Customers let down by Vodafone’s network in 2010 will be represented by law firm Piper Alderman in a class action case set to commence today.

Vodafone’s network had dilapidated to a state so severe a website called “Vodafail” was created and as of today, 19,206 people have shared their ‘pain’. These customers were experiencing billing problems, dropped calls, delayed SMS messages, reception issues, and were being incorrectly billed or overcharged.

No individual wrong-doing was large enough to warrant its own legal action, prompting Piper Alderman to group thousands of small claims together into one class action law suit. Over the past two years more than 23,000 customers have expressed their interest in the class action.

“We know of a doctor who couldn’t receive calls in the hospital, a mother who couldn’t contact her child’s day care centre and people who have had their credit rating unfairly tarnished by Vodafone,” said Sasha Ivantsoff, the partner leading the action for Piper Alderman.

According to the Australian Financial Review, Piper Alderman has been trying to process the claims since 2011 but they were stalled by a lack of third party funding. Momentum was restored with the support of LCM Litigation Fund.
 
“Listening to the experiences people have had with Vodafone I’m pleased to support this action so class members can participate on a no-win no-fee basis,” said Patrick Coope, the Managing Director of LCM.

“Vodafone has publically admitted to these faults and accepted that they responded inadequately to the complaints and concerns of their customers.  While their customers appreciate the acknowledgement, it comes far too late for many people who have suffered as a direct result of Vodafone’s failure to provide them with the services they signed up for. “

The different problems Vodafone customers have been experiencing as detailed by Vodafail.com

Vodafone has responded to its poor coverage by investing more than $1 billion into its network and offering a public apology. However, since 2010 they have lost almost 830,000 subscribers and more than $600 million in revenue.