Contract ends soon, where do I stand?

Jamie85

Hi, for the past 5 or so years I have got a phone on a 12 month contract, then canceled after the 12 months because I could always get a better deal as a new customer (free phone, where as I was being quoted a large amount to stay on my current plans and get an upgrade). Anyway, I was alerted yesterday that my current deal is up for renewal/cancellation soon as Vodafone phoned me with offers of new deals, so I told them I was busy to give me time to assess my situation so I could get back to them on my terms. I currently pay £16 p/m on Vodafone, thats with 900 off peak minutes & 250 txt a month, but browsing the net, it seems this tariff is no longer available? I really want to keep this as it suites me perfect. Having read the MSE newsletter earlier, I was wondering if anyone could give me any info on the following;

1. If Vodafone no longer offer my Tariff, after my 18 month contract expires, can I continue to pay this? or will I be forced to sign on for a further 12 months on a new deal?

2. I'm happy paying £16 for what I get, and don't think there is anything better around, though I read Martins email with interest, if I phone up Vodafone, instead of trying to barter for more minutes or text's as what I have is fine.....am I in a position to ask for an upgrade to any phone I like on the condition I sign on for 12 more months etc? and then threaten to cancel if this is not agreed, as started in the Newsletter.

The long and short really being that I'm happy with my current plan, but I'm after a new phone as my Nokia 6230i is starting to develop faults so I want rid

any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

kai666

you can stay on your tariff as long as you like. You just remain on 30 days notice with vodafone until you do something about it. My tariff hasn't existed for about 5 years. I keep onto it as it is an off peak tariff with 10p a min vodafone to vodafone peak rate calls, as opposed to the current 35p or whatever it is

You can also upgrade your phone and stay on the same tariff, thats what I did in december, though the chances are you won't get such a good upgrade deal, as it will be one of the ways they will try and get you off it onto a newer tariff

They may also try and get you to sign an 18 month contract if you want to stay on your old tariff. Thats what they tried with me. They stared that I could only upgrade and stay on the same contract if I signed up for 18 months

That was over the phone ringing 191. In the end I upgraded in a shop, and they didn't make me sign up for another 18 months, which I didn't want to do anyway

Jamie85

Thanks a lot for the info Kai thats good I can stay on my tariff, because there doesn't seem to be the deals around the moment which are so good. If a free upgrade (provided I can chose what I want) means signing a new 18 month contract, then that would be fine with me, because really I'm just after a new phone because the camera has developed lines on the picture and the vibrate doesn't always work on what I have......though I really want a sleek new one :cool:

Out of interest, when you say you upgraded in a shop, how does that work? like the Vodafone shop? sorry, probably a stupid question, just wondering if I walk in to a shop in the high street, what would they gain from giving me a new phone?

Thanks

kai666

I upgraded in a vodafone shop. I hadn't upgraded for years as I was with singlepoint, who said I had to change tariffs to get a new phone. None of the tariffs have ever been as good as the one I was on, so didn't want to lose it. When vodafone took them over they allowed me to upgrade and keep the same tariff. So after 5 years or so finally got a new phone!!

What do they gain from giving you a new phone? tying you in for another 12-18 months I guess

Jamie85

Ahh thanks a lot, I wasn't sure if you mean you did it in The Link or something but I will go in to Vodafone and see what they offer me.

*!*HIBS*!*

:think: If you want a new phone and rather than signing up to Vodafone for say another 12 months just to get a new phone, have you considered about taking up one of those cashback deals where you get free line rental for 12 months on a 12 month contract? This will mean that your Vodafone will become a rolling contract and you can cancel anytime (providing you give 30 days written notice), rather than wait until the contract term is finished to cancel. The advantages I see to this is that if you get an unlocked phone (assuming you go for the 12 months free line rental deal and your not bothered about the phone, just one that works), you can switch sims to be used in your phones. Pop in your existing Vodafone sim card into the new phone and use that, and then for other calls/texts use the cashback sim in your old phone. This means that you also get extra free mins/texts (from the cashback deal sim) to use for 12 months (assuming all goes well with the cashbacks), thereby reducing the amount of your phone bills over the year. Going through Quidco to take up one of these deals will further reduce the annual cost of your bills, as you will be paid to take out one of these 12 months free line rental.

If you go into the Vodafone shops, not only do you get a new phone and already stated, being tied up for another 12/18 months, the sales staff will also be racking up their sales targets. If you go towards the end and if the sales targets are not met, they sometimes can offer you really good deals!

Jamie85

Thanks a lot for the info Hibs.....I actually tried to get one of those clearance W800i deals from e2save last month but was one of the many people to miss out, though I have since decided that I want to get a really good phone even if it does mean having to pay a fee for an upgrade.

voucher_queen_3

Have you looked at changing networks?

T Mobile is doing 750 minutes off peak 50 texts 18 month contact for £12 a month online until end of month

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menuid=plans_offpeak&chosenPricePlan=pmt

Jamie85

Thanks a lot for that didn't come across that one, will take a look.

fabwitch_2

I have just spoken to T Mobile regarding upgrade and was offered £10.00 amonth for 300 of peak calls plus 30 texts and a new phone or £5.00 amonth keeping my old phone. So I took the second option and I am pleased with that, If I use the phone during the day I just put credit onto the phone but this way I know my monthl bill will only be £5.00 for 300 ofpeak minutes and 30 texts.

Jamie85

Thanks for the reply fabwitch thats a great deal, I hope Vodafone will be similar, I'm not to fussed about getting my monthly bill down, I just want a new flashy phone