Dear Sir/Madam,
This is Rupesh Dhamankar, an unfortunate consumer of Vodafone India ([protected]) and a very proactive person, would like to share additional charges levied fraudulently by Vodafone India, despite I proactively highlighted the Vodafone team in July22 and Aug22 month but in vain. I am adding chronological events below for your kind reference:
7th July 2022 - Received SMS as "Your Monthly subscription has been renewed at Rs.649/- and will be charged to Vodafone bill"
7th July 2022 - I immediately sent email to corporatecare.[protected]@vodafoneidea.com and attached the SMS snippets, highlighting the concern of additional charges
8th July 2022- Received email reply from "Kanchan Yadav" that she checked on Vodafone system and found Netflix service was already activated. She replied further as a valuable customer she removed the charges and deactivated the Netflix services and Kanchan also sent below bullet points
What I have done
• I have removed these services
• It will have actioned within 30 minutes
Regarding reversal
• Please share with us a mail after bill generation
• So that we are able resolved your issue
8th July 2022: I was under utter surprise how the charges are levied to me automatically? Since I also subscribed for Missed call information VAS but before levying monthly charges, I regularly receive sms from Vodafone that it will be charged from 1st date but for Netflix VAS, there was no SMS received and directly SMS received as "Your Monthly subscription has been renewed at Rs.649/- and will be charged to Vodafone bill"
But since Vodafone team assured me that they deactivated the services, which was ok but I was still restless how the service got activated without my consent and without informing me in advance hence I again replied with a thank note but with same query, how it got activated without my consent.
The email is as below:
Hello Vodafone team/ Kanchan
Thanks for your revert and the reversal. I am failing to understand who is activating netflix service as my phone is strictly with me and no one else.
I am also using an iphone so no question of play store app installation. "I can understand you seem to have mistakably triggered these charges"
The line which you have mentioned below is not possible as I do not play with my phone, nor have I accidentally triggered any change. I am a perfect mobile user who knows what I do on my mobile. So far I have never clicked anything accidentally nor expected it ahead of time.
I am really thankful to you for deactivating netflix service from my number which I never requested, infact never needed it. Also I checked in my phone whether any subscription is activated in my phone for netflix but there is none. So it is still a mystery how this got activated on my phone. Please do let me know once you investigate.
Also kindly let me know if there are any hidden services activated on my phone. I have activated international roaming and Missed call information for now, which is my need. There is nothing extra needed on top of these 2 services please.
Thanks and awaiting your revert.
Regards,
Rupesh Dhamankar
11th July 2022: Reply received from Gopi as below:
I have checked the details in regards to your inquiry and found the following:
o I would like to inform you that your mail received regarding Netflix related
o I have checked the current plan Entertainment 299 activated on your number
plan RedX deactivated date on 13-Apr-2022
o Current outstanding balance Rs.259.8/-
o International roaming pack activated Rs.149/- and international roaming charges Rs.89.98/- and Vas charges Rs.30/-
It was not guiding me to my query hence I again sent email to reply me appropriately on my query, my email sent on 11th July 2022, is as below:
Hi Team,
The response not received in relevance to the question I asked.
I need to know, as of now, what are the additional services activated on my mobile [protected]
MCI is one which I need, Netflix I don’t need and I got confirmation that the charges are already reversed for earlier activation. Anything else also activated other than MCI? Please confirm.
Regards,
Rupesh Dhamankar
11th July 2022: Reply received from Aman Bhandari as below:
This is with reference to your email about VAS related your Vi™ mobile number [protected].
I have checked the details in regards to your enquiry and found the following:
· As I check and found that missed call intimation service is already activated on your Vi number
· Besides that TV_VODARED365_VF is also active on your number which is free of cost till 04/13/2023
· Further face any issue kindly reply us on the same mail
12th July 2022: I again sent email to vodafone team clarifying below queries:
Hi Aman and team,
This is perfect.
I just have another quick query, since you mentioned, “Besides that TV_VODARED365_VF is also active on your number which is free of cost till 04/13/2023”
Does it mean, I will be charged post 13/04/2023 once it is expired? If yes then how much?
Also does it mean that Netflix subscription got activated due to this “TV_VODARED365_VF”?
Please let me know. Thanks in advance.
12th July 2022: Shallu Chanagal replied as below:
I have checked the details in regards to your enquiry and found the following:
• Besides that TV_VODARED365_VF is also active on your number which is free of cost till 04/13/2023
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us quoting the following reference number[protected]
I sent email to Vodafone team again on 12th July as below:
Hi team,
The answer is not falling in-line to queries below. I need answer on below 2 queries.
1. Does it mean, I will be charged post 13/04/2023once it is expired? If yes then how much?
1. Also does it mean my Netflix subscription got activated because “TV_VODARED365_VF” service activated?
Please let me know. Thanks in advance.
