Vodaphone customers feel price hike pain

[grandmoon]

VODAFONE customers' bills could rise by as much as $200 a year after the company announced it would be charging for data in "blocks" rather than actual usage.

The telco also said it would no longer provide free access to social media sites from next month, massively increasing data consumption and forcing prepaid customers to upgrade their plans.

The change means each visit to a site or use of an app on a smartphone will be billed as one megabyte - no matter how long the "session" is and how much data is used.

The move by Vodafone goes against the actions of its competitors.

Optus recently downgraded its billing block from 10 megabytes to one megabyte to now even charging customers per single kilobyte - one thousandth of a megabyte. Telstra uses a similar billing structure.

"Prepaid users are going to chew through their credit so much faster under this system, so it's going to come as a huge shock to frequent users of Facebook," Australian Communications Consumer Action Network spokeswoman Elise Davidson said.

Caringbah mum Laura Houston, who is on a $30-a-month prepaid plan, said she didn't want to buy the e...

"They've made changes for the better to improve their reception in recent years but I work for an online retail company and use social media all the time. I don't want to be slugged exorbitant data fees for using something small like that," she said.

Vodafone spokeswoman Karina Keisler last night conceded the changes would heavily effect 5 per cent of Vodafone's 2.7 million prepaid customers, adding it would enable the company to invest more heavily in its mobile network and was more reflective of the way customers use data.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/vodaphone-customers-feel-price-hike-pain/story-e6freuy9-122655...

[cherry*135]

Just as well they have a fair bit of competition, so their customers can go elsewhere.

Optus recently downgraded its billing block from 10 megabytes to one megabyte to now even charging customers per single kilobyte - one thousandth of a megabyte. Telstra uses a similar billing structure.

I had one of Op's prepaid mobile broadband sims & data , last Nov-Dec and it was charged in 10mb lots, I didn't realise that till after I bought it. Never renewed it when it ran out, because of that.

[daydream**believer]

ok can someone dumb this down for me cause hubby is getting his first phone this weekend and we were going to go with Vodafone

[azureline**]

It is for data? so not phone calls as I read it.

[cherry*135]

Yes, it is for data and how they charge for it in 1MB lots or  in 'blocks' as Optus was doing in 10MB lots ( turn the computer on and open a webpage and leave the computer without doing anything else, they would charge minimum 10MB, even though that would most likely have used 1MB or less to do that).

The customer in the OP says she doesn't want to buy extra SMS packages as well, so maybe they don't have as many free or a limit on them in the new structure, then you need to buy extra.

[twinkles**stars]

I'm about to give them them flick over my broadband which for 3 years have been very happy with. The last few months I've had a lot of issues with recharging. This morning the same issue again to be told I must have credit to recharge:(

In the past I have had it laspe had waited several weeks before recharging without problems....I am not going to stay in  credit just so I can recharge when it runs out ( date wise as well as data usage)....I thought the whole ides of recharge is so you can use it when you like and not be locked in to a contract?

Next step...who to go with:_|

[katymatey*]

I dont use my phone for anything other than the occasional call. Mostly texts. I went with Amaysim pay as you go. No bill until you reach $15, that was months ago and I am still not there. I did have a plan with Telstra, but it was wasted money because I hardly used it.

[id-to-post-anything]

I wouldnt go with Vodafone.

I've been with them for years, but am almightly peed with them now.

Went on holiday down the south coast recently. I had no reception at all. OH and son both on Optus, had reception the entire time.

Their plans are also pretty expensive

Son is with Exetel, which uses the Optus network ---for $15 get $500 of calls, plus 1 gig data. Much better than anyone else.(but you have to have your own phone). This is no contract ---just month t month

Dont go with vodafone ---run

[twinkles**stars]

We have found reception can depend on the model phone being used as well.

[ashjoma]

I am very very peed off with Vodafone. I have a Vodafone prepaid phone for some years.  

Just for occasional use or in an emergency and I am on the 365 day plan.

This has been okay for me apart from poor reception in places, but for the most part has been the cheapest and fine for my simple needs.

I put $20 credit on from time to time as needed and get free vodafone to vodafone minutes.

Over time these have built up alot and I have over 1000 free vodafone to vodafone minutes.

I wanted to have these so I could keep in contact with the kids when they are old enough for a phone (for safety and contacting me if need be)

Now I have a SMS saying I will now lose all of these.

and I think the 365 day plan might be finished as well replaced by a 30 day expiry.

so I am mighty cross I look to be losing all this