Companies are obliged process personal data correctly and fairly.   rSAP is a "Blue Book" internationally agreed protocol that you should be able to detect easily in your software and it should not result in hundreds of irritating unwanted messages being sent to anyone.

[kpm]

I've just got a car with rSAP mode and the configuration texts are so annoying.

Can I provide details in a private message for someone on the tech team to disable them?   If so what details do you need?

[deepmeister]

To: RS3100, and supporters terrylock1 and Sapped1,

I think you have completely MISUNDERSTOOD my message!!! I clearly said:

As for stopping the configuration SMS messages, no way around it except that 191 route...as far as I know. Thats how this thread got started.

What you are saying about rSAP, virtual IMIE, the changed IMIE when rSAP is on/off as you enter/exit the car, the annoying configuration messages, etc., has been said by me in my postings of 6th Feb 2013 and 12th Feb 2013 in this thread. That is completely agreed and you seem to also agree from your own postings?

This is certainly a Vodafone decision to setup their systems in this way, not seen on any other networks in the UK. Please see my messages of 6th Feb 2013 and 12th Feb 2013 on this thread, which describes the solution to the configuration text messages issue. I agree this is only with Vodafone hence my postings of the solution for those of us who find it a problem.

The part that I said was not the fault of Vodafone is where brentrobbo mentioned in his post of 10th Oct 2013 which I was replying, about the disconnecting part when the person leaves the car. Remember, I am talking about rSAP Bluetooth connections, not regular "headset" style handsfree connections where calls can continue uninterruped as the call is placed by the handset and continues, the only change being whether the handsfree is on or off, very different to rSAP where the phone call is handled by the car hardware not the phone handset.

[Johnmcl7]

So how are people getting on with the 191 route mentioned on the previous page? 

These texts are driving me up the wall but I'm getting them because I am switching phone, it's sometimes hours after I do the switch that I suddenly get a flurry of these messages which is particularly annoying when it happens after I've gone to sleep. 

The most annoying part is neither of the phones have ever needed configuration settings, they picked them up on their own (even the German Note) so not only are they messages really annoying but they're pointless as well. I can understand years ago they would have been handy when phones needed their data configuration entered manually but even then they didn't need the configuration settings sent repeatedly. 

Just trying to decide whether to send the second phone back or not due to this issue but trying to understand how fixable it is as responses to this topic after the 191 seem variable. 

Thanks,

John

[Retired-Matt_Vo]

Hi,

Apologies, we appear to have missed your post.

Is everything sorted now? Let us know if we can help further.

Best wishes,

Matt

[kpm]

No I am still putting up with endless configuration SMS messages. 

I have read messages on various forums by other Vodafone users that non business Vodafone accounts cannot be fixed for this.  So rather than waste time on pointless calls with CS I decided to just wait for the end of my contract so I can consider a switch to another phone company that can definintely disable these or doesn't ever send them.

However if there is a way to disable them on personal Vodafone contracts then please let me know!

Thanks.

[Gemma]

Hi kpm,

Your car kit uses a virtual IMEI number (serial number).

Each time you disconnect your phone from it, your phone will use its own again.

To the network this will look as if you’re putting your SIM into a new phone, with the IMEI number changing.

Therefore it will automatically send you the configuration message, each time.

This is to help our customers, if they’re to ever use a different phone.

I can appreciate your frustration, we’re unable to stop this from happening.

Thanks,

Gemma

[kpm]

Yes that's unfortunate as I'll switch to another provider once my contract is up.

I cannot block the SMS messages on the phone and just today I received 16 of them so it's getting more than a bit annoying!   I am not going back to standard bluetooth headset mode, as rSAP mode gives me way more with my car such as Google maps routing and other online services which are easier to use on the cars large screen than my phone.

I suggest Vodafone consider this going forward as you appear to be able to do it for business accounts, otherwise its a needless loss of customers.

[stuarttunstall]

I am due to collect a new car in the next few weeks which allows me to use my Galaxy S3 in rSap mode, whist at the dealers yesterday I asked if I could just confirm this using the demonstrator car they have, and indeed it will work... 

Only problem, within monutes of getting out I recived 2 text messages... 

In preperation for the new car arriving can any of the team help me get my number added to stop these configuration texts?

Reading this thread it seems that the team can help

Stuart