QL makes news again
Maher made the offer after internet users posting on the message board of the “Qatar Living” website expressed their dissatisfaction with the service during the four month test phase, citing patchy network coverage and difficulties connecting calls and receiving text messages.
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Vodafone Qatar has offered to give the first 1,000 customers who used the network during its test phase a full refund following complaints about the service, as the PR battle between Qatar’s new mobile entrant and incumbent operator Qtel intensifies.
Grahame Maher, the CEO of Vodafone Qatar which launched its service last week, said that if any of the first 1,000 customer who used the network during its initial launch were unhappy with the service they could contact the network to arrange to have their four monthly payments of QR280 (US$77) refunded.
Vodafone Qatar expects 10,000 users by July - paper
Vodafone Qatar set for commercial launch in June
“If any customer feels they had been taken advantage of, or were completely unhappy with our services, I would always offer to refund their money,” Maher told CommsMEA. “I believe this is what all customer focused companies would do. We do not want to force people to stay with us and pay for services if we do not deliver.”
Maher made the offer after internet users posting on the message board of the “Qatar Living” website expressed their dissatisfaction with the service during the four month test phase, citing patchy network coverage and difficulties connecting calls and receiving text messages.
One post on the message forum suggested that “Vodafone should pay the beta participants and not the other way round…an apology is the least Vodafone owes to the first customers”.
Other posts on the website complained that the tariffs offered by Vodafone, which were revealed last week, offered only a marginal difference to those from Qtel.
Vodafone defended its prices, with Maher, posting under the pseudonym “Grandma” stating that there are many “tricks and surprises” contained in mobile deals in Qatar, and that “every Qtel post pay customer I have asked does not know what their monthly bill will be till they get it, and it is usually a nasty surprise.” He also said that he had been told opening a Qtel account was “difficult” and paying for it “inconvenient”.
In response, Qtel’s PR team said that it was “a bit stunned” by what it described as “inaccurate statements” and “misleading information” by Maher and another representatives of Vodafone who commented on the forum.
Both operators offered a number of comparisons of their tariffs and deals, and both sides claimed to offer residents of Qatar the best value for money.
Maher said there was “no policy” behind the move to offer customers a refund, which he described as “simply a commitment of doing the right thing for a customer”. He pointed out that customers who took part in the test phase were free to leave the service after the first month if they were unhappy with it.
If all 1,000 of the customers decide to reclaim their four months worth of bills it could cost Vodafone Qatar QR280,000 ($77,000), but Maher said that as far as he was aware initial response to the service had been positive.
“We have communicated with the first 1,000 regularly and I have spoken to several of them personally. We have had great feedback. Most people felt that they got great value and were very happy helping us design the network build and coverage which is still continuing.”
http://www.itp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=561828&n...
Good one from Vodafone, short period but very sweet promotion!
We expect Qtel respond soon with similar offering to avoid customers switching, competition is here, finally!
As of now Vodafone and Maher, GREAT OFFER, it would be a historical moment, Qatar might have never got such low rate International Calling in its near history!
peter, It's a good start, but you would need a "next step".
I'd like to thank Graham Maher for standing up for what he said here, all my respect to him.
How about this for a deal, folks?
http://www.vodafone.com.qa/go/pressrelease/join-now-and-pay-only-dhs-50-per-minute-for-international-calls-to-anywhere-in-the-world
It might even be worth changing you number for this one, Khattak?
Two Qatari children go missing in Makkah
By Riham el-Houshi
An official at the Qatar National Security has confirmed the disappearance of two Qatari children in Saudi Arabia early this month.
The source stated that the Qatari and Saudi ministries of interior were co-operating with the Interpol to find Jassem, 7, and Reem, 5.
He added that all sides were being interrogated, including the family, which has been accused of negligence.
A relative of the children in Qatar, Khalifa Jassem, had told Gulf Times earlier that “the situation is under control” and urged the press not to “interfere”.
Meanwhile, local Arabic newspapers said the children went missing in Makkah on July 7. The reports said that the search was focusing primarily on the cities of Makkah, Medina and Riyadh.
Local Saudi papers have also published pictures of the children and numbers to call if they were seen.
SMS messages have been going around in Qatar since the last week informing residents of the disappearance of the children and providing them with a number to call if they had any information.
The children’s disappearance is also being discussed on Qatari chat forums such as Qatarliving.com
Jassem Fakhro, the father of the children, has announced a “handsome reward” to any one who provides information leading to the recovery of the kids, asking them to call 3015070 or email [email protected]
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=304111&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16
To me....participating in a discussion on an online forum is not un-professional. I used to do the same when I was running an Internet Service Provider (ISP) back in Peshawar, Pakistan. I used to chat with different people on the City Forums and that helped me a lot not only to improve my services but to convey our point of view to our valued customers.
