Apparently, upon calling 191 and then 3 (for Top-Up enquiries), Vodafone are taking a step backwards and withdrawing top-up cards in favour of top-up vouchers. If i hadn't been having problems trying to attach a top-up card to my phone (the system is constantly down), i'd have never known about this.

Surely this is moving backwards, into a system where lots of cardboard waste was being produced, errors were being made entering codes, codes were running out and etc. Why oh why would Vodafone do such a backward move?

I'd presume they're talking about the paper topup vouchers and not the cardboard ones. The paper ones are the ones that are printed out on a receipt from either a paypoint machine or a till such as in Tesco.

It's handier in the fact that you don't need your card to top up, you just ring the number and enter the code. On the other hand, a person could quite easily throw it away thinking it was just an old receipt.

I had heard rumours a couple of months ago most networks were planning on ditching swipe cards in favour of these paper receipt vouchers.

Hmm. Surely it would be better if, like a friend did with a cash machine, you just entered your mobile number into the terminal (Chip & PIN style) and paid your money? That way, there is no danger of people throwing receipts away.

I bet this will cause a nice healthy round of widespread public confusion .

I think they mean they are withdrawing the scratch cards not the plastic top up cards.

No no - it clearly said, and i quote:
"Vodafone are withdrawing electronic top up cards and are replacing them with an electronic voucher system"

i think you will find its the scratch cards not the top up cards they are replacing they would lose too mush money if they stopped the top up cards as they have to pay to make the cards

Its the scratchcards theyre getting rid of not the e-top up cards. Aparantley all the networks are planning on doing it. 3 already do it

Once again, no - according to the message, it states very clearly that they are scrapping top-up cards in favour of an electronic system whereby a receipt is printed, and the code on the receipt is entered manually when you call 2345.

If you want proof, call 191 from your Vodafone phone (free), then press 3 for "Topup and mpay enquiries", and the announcer will very clearly tell you that Vodafone are scrapping topup cards in favour of a manual-code input system.

EDIT: Since you all doubt me, here is the PROOF that i am not lying, nor getting confused about which method is to be deleted. Appoligies for the constant "scratching beep" - this is because of the interference caused by the mobile:
http://tcob-mirror.spymac.net/proof.mp3

What a stupid idea

Having spoken to my very reliable friend at the Vodafone CEO office, they are taking away SCRATCH CARDS and keeping E-TOPUP AND ELECTRONIC VOUCHERs - just like the rest of the networks.

Hope this clears things up

Well,now i'm confused.So which one is it?

I don't suppose you could ask your friend why the e-Top-Up registration system has been down for the past week as well?

I'll put it forward to him tomorrow - though mine was fine when I made my final topup on Monday

three seem to get on well with e-voucher system they also let you topup online(three.co.uk) or using three services on the tringle key do vodafone let you top up using live?

Thanks. It's not the actual top-up process though, it is the system that allows you to link a card to your phone.