Vodafone users are being urged to act after being hit by a major broadband outage affecting thousandsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Brits were left without internet or mobile data as Vodafone said a ‘major issue’ was affecting broadband'(Image: Jose Sarmento Matos/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Vodafone’s mass outage has left thousands of users across Britain grappling with internet and mobile services issues, with the disruption starting to approach the 24-hour mark.
The upheaval began shortly after 3pm on Monday, October 13, with widespread reports of issues impacting broadband, 4G and 5G services. And reports are still filtering into Downdetector, a mass outage website, today on October 14.
The outage left over 130,000 people unable to get online at its peak, sparking fury among users, workers and businesses who were all relying on connectivity. And Vodafone customers are now demanding compensation.
If you were among the thousands of UK users affected by Vodafone’s significant broadband outage on October 13, you might be entitled to some compensation.
As a part of Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme, the UK Internet Service Provider (ISP) is obligated to refund customers when service disruptions occur.
As of October 14, broadband seemingly remains down in several major cities including Glasgow and London(Image: Getty)
Vodafone can sometimes automatically issue payments if it recognises that it has missed a deadline or failed to rectify a service within an agreed timeframe, reports the Express.
However, there are instances where you must inform them if issues persist.
If your internet connection remains offline, it would be wise to contact them.
“If you’re experiencing issues with your broadband, please get in touch with us,” Vodafone advised on its website.
Will you receive compensation for this recent outage?
Vodafone confirmed it was “aware of a major issue on our network affecting broadband, 4G and 5G services”(Image: Getty)
It seems most users have now regained their online access, which means no compensation is currently available.
As Ofcom clarifies: “As a landline or broadband customer, you would be entitled to compensation if your service has stopped working and it is not fully fixed after two full working days.”
If your connection remains offline until tomorrow, Wednesday, October 15, and you’ve notified Vodafone, then you could receive £9.98 for each calendar day that the service isn’t repaired.
“If your broadband or landline service stops working, you will simply have to report the fault to your provider,” Ofcom further added.
“If the service is not fixed after two full working days, you would not need to ask for compensation or contact your provider again, as your provider has systems in place that mean you will start receiving compensation automatically if the repair takes too long.
“You will receive an initial £9.98 if the service is not fixed two full working days after you report it, and then £9.98 for each full day it is still not fixed after that.”
So, if you’re still experiencing difficulties, reach out to Vodafone directly. However, if you’re completely back online and the disruption only lasted a few hours, you won’t be eligible to make a claim.
You can find the full details here.
In short, there are terms you’ll need to check to decipher whether you are due compo or not. MoneySupermarket states you may be entitled to compensation if broadband faults are frequent or go on for a long time.
It also states that providers must fix problems in a reasonable time frame, and if they don’t you may be able to claim a reduction in the bill.
How long the issue should roll on for you to be entitled to some money, or what the reasonable time frame for it is to be fixed by, though, isn’t stipulated, so we have to surmise it depends on the provider you are with.
Paydays could be delayed in major outage
Vodafone was down for a long period of time leaving customers infuriated(Image: Getty)
Melanie Pizzey, CEO and founder of the Global Payroll Association warns that the impact of the outage remains serious, and “if any kind of disruption persists over the coming days, people could find their paydays being delayed.”
“If this turns out to be more than just a technical issue, such as a cyber attack, the ramifications could be far-reaching,” she added.
“For payroll teams and other operational departments, outages of this nature pose a real risk, particularly in an increasingly digital-first working environment.
“Vodafone could also now face a wave of compensation claims from affected customers and businesses, particularly if financial losses or missed deadlines can be directly linked to the downtime.”
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Addressing the technical difficulties, Vodafone released a statement saying: “For a short time, the Vodafone network had an issue affecting broadband, 4G and 5G services. 2G voice calls and SMS messaging were unaffected and the network is now recovering. We apologise for any inconvenience this caused our customers.”