13th July 2022: Reply received from Aditi Chaturvedi as below:
I have checked the details in regard to your enquiry and found the following:
• I see a couple of emails from your end wanting information regarding the Netflix issue
• As your Netflix was activated WEF 10/08/2021 17:15:35 and the same was deactivated on 07/08/2022 17:10:05
• No, you will not be charged for the same as it has been deactivated and last charged on the 1st July bill already
• No, this subscription has not got activated because “TV_VODARED365_VF” instead it was activated from WAP_D2C
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us quoting the following reference number[protected].
I again replied Aditi and Vodafone team on same day (13th July) as below:
Great explanation Aditi!! Thanks a lot.
1. I can see the Netflix was continued its subscription from last year activation, but I don’t need the activation back. I see it is deactivated and hope it will not be activated again and not charged to me, pls confirm.
2. I have already made the payment for this month, with extra amount of Rs. 140.42 which I am sure, it will automatically get considered in next bill, but I still see some extra charges in the current bill which I am confused. I don’t want Netflix charges again hence kindly make sure to remove the same from my bill. (Attached snippets for your reference)
Kindly do the needful for above and confirm back.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Rupesh Dhamankar
14th July 2022: Reply received from Monika as below:
I have checked the details in regard to your enquiry and found the following:
• I see a couple of emails from your end wanting information regarding the Netflix issue
• As your Netflix was activated WEF 10/08/2021 at 17:15:35 and the same was deactivated on 07/08/2022 at 17:10:05
• No, you will not be charged for the same as it has been deactivated and last charged on the 1st July bill already
• No, this subscription has not got activated because “TV_VODARED365_VF” instead it was activated from WAP_D2C
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us quoting the following reference number[protected].
I replied again on 14th July as below:
Thanks Monika and Vodafone support team.
• No, you will not be charged for the same as it has been deactivated and last charged on the 1st July bill already
For the above mentioned point, I would like to highlight that though the Netflix is deactivated for last month onwards, I still see the charges are appearing in July month bill as of now. (attached snippet for your quick reference)
Since the Netflix service is deactivated, kindly ensure there are no charges appearing for any of the month for my mobile number [protected] please.
Thanks and awaiting revert.
15th July 2022, Monika again replied on my email as below:
I have checked the details in regards to your inquiry and found the following:
· I would like to inform you that your Netflix has been deactivated on 07/08/2022
· Now, you will not be got charged
· For any query reverts us back
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us quoting the following reference number[protected].
15th July 2022: I replied back on Monika's email
Hi team,
Much appreciated !! . Can you please let me know why I am still able to see extra charges of Rs. 649/- levied against VAS? attached snippet is for your reference, taken via VI app.
Please let me.
17th July 2022 reply received from Aman Bhandari as below:
I have checked the details in regards to your enquiry and found the following:
· You do not have any account outstanding balance on your Vi number
· I would like to inform that you have bill date on 01st of every month
· Kindly send the request after your bill generated, so we can rectify the bill
· And take action/ request regarding your concern
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us quoting the following reference number[protected].
17th July 2022: I replied back to Aman and Vodafone team as below:
Sounds good. I will keep my eyes on it and keep you posted in cases additional charges found again.
Once again, thanks for your support team.
Post generation of bill on 1st August when I saw the charges again, I sent email to Vodafone team as below:
2nd August 2022:
Dear team,
As per below email, I was proactively highlighting about extra charges since last month but you wanted reactive approach here and wanted me to inform when I will billed with extra charges, so here I am taking the painful duty to highlight you about extra charges levied to me again.
This time the confusion is there are 2 bill amounts. One is Rs. 1072, 62
Other is Rs. 597/-
I am not sure which should I pay?
Attached snippets should help you to understand the confusion.
I also received PDF copy which has amount of Rs. 1072.62. Which means Vodafone again charged me for Netflix which I was carefully coordinating with people.
Please check this urgently and enable me to make the payment with correct amount.
3rd August 2022: Jashanpreet Singh replied as below:
I have looked at your account and located these charges. These charges have been applied to your account for Data usage.
• As per your mail, regarding Netflix charges
• As I checked you have activated Netflix by WAP by your end
• So we are unable to refund these charges
• Further if you have any query then kindly revert us back
Let me assure you that our billing system accurately monitors and charges the usage done for our customers hence I am not in a position to reverse these charges for you. If you have any query, so please provide us your alternate contact number for further discussion
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us quoting the following reference number[protected].
I got angry and I immediately same day (3rd August) I sent email to corporatecare.[protected]@vodafoneidea.com and ravinder.[protected]@vodafoneidea.com as below:
Dear Mr. Ravinder Takkar,
It is my painful duty just because of your lethargic and avoider employee Mr. Jashanpreet Singh. He did not even bother to look into my email efforts which I took in July-22 month, highlighting about extra charges being levied continuously to my number [protected].
