Was I scammed by a Vodafone employee

[ioreshnikov]

Hi!

Yesterday I went to a Vodaphone shop at Neckargasse 1 in Tuebingen and asked for a CallYa SIM Card, to which I was informed by a young employee that the SIM card with a registration costs 59.99 euros. I said fine (A HUGE MISTAKE ON MY SIDE, I KNOW) so the employee proceeded with the registration. I asked if I can pay with a credit card, but he insisted that he only can take cash, of which I had only 50 euros with me. He then told me to go to the bank. On my way back I decided that 59.99 is waaay to expensive for a prepaid SIM card for me, besides insisting on taking the money in cash sounded super suspicious. I returned to the shop and told him that I don't have the money, can't pay and do not want the SIM card anymore.

To that he lost his temper and told me that the card is now registered to my name so I have to pay, otherwise he will have to pay for that from his own pocket. After a short argument (he kept on switching to German) I had to give him 56 euros I had with me and didn't even got a receipt.

So, the question I have now is this normal? Is it OK to ask 59.99 for a prepaid SIM card? Is it even legal to refuse to cancel the deal? Is it legal to service a customer and not give him a check? 

By the way, I am not the only one. Simply check the last five review on google maps for this shop:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vodafone+Shop/@48.5202705,9.055607,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m10!1m2!2m1!...

What do I do next, Vodafone?

Best regards,

Ivan.

Edit: Verschoben aus "Gewinnspiele" / Moved from sweepstakes

[Mav1976]

Hi @ioreshnikov,

You are the second customer to report this issue. In my humble opinion that isn't okay. 50€ are too much for a simple registration. I'm agree with the shops to force a small fee but not that amount.

That amount bears no relation to the tariff value of the SIM card.

[ioreshnikov]

Mav1976, thank you very much for the reply. Yes, after posting my message I saw a similar complaint on the side panel.

So Vodafone really does charge you 29.99 simply for registering your card. Well, they could at least tell you what do they take the money for. Had the employee broke the price into 19.99 for the SIM card + 29.99 for registering it, I would simply skipped the registration and would buy the card alone. Also, it looks like customer protection laws do not cover this in Germany and there is no legal term for "imposed service", so this is technically OK but sketchy as hell.

Anyway, Vodafone, what about the rest:

1. Why was not I able to cancel the deal when I changed my mind?

2. Why did the employee insisted I still pay and take the SIM card?

3. Why did he insist I pay in cash?

4. Why didn't I get a receipt?

5. Can I return a card without a receipt now? If I can, will I get all my money back, or the registration fee is not refundable?

6*. Unrelated bonus question: after 36 hours, why my mobile data is not working and why don't any of your technical support speak English?

I am really pissed right now, and I think I have all the right to be.

[KerstinV]

Hi ioreshnikov,
the registration of a simcard is free in the Vodafone Shop! This seems to be an abuse. In such a case, we always need the name of the shop, possibly also of the employee. Please send me this by PM, so that I can forward this. Please also give your purchased phone number, so we can help you. I would like to apologize for this negative service.
Best regards,
KerstinV  

[ioreshnikov]

Dear KerstinV,

after some back and forth with one of your moderators I came to nothing. She tells me that without the receipt I cannot get my money back. And since one of your employees simply pocketed my money without giving me any receipts I cannot give her any receipt. What do I do next?

[ioreshnikov]

I also contacted your Vodafone 24h Service on Twitter and the response I got is:

like she said, it is not possible to help in this case. I'm afraid the only way is to file a complaint against the shop employee. We cannot examine the facts from here, because we were not present. I am really sorry. 😞 Maybe, before you go this way, you can talk once more to the shop. Tell them the situation again and that you see no other way than to file a criminal complaint.

I am sorry, but are there really only two options here: I either should go to the shop and confront the guy directly or I go to the police?

[KerstinV]

Hello @ioreshnikov,
please send me your new phone number via PM. I'll see what I can do for you. I have already passed on the facts myself with the address of the shop. I am sorry that you have such inconvenience with Vodafone.
Best regards,
KerstinV  

[ioreshnikov]

Dear KerstinV,

I have just opened MeinVodafone app and it looks like 50 euros has been returned to my account. Thank you very much for helping me. I consider the incident resolved in my case. Hope you will figure out what is going on with the shop.

Best regards,

Ivan.