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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

vodaphone stealing from a disabled child

75 replies

andyinlondon · 04/07/2013 15:21

really not happy with vodaphone, i think they are (unprintable)

forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Pay-monthly-services/why-does-vodaphone-steal-from-disabled-childrem/td-p/1587050

OP posts:
TabithaStephens · 04/07/2013 15:26

I don't see what being disabled has to do with this case.

Serg · 04/07/2013 15:28

Overplaying it a little...

MayTheOddsBeEverInYourFavour · 04/07/2013 15:28

I think the title is a massive overreaction

Shakirasma · 04/07/2013 15:28

YABU

I can understand why you are pissed off and they do need to get things sorted, but this has got fuck all to do with your child's disability.

Dragging that into the equation just makes you look like a drama llama and is an insult to your child.

NinaHeart · 04/07/2013 15:29

OP, you complain to Vodafone (sp) and then re-post on MN. I'm just not sure why?

Dillydollydaydream · 04/07/2013 15:29

Yabu - it's Vodafone pedant

NinaHeart · 04/07/2013 15:30

Is this equality in action?

andyinlondon · 04/07/2013 15:31

Disabled has to do with the case because he cannot go out without a means of contact ie a phone, without a means of contact if he has a problem he could die.

the risk of death makes his disability central to this case

and yes i am still fuming from the three hours i have spent on the phone with the vodaphone call centers in india and egypt trying to get this farce resolved.

OP posts:
MayTheOddsBeEverInYourFavour · 04/07/2013 15:33

It has nothing to do with his disability and I say that as a severely disabled person myself

Being so dramatic only makes a genuine complaint look ridiculous

NinaHeart · 04/07/2013 15:33

Buy him a pay as you go cheapy for now?

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 04/07/2013 15:33

Spell check and proofreading are your friends. You complaint might hold a bit more weight if it was easier to make sense of.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 04/07/2013 15:34

And Human Rights Act? Really? How?

Shakirasma · 04/07/2013 15:34

His disability still has nothing to do with Vodafone.

You are paying for a talk plan, not a phone. They are still providing the talk plan which you could access using a cheap phone for less than a tenner, whilst they resolve the issue with the other phone.

Yes, by all means critisise their poor customer service, but keep the unnecessary emotional blackmail out of it because it's not going to get you taken seriously.

StickyProblem · 04/07/2013 15:36

Nothing is (unprintable) on Mumsnet unless it's a personal attack on another poster. Have a good old swear.

Serg · 04/07/2013 15:38

You're making yourself look and sound like a total fool.

ProtegeMoi · 04/07/2013 15:39

This has nothing to do with your child's disability. If he is at risk of death without a phone then you would get him a cheap one to use in the meantime, surely that's obvious.

I agree bringing your child's disability into makes your complaint seem less effective as it looks like your angling for the sympathy vote.

FWIW its on vodaphones return instructions found on their website that you should remove the battery before sending the phone in for repair or replacement.

andyinlondon · 04/07/2013 15:40

we are paying for both a phone and a talk plan from vodaphone and as for resolving the issue, they refuse to!!!!

so yes i have gotten somewhat emotional about it

OP posts:
ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 04/07/2013 15:40

So essentially the phone was faulty, it was sent back for repair (seems quite standard), but when returned it didn't have the battery. One customer service person told you one was being sent out, but then when it never appeared a different person said they didn't have any and you should source one yourself? This is not very professional and you haven't had good customer service. What you should have done is explained this calmly, asked for a refund on the monthly cost (since you are unable to use the phone, though you put the sim card in another phone) and ask what will be done about the poor customer service. Throwing in the Human Rights Act and accusing them of disability discrimination isn't justified and is clouding the issue and making you look like a drama llama.

andyinlondon · 04/07/2013 15:41

FWIW its on vodaphones return instructions found on their website that you should remove the battery before sending the phone in for repair or replacement.

the paperwork they sent with the return pack said the opposite

OP posts:
JerseySpud · 04/07/2013 15:43

YABU. What do you want us to do about it? Get up in arms? Buy a cheap phone and use that.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 04/07/2013 15:43

Also, you have raised this issue with them today? As in today you have told them that you didn't know you were meant to get your own battery? Give them a day to respond rather than saying they haven't done anything.

JerseySpud · 04/07/2013 15:44

And they are not stealing from a disabled child, you didnt check online and follow procedure.

nancerama · 04/07/2013 15:45

Given that the OP has been passes from pillar to post by Vodafone customer services for 3 hours, I think she's entitled to be a bit dramatic.

OP, take on board what others have said here and compile a really balanced letter of complaint to the Chief Executive. Run it past a friend or partner before sending. You've been treated shabbily, but it's not discrimination, it's simply shocking customer service.

andyinlondon · 04/07/2013 15:49

hopalong
we raised the issue with them 2 weeks ago and again last monday then again today, they have had plenty of time to resolve it but the refuse to.
and as for getting our own battery for it, it is a new model and there are no batteries available, have a look for yourself it is a sony experia L

OP posts:
MrsDeVere · 04/07/2013 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.