[WXC/VFX] Local calling issues with VFX

Forums › Vodafone New Zealand › [WXC/VFX] Local calling issues with VFX - beware

gwilym

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

# 15072 2-Aug-2007 17:54

So...I got all excited about porting my Telecom number to VFX and finally losing Telecom (I'm on wireless internet), I talked to a sales person and read the FAQ's on their website...

Q. Can I still make free local calls?

A. Yes. Calls to local numbers are still free. Note they will now go through WorldxChange.

I then ordered the PAP2T and rang up to open my account. As I went through the process the nice person at the other end informed me that my local calling area would have to be Alexandra or Oamaru - I'm in Wanaka. I explained that neither of these places is 'local' for me and it turns out that these are my only options as Wanaka does not yet have a CLI (exchange connect for VFX?).

They didn't seem to be prepared to admit that 'local calling' implies local to the caller, and were not even apologetic that I have purchased hardware to connect to their system which is crippled with a major part of the service not working - unless I ask all my 'local' friends to move to Alexandra...

I guess with their advertising stating that local calling is free I could head off to the Commerce Commission...it seems like a strange way to go about building a customer base in a increasingly competitive market...

Buyer beware I guess. Has anybody else had the same problem or is our exchange alone in this?

coffeebaron

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# 80904 2-Aug-2007 18:02

VFX service is not available in Wanaka yet:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=65&TopicId=10392

Did you check this out or call Xnet before your brought the PAP2T?

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maverick

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WorldxChange

# 80908 2-Aug-2007 18:42

Hi Gwilym,

I generally get excited when when sign up any new customer so sorry you have had a bad experince,

I will just point out a few things if I can.

Firstly yes Free Local Calls are available if we have a POI (point of interconnect) in the area, now unfortunately we do not have one yet for Queenstown / Wanaka area, but heres the good news, its scheduled to be available by November.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=65&TopicId=14832

The reason we can't be in all areas at once comes down to economies of scale when building a National Network as we have to have POP in each of the 24 Telecom calling areas for us to be able to offer local numbers in the region. When we launched the service we have put in approx 14 POI's and we are now rolling some more, yours region is included, Now each POP we open cost's tens of Thousands of dollars to open so not a small chunk of change to roll out this technology to all 24 regions in the initial rollout .

Now the service works fine in all areas that we have a POP, it's the same with all commercial offerings though I'm afraid, Mobile Phones, Sky TV, KFC , McDonald's . Starbucks etc the same applies you launch a service in the major areas see if it works commercially and grow it out to more and more of the country this is what we are doing now, if we don't have a POP in an area we can't offer Local numbers which is were you find your self at present sorry to say.

I'm sorry that you feel that we are unsympathetic we are generally very sympathetic with our customers always have been always will be, but we don't think we have done anything wrong or been misleading as we have been upfront with it right from the start we do post the information in places like this there and all of our support people do know that Local calls are available in regions where we have POIs and all customers are told this, I will look however at how it is worded on the web site as well and and we maybe able to add something to Clarify it.

I would add some more but I have to leave to take the Wife to a concert and she will Kill me If we don't leave now, I hope you now understand it from our point of view though.

Regards
Phillip Moore
Operations Manager
WorldxChange Communications

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exportgoldman

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# 80910 2-Aug-2007 18:59

I'm sure you will be able to return, or sell the unit, and the call costs are so low anyways, and you don't have to pay the $10 a month for the first few months, so just put this towards your local call costs until November.

I've had excellent service from World Exchange - Very helpful.

As a side note, I hope your not taking your wife to Christina, she canceled tonight... Doh!

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coffeebaron

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# 80939 2-Aug-2007 21:22

maverick:
Firstly yes Free Local Calls are available if we have a POI (point of interconnect) in the area, now unfortunately we do not have one yet for Queenstown / Wanaka area, but heres the good news, its scheduled to be available by November.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=65&TopicId=14832

The reason we can't be in all areas at once comes down to economies of scale when building a National Network as we have to have POP in each of the 24 Telecom calling areas for us to be able to offer local numbers in the region. When we launched the service we have put in approx 14 POI's and we are now rolling some more, yours region is included, Now each POP we open cost's tens of Thousands of dollars to open so not a small chunk of change to roll out this technology to all 24 regions in the initial rollout .

Phil, something that may have been helpful to gwilym, and any others signing up, would be to also have the info about POI availability on the xnet website. I can see how someone checking out your service (on xnet website) would not realise VFX is not locally available in all areas. Thus go out, buy the gear, then discover this predicament when they sign-up.

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johnr

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# 80941 2-Aug-2007 21:30

[quote} As a side note, I hope your not taking your wife to Christina, she canceled tonight... Doh!]

And tomorrow night

gwilym

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

# 81092 4-Aug-2007 11:34

Thanks for all the comments - I understand the issues now and appreciate what has to be called an excellent willingness to engage on behalf of the staff at VFX (both here and by ringing me back) . I'm really looking forward to the service becoming available in Wanaka...

wldhrs

40 posts

Geek

# 81148 5-Aug-2007 09:07

My two cent's worth as well, the guys at WxC have been trying to help me resolve an issue with the network that is outside their control. There's not many organisations out there that will put in that sort of effort, so hang in there, it'll be worth it once everything's in place.