My Vodafone Italia 4+

I like that my SIM numbers show up automatically, but that’s just about the only thing that is easy and reliable in this app. Whenever I get a text from Vodafone with offers or suggestions to reup my data, the link takes me to the website, the site pushes me to the app, and then the specific offer I am trying to activate is difficult to find or just not listed at all. Payments are often refused for unknown reasons, though that probably has more to do with my bank. And, ironically, the app is one of the slowest to load while on the VF network. The biggest thing that I think is so head-smackingly obvious and yet is baffingly not offered is the ability to change the app language. If I’m buying a sim, there is a non-negligible chance that I speak a language other than the main language of the country coded on the SIM. For something as fundamental as phone service—whose advertising you are often directing toward tourists—why would you make it impossible to change the language of the app? What do you lose by making the app more accessible?

I tried to set up the mobile app account by using the existing VF accounts I have on the web interface ( as suggested). User and password did no get through. Multiple times , even after reset. Account was blocked. Had to redo all process again. Still not working. Then tried to use the direct mobile authentication process (even though I have a fixed VF line the app requested I switch off th WiFi connection). Which I did. But it did not work either. I also checked on the Eula and consent permissions and did not like the approach which is to squeeze me in deep profiling pretending this is not happening. If you scroll down the privacy policy you even read that unless you expressely write that you don’t want your data to be used for profiling after you terminated the contract with VF, they will continue to use your data for commercial purposes. That means that even when you port your number into another operator , unless you have prohibited VF to continue use your number for telemarketing, they will continue. This is against consumer laws and GDPR.

If you are a tourist going to Italy, do not get a Vodafone SIM card plan. Run, do not walk, to another provider. Despite selling you a “special promotion tourist package,“ there is absolutely no information except in Italian. Also despite paying exorbitant fees for ostensibly wide coverage and unlimited data for tourists, Vodafone will almost immediately start texting you in Italian every day, and within one or two days you will get texts telling you that you owe them money - about €0.41 - despite having a plan that you just paid €60 for! It is impossible to get a hold of these guys, it is impossible to use this app. You can’t call them because you just get a recorded message, and fundamentally unless you are fluent in Italian, and have lots of time, you’ll be out of luck. If you don’t pay this your services cut off.

Furthermore, activation of your SIM card can take, unbelievably, up to three days for Vodafone to activate it in Italy!!

So, the reason all of this comes under the review of the app, is because as a customer, it is impossible to use this app, and that is a fair review. There are no language options as others have pointed out to also give it a one star review. For an international company that sells plans all across Europe, you should be able to just switch for any one of the major (and minor!) European languages. But you can’t. Vodaphone as a technology company stinks!

So, one star for this absolute piece of rubbish app.