Last month, I received multiple confirmation that the extra charges were because of Netflix subscription, which I never subscribed. After long discussions, I received confirmation from your team that they have cancelled Netflix subscription and its charges and I wont be charged anything again.
When I received confirmation that they have cancelled the extra charges, I immediately logged in to my Vodafone app, but there I could still see the extra charges in my account. Upon highlighting again in email, Mr. Aman Bhandari confirmed me on 17th July that he do not see any outstanding amount and in case anything appears again in next bill (which gets generated on 1st Aug, ) then I should highlight team to rectify the same.
Now post generation of bill on 1st Aug, when I sincerely highlighted that there are still some extra charges appearing in my bill, which I already highlighted in last month, but your good for nothing employee Mr. Jashanpreet singh, did not even bother to check previous communications which I took efforts and his teammates too replied. He just came forward with shameless face to reply that these are extra charge and this will not be refunded.
Who is charging me extra and why? Especially when my phone is in airplane mode continuously. I have activated IR so there is no use of this Vodafone connection except for OTP SMS.
I am really sad with such immature people who do not even take efforts to investigate for the extra charges levied to me by Vodafone.
I need to know why such extra charges are appearing every month when I am keeping my phone in airplane mode continuously. I only switch it on for SMS OTP.
Thanks & Regards,
Rupesh Dhamankar
5th August 2022: After waiting for 2 days, I sent reminder email on 5th August as per below:
Hi Team,
Awaiting your reply. I need to make payment for last bill, kindly speed up.
8th August 2022:
Since 3rd August and 5th August, again there was no reply from Vodafone team hence I sent anther email to 3 email ids
corporatecare.[protected]@vodafoneidea.com; ravinder.[protected]@vodafoneidea.com;
abhijit.[protected]@vodafoneidea.com
Vodafone team, (Attention Mr. Oldin)
It is approximately a week now, since I sent email to Vodafone, but there is no reply provided till today. This is my 3rd and last reminder to seek detailed explanation on the charges Rs. 1072.62 levied to my mobile number [protected] again. One dumb employee (Mr. Jashanpreet Singh) had replied without any detailed breakup and justification, which is not the way the queries should be handled by Vodafone. It is sad to see the senior management is also keeping deliberate stoic silence, which is being captured as an evidence of improper customer support and purposely levied extra charges to customer without any proper justification. These are sufficient evidences to file a case in consumer court and TRAI, against Vodafone.
My unanswered queries are again copied below:
1. Bill generated on 1st August shows Rs. 1072.62 but it is not explained how the charges are levied with a justified breakup and why such charges are being levied to me every month, when I am on International Roaming, keeping my phone in switched off mode all the time and only switching it on to receive sms for 10-15 mins. The extra levied charges is a loot and there is no justification provided by Vodafone even after multiple requests, reminders.
2. On 17th July, when I proactively observed the same extra charges and brought it to Vodafone’s notice in July22, I received reply from their employee (Mr. Aman Bhandari) that in case I find extra charges after generation of next bill (I.e. in bill which got generated on 1st Aug 22) then I should bring it to Vodafone's notice again. Now when I doing my bit diligently, but there is a deliberate stoic silence even after the case is escalated to Vodafone senior management (Mr. Ravinder Takkar)
3. Ideally I should have been charged for Monthly Rental Rs.299 + International Roaming charges Rs.149 + MCI Rs.30 + GST, but I am getting charged more than this, for which I am seeking explanation but there is no reply till date from Vodafone
So far, from last month, It is observed that Vodafone is charging extra every month over and above the rentals, and last month they even showed that they are considering the waiver as a gesture to customer. This illegal practice of extracting extra amount from customers is becoming Vodafone’s regular practice. Vodafone need to provide explanations on the extra charges over and above basic rentals and services (As per point 3 above).
Thanks & Regards,
Rupesh Dhamankar
Its been nearly 2 weeks now, Vodafone CEO, COO, Vodafone customer support team are not replying on why I am getting levied with extra charges every month without any consent taken from me in advance as like MCI (Missed Call Information) like VAS.
It seems there Vodafone system is charging me extra charges on monthly basis and Vodafone team removes the charges only first time (for some negligible amount) by showing they are doing favor as I am valuable customer.
Showing no reply since last 12 days even by escalating to CXO level, shows there is something wrongdoing done by Vodafone team and it has full support of Vodafone management too.
Since Vodafone team is deliberately not responding me since 3rd Aug, as my bill due date is approaching (16th Aug) and I should make the payment of fraudulent charges, which I need to do in time, as I am diligent customer and never delayed any payment so far, hence I will make the full payment with fraudulent charges for the bill which is generated on Aug22.
I request you to kindly give me Refund of extra charges levied by Vodafone team and also ask the reason of no response from Vodafone team since 3rd Aug to till date even after escalating matter to Senior management.
I am thankful to you in advance and awaiting your kind revert.
Regards,
Rupesh Dhamankar
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