I’ve been a bit slack in updating this blog lately. My increasing use of twitter (http:/twitter.com/caledoniaman) has meant that a lot of the half daft rants I come out with tend to end up on there these days.
Every so often though, something comes along which makes my blood boil so much that I feel compelled to post. Today I noticed that despite cancelling my Vodafone account and moving to O2 at the start of March, Vodafone are still taking money from my account. The minute I realised this I was hit with the immediate dread at the prospect of trying to claw the money back.
You see, they don’t make it easy for you do they.
“Oh yes Mr Palmer, have a phone, take it away today. Brilliant. Just sign here and that’s you.”
Aye. All well and good until they cock something up and you end up having to answer about 40 multiple choice questions armed only with your telephone keypad and ever dwindling patience. Eventually, if you are lucky (usually after being on hold for about an hour), you’ll get through to some disinterested dickhead who even if he actually understands what your issue is and how to resolve it will no doubt be lacking the necessary authority to do so. He’ll then put you through to another department, again with a 30 minute wait. Once through to that department you will again no doubt have to furnish them with your account details and tell them the whole story again.
In order to avoid this, I decided to pop into the Vodafone shop at lunchtime. You know what happened? The bloke behind the counter phoned the same number I would have and sat in the same queue. Meanwhile, I’m left looking at him like a total turnip.
Needless to say, after 25 minutes of him waiting (unanswered) on the phone, I had to get back to work. His tip to me – “Here’s the number. Give them a phone”. Brilliant pal.
Remember the days when you could just phone a company and someone would answer?
To top it all, I bought a Lothian Buses bus pass on my way back from the Vodafone shop. They stung me £45 for something which they only charged me £37 a few months back.
Thieves and Vagabonds everywhere.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 11:03 am
Try reclaiming it through your bank as a non-legitimate charge?