(UK) Vodafone Apple Watch Cellular Issues

[GadgetBen]

I thought I would start this thread to see if anyone in this forum from the UK who bought an Apple Watch 4 from Apple (or any other retailer apart from Vodafone) is having issues registering a mobile data plan or ‘cellular’?

Vodafone staff are admitting there is an issue that they are ‘waiting on Apple to resolve’.

Plenty of unhappy customers here: https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/iOS/Series-4-Apple-Watch-Cellular-doesn-t-work/td-p/2608205

It appears that Vodafone were not ready for launch!

 

[The Game 161]

I thought I would start this thread to see if anyone in this forum from the UK who bought an Apple Watch 4 from Apple (or any other retailer apart from Vodafone) is having issues registering a mobile data plan or ‘cellular’?

Vodafone staff are admitting there is an issue that they are ‘waiting on Apple to resolve’.

Plenty of unhappy customers here: https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/iOS/Series-4-Apple-Watch-Cellular-doesn-t-work/td-p/2608205

It appears that Vodafone were not ready for launch!

I know EE had the same issues at launch last year. I know I had issues getting my series 3 to transfer over to series 4 with EE but got there in the end. I'm guessing many Vodafone people aren't fully trained on the process.

 

[GadgetBen]

I know EE had the same issues at launch last year. I know I had issues getting my series 3 to transfer over to series 4 with EE but got there in the end. I'm guessing many Vodafone people aren't fully trained on the process.

There aren’t at all. I was advised to leave my watch app open on the mobile data page for 2 hours and it should sync!

It’s resolved now but I had to go into store as they can’t set it up properly via the Apple Watch app and their website.

Apparently, it’s Apple’s fault but I highly doubt that.

 

[C225]

I got my SSSB watch from apple and phoned Vodafone up when the app said my plan wasn’t eligible. Turns out it was fine and after a 15 minute phone call giving them my EID they told me to leave it overnight with the mobile data part of the app saying ‘waiting’. Next morning about 8 I got a carrier update and it all started working flawlessly. I guess the waiting part was just them setting up the second line on my account.

Maybe I got lucky with the people I got on 191 but I think a lot of the problems are people being a bit too impatient and keep phoning and the account just being mucked about before things are set up which is then making the whole thing worse.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

Last years a lot of people had issues with EE. I was one of the lucky ones as mine went smoothly. EE staff are now well trained and my plan transfer from an S3 to an S4 was done in less than 2 minutes. Its just a Vodafone lack of experience thing. Their tech team get up to speed with experience.

 

[mrklaw]

yes - the 'setup mobile data' wouldn't even let me press it initially. after a reset network settings, I could click it but after logging in it said my plan wasn't compatible with 'one number'.

191 said my plan was too old - even though its a SIM only set up in August this year! They said they'd change it to the 20GB plan for the same price I was paying for 18GB (£17.50). Nothing happened. Rang again and they said oh that won't work, we have to put you on a 'super user' plan to get the watch to pair. Now I'm waiting for that which will take 3-5 working days apparantly.

 

[Malcster]

All good here, Requested to add it to my Vodafone plan as part of the Apple Watch setup process, all went ok till the end when i got an email saying they needed to check some details first (other words for doing a credit check i think..!). Was activated on Friday evening and has been working fine since.

Only complaint is i want a signal strength complication to add to any watch face, looks like you can only see signal strength on the 'Explorer' watchface :-/

 

[mrklaw]

Now it lets me log in but tells me it’s £5 per month when it should already be covered by the original purchase/contract. If I try and do that I apparently dial the credit check for a fiver :/

I’ll give them another 24hrs and then give them a ring. No real hurry as at work I have my phone with me, more an irritation to keep having to talk to 191. Especially when they are all trained to talk like they’ll sort it for you when that is clearly not the case for some issues

 

[mrklaw]

Just had a text from Vodafone saying they’ve enabled secure net on the line. Now normally I disable this immediately because they charge you for it after a short free period. But I can’t browse to the website on the watch to cancel it. Another call to 191..

 

[rasputin1969]

I’ve had an absolute nightmare with Vodafone.

Initially setting up a new line worked like a dream - I was able to take calls in the middle of a run, without my iPhone. I was very impressed, but the next day I lost connection. I phoned Apple and they told me to unpair and repair. During that process the phone asked me whether I wanted to remove the plan from the watch. The Apple rep told me I should remove the plan.

I re-paired the watch and tried to add mobile data but the only option Vodafone have is to start a new plan. I phoned Vodafone and they can do nothing, they said to leave it to tomorrow and it might work then. If it’s not right then I’m going to have to cancel the new Apple Watch line.

Does anyone know how to setup mobile data on Vodafone to an existing line?

Liam

 

[JamesHP]

I initially called Voda up to get cellular set up on my existing plan - first guy quoted me £20 a month just for the watch data (I only pay them £22 for my entire sim only!) So I flat out refused it and quoted him on the £5 a month on the website and was told they'd do the deal for me, so they put me through to a UK call centre to set it up. Guy asked for my EID etc and all seems to be working well. I must be one of the lucky few!

