Hi team - i want to highlight the malpractices that vodafone is using by charging monthly for vas where the users are not aware what services are active on his phone. The vas services are not activated willing they are activated either accidentally (Trapped) clicking on pop up when surfing or through bulk flash messages.
My only concern is if we want to stop any vas services, we have to either
A) call customer care
B) send stop sms or
C) login to vodafone my account.
Same should be applied to activate these services. This regulation should be directed and implemented by trai as huge number of cell phone users are been exploited under the vas service.
I have recently been charge vas of rs 443.00 in my bill for olympiagames, tiny tv, look @ it service via wap_d2c. I have not use these services and not sure how they got activated.
When contacted vodafone via email, they says these charges are genuine which i am not agreeing on and feels like there might be several other users who are been charge with these type of charges and want to take this issue under consumer forum. Below is my email communication
Vodafone cell # 99207 xxxxx
Nodal. [protected]@vodafone.com
Sent: monday, august 21, 2017 5:20 pm
To: jaydeep madye
Hello sir/madam,
Thank you for contacting us. My name is ritesh, and i will be assisting you today with your query for mobile number 99207xxxxx.
We would like to inform you that, as a subscriber you are active on vodafone internet (Data usage) and surfing to any open market website cannot be restricted by vodafone. Hence vodafone as a service provider cannot alter redirecting if the said is the site specific function.
I have closely looked into the issue and i assure you that all charges that are reflecting under the section downloads on your bill dated 07/08/17 are as per your consumption.
Further we have checked and found that, we do take double consent for any subscription which are charged weekly or monthly. Downloads that we are referring here are the event base charging and hence the same happens once the subscriber opt for the same. Hence, as a subscriber, we request you to be more careful while surfing any sites and check for the applicable charges prior to download to avoid any charging dispute at a later stage.
Please note that vodafone is not responsible for any information or advertisement reflecting on third party application that you have received. Further, in our experience, we have also come across certain handsets that have applications which auto refresh/update by connecting through the wap gateway (Wireless application protocol) i. E. Vl/vmc, you will be charged accordingly. Here again, the settings for these applications are pre-defined on the handset by the manufacturer.
We request you to kindly remove the application or modify the settings in your handset to disable auto updation of applications should you wish to avoid such instance o[censored]nwanted charges. Please refer to your handset manual or check with the service centre of the handset manufacturer to change the settings.
Turning “off” data services blocks emails, browsing and downloads, but it will not block normal voice calls, text or picture/video message/video calling.
Is there anything else i can assist you with?
Thank you for your valuable time, i hope that i have addressed all your queries. Have a great day!
Your service request number is[protected]
Thank you!
Ritesh motwani
http://www.vodafone.in/
On 8/15/2017 8:01 pm; from: jaydeep. [protected]@wns.com; to: nodal. [protected]@vodafone.com; ;? Cc: ; subject: re: vodafone cell # 99207 xxxxx;
Team - i am escalating this issue and would like to debate the charges applied are not genuine and challenge that vodafone is using wrong practices of making money by activating value added services without user concern and i am going to make it loud to public and trai.
I would take this matter further and would like to have a system where cell users would only activate the value added services willingly by sending an sms or by calling customer service just like the process to deactivate any services.
This has been seen often that users mistakenly click or select and value added services get active and money is deducted every month and the users are just not aware of the same and how to deactivate the same. Few months ago my mother sunanda age 67 had love guru activated on her number and she was all the way thinking why the money is getting deducted every month when she refills her number.
This malpractice needs to be highlighted to trai and have a system where vas are not activated accidentally without willingly.
Though it is not a big amount but i feel cheated and would not like to pay for anything which i haven't ordered or used.
Jaydeep madye
Group manager - ops - wns global services (P) ltd | www.wns.com
Gate no 4, plant 10 / 11 godrej & boyce complex, pirojshanagar, lbs margvikhroli (West), mumbai, maharashtra, 400079
Ip: | direct: | mobile: 99207xxxxx | email:jaydeep. [protected]@wns.com
One wns one goal outperform
—
Connect with wns
—
From: corporate. [protected]@vodafone.com [corporate. [protected]@vodafone.com]
Sent: tuesday, august 15, 2017 10:11 am
To: jaydeep madye
Subject: vodafone cell # 99207 xxxxx
Dear mr. Madye,
Thank you for your e-mail dated 10/08/2017, regarding bill related concern for your vodafone mobile number 99207xxxxx.
We reg regret for delay in reply.
As per our today’s telephonic conversation on your vodafone mobile number 99207xxxxx at 10:02 am, we would like to inform you that we have checked the concern and found that olympiagames, tiny tv, look @ it service were activated on 14/07/2017 respectively on your number via wap_d2c.
You can be rest assured that the charges applied are genuine and hence we would not be in a position to pass any credits.
Regarding value added services and content downloads:
Vodafone live has an inbuilt configuration by virtue of which the moment you are selecting a particular download which might be as simple as a logo, immediately the charges for the same is levied by the service partners.
By service partners, we mean to say that the company which is providing these downloads.
Please note that downloads are chargeable as per content specific and depend upon the website and is exclusive of the tariff extended by the service provider.
Primarily, downloads are initiated while the user selects or clicks on the advertisement pop ups while browsing in the handset.
Hence, we suggest you to kindly do not click or touch on those pop ups to prevent unnecessary charges.
Please note your interaction number[protected] for your future correspondence.
In case you need further assistance, please do call or e-mail us. We will do our best to help you.
Happy to help,
Suvarna
Vodafone corporate relations
Contact numbers:
For any queries call 199 (Chargeable for agent access @ 50p/3min) or +91-[protected] (Standard calling charges applicable)
For any complaints call 198 toll free helpline.
E-mail: corporate. [protected]@vodafone.com
Website: www.vodafone.in
On 8/10/2017 2:39 am; from: jaydeep. [protected]@wns.com; to: corporate. [protected]@vodafone.com; ;? Cc: ; subject: vodafone cell # 99207 xxxxx;
Team,
I am writing this email out of frustration as my mobile bill for my cell number 99207xxxxx for the month of july 2017 has been inflated to rs 1220.92, which generally comes under rs 700. My voice and data usage for the month of july 2017 is average as compare to my previous month bills.
When i reviewed the july i found that there is an additional usage charges of rs 450.20 and value added service charges of rs 443.00. I have never placed any request for the same and which has been added to my account without my knowledge and acceptance. When i called up customer care last week i was not been provided with the answer.
I have been using vodafone for more than a decade and never faced such issue but this instance is making me nervous and frustrated.
I want both the charges to be reversed (Rs 450.20 & rs 443.00) as i am not aware of this charges and same are not billed in my previous bills, also ensure all value added services are deactivated.
If this issue is not resolve i will have to port out to other service provider as i feel cheated by vodafone.
Awaiting your response on the above.
Jaydeep madye
Was this information helpful?
Post your Comment