I have to buy a new postpaid connection for my mom. Now I want to go with either Airtel or Vodafone. The decision will depend on whosoever provides cheaper calling cards for ISD.
I browsed Airtel’s website and found out the different calling cards option. To be sure, I called up their customer care and within 2 minutes, I was able to reach a customer care executive and he tells me the various calling cards available for postpaid. Period.
Next up was Vodafone. Since I could not find any info on calling cards on their website (they forgot?), I called up their customer care and chose the option – I am not a Vodafone Customer and am interested in a new postpaid connection.
After a few button clicks, I was able to reach the customer care guy (who greeted me in Hindi even though I had selected English). The conversation went like this:
Me: Can you tell me about the calling cards available for a Vodafone postpaid customer for making cheaper ISD calls?
CC: Surely sir, could you please provide me your Vodafone number?
Me: I am not a Vodafone customer yet. I might become one if I like your calling cards
CC: OK. Could you please provide me your Vodafone number?
Me: As I told you, I do not have a Vodafone number. I am currently looking to buy a new postpaid connection from either Airtel or Vodafone and that decision will solely depend on who is offering cheaper Calling cards.
CC: But sir, I need your Vodafone number to give you that information.
Me (frustrated): Can’t you simply tell me about the various calling cards available to postpaid customers?
CC: No Sir, you need to have a Vodafone number first. Moreover, how will you use that calling card if you do not have a Vodafone number?
Me (confused): Who said anything about buying the card right away, I have called up to get some info. Now I cannot first buy the connections and then evaluate the calling cards. I need to check them out before hand.
CC: I can give you info on a new Vodafone connection sir. (Then starts blabbing about it).
Me: I know everything about a new connection. I just needed info around calling cards.
CC: I am sorry sir, I cannot give you that information until I have your Vodafone number.
Me: Fine. Thanks.
CC: Happy to Help (read hell) sir !
Apparently, Vodafone has no idea how frustrating its customer care is. I mean I understand they should discourage trolling, but they were hiding the calling cards info as if I was asking for a top secret mission info which is perhaps only available to their existing customers. They might be Happy to help, but the help isn’t making the (perspective) customers happy.
That’s 1 vote down for Vodafone.
6 responses to “Happy to help? Apparently not”
Phew, that sounds really irritating.
Are they nuts, i was getting frustrated by just reading it!
lolz
They just know how to make ads! the network in Bangalore sucks; goes down even after smallest of downpours!
Well my airtel experience hasnt been great too!
Month ago they charged me 100 bucks on the bill for getting parallel wiring done on my broadband…which i never request..for which an engineer never visited me! Later i found out from the local relationship centre that a request was made in my account but the requester seems to be nobody i know…wrong data entry! This month's bill is still not corrected…and 5 Service requests have already been rejected! wtf!
Hey,
Nice post but i think quite old too becuase i called up the voda guys and repeated the conversation and was moved when they helped me out inspite of me no having a voda no. I think they mite have taken ur conversation seriously and changed policy. But didnt change much as i too had selected english as preference but got some one from the hindi section, thats a bit od.