I bought new Vodafone sim about 1 month ago. I selected vodafone because of it’s good publicity in television. Everything was going fine for first 7 days. On 10th January 2010 I recharged my phone with the amount of 350.00 from website. In vodafone website the mentioned on 350.00 INR recharge I will get talktime of 315.00 INR. Following is the print screen.

I immidiately called customer care and talked her about my problem. She checked and replied that you got INR 177.32. Customer care executive was in very hurry and did not give me any answer about my query and disconnected the phone and also blocked my number. Now I was unable to call customer care.

Next day I sent email to customer care.  I got response that you got talktime of INR 177.32 which is correct. Following is the whole conversation.

ME
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I am Abhinav Varshney from Mohali. My vodafone number is [**********]. I recharged my mobile on 10/01/2011 with Rs. 350.00 from freecharge.inwebsite. But I got talktime of Rs.177.32. I talked to customer care about this on 17th january 2010 @ 9:21 PM. Customer care executive was in very hurry and did not give me any answer about my query and disconnect the phone
and also blocked my number. Now I am unable to call customer care.

This is not a good service. Please provide me written explanation about this whole story.

VODAFONE
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Dear Mr. Varshney,
Thank you for your email dated 17/01/11 regarding your mobile number [**********].
We appreciate your concern and thank you for bringing this to our notice. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to you due to this unpleasant experience.
We would like to inform you that, warning has been given to the call centre executive and in case you face the similar concern so confirm us so that strict action can be taken against the executives.
We would also like to inform you that we have analyzed your above mentioned number and found that you have got the appropriate balance on online recharge of Rs 350.
Also we would like to inform you that we have forwarded your concern regarding unable to call on customer care to the concerned department and the same will get resolve with in 72 working hours.
The docket number for your future correspondence is 138289188.
We hope, we have been able to resolve your concern to your satisfaction. However, in case you need further assistance, do call or email us. We’ll do our best to help you.
Happy to help,

ME
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The docket number: 138289188.
Mobile number [**********]

Hi,

I want to know about 350 Recharge. I got talktime of 177.32 while on your website, it is mentioned on vodafone website

MRP(Rs.)     350
Recharge / Bonus Card     Bonus card
Talktime     (Rs.)     315.00
(Equivalent mins)     284.81
Benefit     Rs.315 talktime and 35 Local v-v mins valid for 7 days
Validity (Days)     0
Access Fee (Rs.)     2.32
Service Tax     10.30%

As you mentioned in mail that I got appropriate balance, then please let me know any information regarding this on any media either print or web. Even any reseller is not aware about this.
Maximum service tax deduction is 10.3% as per TRAI & Govt Rules / Laws. Please let me know why you deduced more than 95% tax?
This is simply case of breaking govt rules. please provide me explanation about this.

VODAFONE
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Dear Mr. Varshney,,
Thank you for your email dated 18/01/11 regarding your mobile number [**********].
As per our previous conversation we would request you to please send us snap shot of details mentioned in the website and also please provide us the link from where you have checked the information about the recharge so that we can forward the same to respective department for validation.
The docket number for your future correspondence is 138323241.
We hope, we have been able to resolve your concern to your satisfaction. However, in case you need further assistance, do call or email us. We’ll do our best to help you.

ME
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FYI

The docket number: 138323241.
Link: http://www.vodafone.in/prepaid/recharge/pages/topup.aspx
Screen is attached with this mail.

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NO RESPONSE FROM VODAFONE
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In this period I passed from 1 more strange tactic from Vodafone. I got missed call from vodafone on 25th January. This was looking lke simple pone number. So I called back on the same number. I hear greeting message from vodafone and I cut the phone. Again I got anoth mised call from different number. I again called back and again hear vodafone greeting message. Same day @ 9:30 I received a series of message.

1. Your caller tune has been activated. (30 INR)
2. Song Selection (15 INR)
3. MISS YOU SMS Pack activated (30 INR)

This was like hell for me now, I again sent message to Nodal office as well appellate. Folowing is the conversation

ME (AFTER 14 DAYS) TO NODAL OFFICE
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Hi Mr. Vikram

The docket number: 138323241.

I did not received any response from past 7 days. Can you please look in to this issue.
Also today you have activated caller tune on my number. I never requested any caller tune. Still customer care from my number is not working..!!!  Is it your customer care???
Please resolve these complaint. I am also sending written complaint to your nodal office. Resolve these complaints as soon as possible. I will not tolerate it more!!

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NO RESPONSE FROM VODAFONE
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ME
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Still waiting for response. I can not call customer care now because I have been blocked. Any suggestion for me except I burn my mobile :/
I am really frustrate now and missed calls from your side and useless messages bugging me how to get rid from this?

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NO RESPONSE FROM VODAFONE
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After a long wait I finally went to vodafone store, because the have blocked my customer care so I had no other option. I went Mohali vodafone store @ 3B2 office.
As I entered there, it was looking like government office. Everybody was relaxing. When I entered i asked one executive about contact of nodal office. He was looking in PC, bur in between one of his friend arrived. He went to talk him without telling anything to me. after 10 minutes when he come he said net is slow I can not help you. you can find contact in website. I was very angry this time and went outside. Next day I again went there with my frind. After 20 waiting 20 minutes executive called us. I explained him about service activation through missed call reply. He gave me following answer “WHY DID YOU CALL BACK ON MISS CALL?”. Strange answer. Who the hell is he to teach me weather I should respond to miss call or not. anyway he said “VODAFON IS NOT MY COMPANY DEAR, SO I CAN NOT HELP YOU !!”

This time I was totally harassed. But I was not in mood to leave Vodafone and  I sent mail to international vodafone authority.

ME
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Hi Sir,

After being harassed from customer care, nodal office and applet I am writing to you.
Following is my concern.
Beside of this I got calls from vodafone, on calling back they activate random packs and deduct my credit. please look into this isue

Finally I decided to add Grievance to Telicom Ministry of India. I added Grievance on 2nd Feb ON 3:00 AM.
@7:30 Pm same day I received call from vodafone. She told me about refund. When I asked her about services they activated, she again replied that we can not refund money.

But this time they did following:

1. Refunded the remaining balance in my account. Now I got INR 315.00 talktime on INR 350 Recharge.
2. Activated DND service in couple of minutes (While it takes 45 days if you activate this through SMS)
3. Deactivated CRBT and MISS YOU SMS pack service.

I again sent comments on Grievance and tonight got another call from vodafone.
This time they agree to refund caller tune and alert pack amount (30 + 30 + 15 = 75)

I am aso attaching today’s mail conversation with customer care, you read and comment what is this.

Click here to read.

FYI: You can file Grievance here.  http://www.pgportal.gov.in/Grievance.aspx