Series 4 Apple Watch Cellular doesn’t work

[Nsjmurray]

So, in typical Vodafone fashion they have come out with a new feature and product that doesn’t work at launch - in-fact it does several unannounced and unauthorised credit checks.

So I received my brand new iPhone and Apple Watch today and I have to admit, they look fantastic, after opening the iPhone box and just seeing the magnificence that is the phone I am definitely happy with my purchase.

I open up the oddly packaged watch box and start to set it up, everything is fine except for when I got to the mobile data setup section- at first it looked promising a Vodafone log-in screen, “Awesome” I thought, so I logged in and all of a sudden it was asking me to add a subscription for £5 per month.. I thought this was strange as I was already paying for the watch now you’re trying to charge me more for a subscription, I knew it seems to be a mistake so I just glanced at the terms, it seemed normal just about linking them together so it made sense, I went ahead and clicked add subscription knowing that I would just call Vodafone and explain the situation if they tried to charge me more.

Anyway, it shows me a loading screen and I’m simply waiting for it to complete the link between my devices.

After a short while it went to a blank white screen and then... what’s this... I HAVE FAILED A CREDIT CHECK AND I HAVENT BEEN CHARGED?!?!?

So not only did it fail.. Vodafone has performed a credit check, without authorisation just to link it to my existing plan that I was already credit checked on?

Good one Vodafone, will be returning the watch and the device and leaving the network for good, this is the final straw, I’ve had nothing but trouble with you for 7 years and I’ve stuck by you, but you just cannot get anything right first time, EVER.

wondering if anyone else had this happen to them.

[Gzza]

I’m in the same boat....I originally called Vodafone on 12th October to get my new Apple Watch series 4 (purchased direct from Apple) set-up on my existing Vodafone sim-only plan. I was told my existing plan “wasn’t compatible with Apple Watch” and that I “had to upgrade my plan” so agreed to pay £2.50 extra a month and commit to further 12month contract, but still just the same data/minutes/txt bundle allowance as I already had!

So I’m being billed a premium to use the Apple Watch (this is in addition to the £5 per month that will kick in after 6 months!)...and after being told it will “all be working within 24hours” I’m still waiting. Total omnishambles. Vodafone shop reps just shrug their shoulders and tell me “sorry, I can’t help” and that I “need to call 191 and speak to tech support” <facepalm>

Countless laborious calls to 191 being told it needs “escalated to 3rd line tech support” and that I’ll “definitely get called back in 48 hours” ....yet not a single return call received in weeks and my Apple Watch still has no data connection, and now just constantly loops round when trying to ‘setup mobile data’ in the iOS Watch app > Mobile Data. 

Worst customer service I’ve experienced from a mobile operator, and from what I read on these forums I’m not alone. 

I’m now thinking it may be time to switch to EE before my 30 day get out clause is up.

[MrGibbons]

Has anyone else experience / fixed the Error 2001... Error activating device when adding mobile network?

Mine originally worked when I got it, but was attached to the wrong line on my account, when I set it up I was told it would be £5 a month but obviously this was becuase it wasn't on setup on the correct line. I was just happy it was working.

I made VF aware of the mistake on Twitter, and whatever they done after that means the mobile data doesn't work at all on my watch!

I have tried to activate and all the tips mentioned, spoke to Twitter advisors & CS on the phone who have told me they've done something on my account and it should work but it doesn't!

Fed up now, Twitter take days to reply to you, if at all and CS on the phone I find hard to understand... About to put it back in the box and send it back if it's not sorted soon, no one seems to have a definitive answers on the problem, even though the Error 2001 is an internal Vodafone error you'd think they know what it means.

[Cebee]

The only way for all of this to work is like so many others, including myself is to leave. Despite being a loyal Vodafone  for many many years they refused to help, be honest with me, return calls and much more so after a stressful 6 weeks (7 hours of calls excluding chats) of being referred to technical x8, esculated x10, referred to superusersx4, writing to directors x4 they couldn't or wouldn't help. (Or won't send case notes to take to ombudsman). There's nothing else to be done. I think they have bigger problems.

On the upside it can all work...just not with Vodafone.

[anthp]

 Mine has been working perfectly for weeks now with Vodafone you need to  email The ceo’s Office And they will shout out your problems

[Cebee]

Did 4 times...result = 0

[rodono]

I wanted to share my experience, as I’ve managed to get my Apple Watch series 4 set up pretty quickly. I had read all of the issues on online, so had braced myself for problems. 

I purchased my watch directly from apple and tried setting it up through the watch app. Logged in with my Vodafone details etc, went through the pages, something about a credit check and that was it. Received an email confirming my order and a text too. Watch wasn’t connected, just said ‘Waiting’ on the cellular page. Thought I would leave it overnight to see what happened.

Still wasn’t connected this morning so tried 191. Off shore teams don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. After 4 transfers, I gave up and called back after 8am. Said cancel my account when asked what my query was. Got through to cancellations team, which is based in the UK. Explained situation and they transferred me through to a guy called Mario in UK tech support. He knew straight away what he needed to do, was super helpful. Took my EID number, set up some bits on my account, was on the phone to him for about 10 mins or so.

I switched both my iPhone and watch off after I came off the call, turned them back on and after about 10 mins I got a notification from the watch app saying my Carrier settings had been updated and it was now connected to Vodafone. 

I gave the guy some feedback that the customer journey for Apple Watch on Vodafone is appalling and that frankly I’ve been lucky to get through to someone who actually knew what they were doing. He agreed and said they’ve fed it back up to management. 

So in summary, speak to UK cancellations team (open office hours), do not speak to off shore customer service and make sure you’re speaking to someone who is clued up.

Final top tip. When they take your EID number get them to repeat it back, it’s very long and one digit out and it won’t connect. 

[Cebee]

Really hope it works for some. Did it 3 time...failed 3 times..

[willc1000]

I finally got my watch working.  It sends messages, but gives the call failed tone every time I try to make a call. I rang customer care and they said the watch is not designed to make phone calls.  I literally cannot cope with vodafone's incompetence 

[GrandL]

How long did you wait for that and how did you do that? 

[trevwealthall]

That’s just like reading all I have done with them and promised refunds