 

[mrklaw]

In the almost 7 days since getting my watch I’ve had nobody ask for my EID or any technical questions. Half the time I can tel the person is reading a list of instructions how to pair an Apple Watch, even though I explain that the watch is set up completely except for the data

 

[C225]

In the almost 7 days since getting my watch I’ve had nobody ask for my EID or any technical questions. Half the time I can tel the person is reading a list of instructions how to pair an Apple Watch, even though I explain that the watch is set up completely except for the data

It won't work without the EID associated to your account, try to get through to retentions, it was them that sorted mine out in about 15 minutes.

 

[mrklaw]

It won't work without the EID associated to your account, try to get through to retentions, it was them that sorted mine out in about 15 minutes.

Well when I ordered on Friday the sale guy asked which line it was needing to attach to so he could set it up ready to go.


Edit: text yesterday at 7pm:

Please expect our call back tomorrow as agreed between 11 AM and 12 PM to mnake sure to follow up on your case to make sure it is sorted so as we've promised you to have the full ownership of the case no need to waste your time by calling us back again and please wait for ou call .

Vodafone
A Network to depend on

Call today at 11 “it’s being worked on. Will call you after 7pm to confirm it’s sorted and text when it is done”

Text today at 7:15

This is to confirm that the concerned department is still working on closign the pending order to get the apple watch service fully activated so please appreciate your patience and wait for our call back tomorrow to confirm the full activation of the service which will be tomorrow maximum .

And as we agreed we will be notifying you once getting the service activated , so no need to waste your time by calling us back again as we've promised you already to have the full ownership of your case .

I’ll give them until tomorrow and then escalate again. Getting silly now

 

[Dingo Dave 69]

I spoke to EE yesterday. I am thinking about switching to them to use my watch, my current carrier doesn’t support it. He said Vodafone have failed to pass some test that apple requires and they won’t be able to offer cellular on Apple Watch now. Any truth to this? Has any Vodafone customer got it working?

 

[rasputin1969]

Update on my Vodafone problems, and a resolution.

After three days of awful, awful customer service, being passed from pillar to post I decided to cancel the Apple watch £5 a month line. Surprisingly this was done with no come back and quickly. Once I received the cancellation email and checked with my vodafone that the line was gone I tried re-signing up, and it worked. I now have a fully functioning Apple watch. Don’t know if it’ll work for other but it certainly worked for me.

 

[mrklaw]

Update on my Vodafone problems, and a resolution.

After three days of awful, awful customer service, being passed from pillar to post I decided to cancel the Apple watch £5 a month line. Surprisingly this was done with no come back and quickly. Once I received the cancellation email and checked with my vodafone that the line was gone I tried re-signing up, and it worked. I now have a fully functioning Apple watch. Don’t know if it’ll work for other but it certainly worked for me.

you bought the watch separately? I bought mine through VF so I don't think I can do that.

 

[rasputin1969]

you bought the watch separately? I bought mine through VF so I don't think I can do that.

Yes, I did, thank goodness.

However when I cancelled he initially thought I’d bought the watch from VF and was about to start telling me how to post the watch back to them. You’ve got 30 days to cancel I believe.

 

[C225]

I spoke to EE yesterday. I am thinking about switching to them to use my watch, my current carrier doesn’t support it. He said Vodafone have failed to pass some test that apple requires and they won’t be able to offer cellular on Apple Watch now. Any truth to this? Has any Vodafone customer got it working?

Mine on Vodafone has been working fine for 6 days now. Terrible lies from EE obviously just trying to get you to go with them.

 

[Andyjmahoney]

I have been trying to set mine up since last Tuesday. I bought Xs max as an upgrade and s4 watch direct from Apple. I called coda to add Watch plan then said was a technical issue and I should go to the store.

I went to the store and they had no idea what I was talking about even about esim they thought unjust wanted to pair my watch to phone.

Anyway. I have had ordered on hold cancelled and re done and been told many times 24 hours and all will work 24 hours pass and nothing still in the app says mobile data and just a waiting message.

I have again had another order done today and am told will work in 2 hours. Again hasn’t. Please help...

 

[mrklaw]

10 days now and still nothing

 

[mcgoldrickster]

I’ve had similar issues with my Apple Watch through Vodafone. Arrived on launch day and never worked. Spent hours on the phone. Went through twitter and after 4 days had some progress today at 2pm when I received a text to tell me my extra line had been ordered. Then .. no signal on my phone. After another hour on the phone apparently this should have gone through straight away. 10pm still no signal and it might take 24 hours! Vodafone are the worst!!

 

[jamets515]

Just to throw my experience into the pile... I purchased my S4 through Vodafone and haven't had any issues. The only thing that seems odd is that the SIM only plan on my iPXS Max is 16GB but on the Mobile Data page in the Apple Watch app, it says my limit is 60GB!?!? Not complaining, just seems odd.

 

[mcgoldrickster]

Just to throw my experience into the pile... I purchased my S4 through Vodafone and haven't had any issues. The only thing that seems odd is that the SIM only plan on my iPXS Max is 16GB but on the Mobile Data page in the Apple Watch app, it says my limit is 60GB!?!? Not complaining, just seems odd.

I have the same - they told me it was a special offer (I think EE are offering unlimited data on the watch). I’m really not sure how anyone could rinse through 60Gb of data on the watch lol

 

[mrklaw]

Just sounds like ‘we don’t know how to properly share your data so we’re just giving you a huge amount that you’ll never even dent’