All in all, I think its a very positive step from Vodafone, that's the way "Customer Support Services" should be.
About QTEL...I have been using its services for the last 3 years, and honestly...I have never been satisfied with the way they communicate with their customers. Be it paying your bills or getting a new connection. They are way too much rude and arrogant. The worst thing is that they dont know what they are offering. They would be clueless if you ask them about the Internet Services. Why I still use QTEL is because I dont want to change my number....n dats it.
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Whenever I find the KEY to SUCCESS...Someone steals it.
It's normal to see CEO comments on online forums. I've seen quite a few on slashdot..But I think grandma should have been a little more professional while making allegations on qtel from just hearsay, especially when he's revealed who he is!!!
I'm really impressed that the CEO of the company came in personally to defend his action. This is what is needed. people who we can identify with. He could very well just have read about this in the forum and asked someone else to reply on behalf of the company.
I liked it that he himself has been a part of the discussion and even took measures according to the feedback. I'd very likely take a vodafone connection once the initial scruples are gone.
Which reminds me, I don't agree with the people who demand a refund because the service was not up to their expectations. They KNEW what they were signing on for when they did. Vodafone HAD made it clear that it was a test run. It's immature to think that you'll get Qtel-like services from a new company from the very first day onwards. The complaints (if I've understood correctly) are amateurish and reeks of a cry-baby attitude. People, GROW UP!
This is not a quality I particularly appreciate in a person. Vodafone, you have my vote on this one. You don't owe anyone a single penny. Neither should you give in. That you've made the refund offer in the first place just earned the company some brownie points in my view (not that it matters all that much anyway though...)
Qtel and VF is running... it's bit of childish acts :-/
Regarding "Grandma" commenting on QL I don't think it's is to be consider as unprofessional to chat with public since he is a CEO .... we respect his position but end of the day he is a CEO because of his Business and his business is his Customers....
Sh. Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Makhotum - Prime Minister of UAE and President of Dubai chats with general public on FB and I am one of the person being Non UAE National and Non Arab, had talked to him on FB since I was a long time resident of UAE.
His vision and mission is to improve the lifestyle of UAE, so the VF to improve the Customer Services :-D
SPEED - Part of me thinks good on him for coming on here and trying to explain things, while part of me thinks that doing so is not indicative of a professional outfit.
Qtel could have taken the higher ground, but couldn't help but get involved themselves as well. It's like a schoolyard scrap, which isn't what I expect from companies of this stature.
competition is always good for users and customers, i remember just few years ago, in Pakistan call charges from mobile to mobile and landline were approx 10 Rs/min because only two companies were operating. Now entire situation have changed with the arrival of new companies, call charges reduced to almost 4 Rs/day...
so lets wait a bit to get same in Qatar :-)
have him on QL :-)
:-D
Nah... I am very much satisfied with their Customer Services.
Vodafone has issues... they double charged in May, i logged a complain with their Customer Services dept. next day they called me and appolized for the mistake and the extra money was refunded to me :-)
This kind of 'Customer Service' was missing in Qatar which I think Vodafone is trying to provide us.
Till their Services is good we will sing their song else we know how to kick back ;-D
Vodafone defended its prices, with Maher [Vodafone Qatar CEO], posting under the pseudonym “Grandma”
Do people think it's good that the CEO tried to defend Vodafone on a public internet forum, or does it seem a bit odd?
Here is Grahme Maher's Post..
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/590363?page=1
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tEaCh Me RuLeS, i'Ll TeAcH hOw To BrEaK iT ..
rMs..!!
was setting up their network in Qatar. But rest of the 2 months I was getting full coverage in most of the areas of Doha.
I don't think it is nice to ask for a refund if someone has genuinely used the Vodafone services.
Whatelse, today I received email from Vodafone saying:
Hi there,
We’d like to remind you that there’s still time to jump in online and take advantage of our exclusive 1st 1000 offer if you haven’t already done so.
There are loads of special benefits:
1.Carry over your existing 1st 1000 balance onto your new Freedom account (you’ll be able to use the value for another 60 days).
2. Your first Flexi 110 will be FREE.
3. Choose a new number in our online promotion (you’ll get a FREE My Number or a QR 500 discount on a Star Number).
4. A FREE Welcome Pack with new Vodafone SIM card.
I had some dispute regarding my payment with QTEL and they never bother to call me back or refunded my money...
In this case VODAFONE ROCKS !!
salam...seems to me that you are paid for advertising Vodafone...:D
and T-com..QL does make a difference.
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Have Courage To Live.
Anyone Can Die.
How can I change the topic to
"QL does makes a difference"
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its just we are blessed with members like you thats why Qatarliving is so famous :D