Vodafone: A very pleasant surprise!

ashnojutsu

I see where you are going, I would assume that the discount would be until the end of the phone's contract (24 months). So I'll have six months at half price, unless the discount is applied for the lifetime of the contract in which case I'll keep it forever!

jayukps

Discounts end 3 months befor the contract end so your discount would end at 21 months of your 24 month contract usually

ashnojutsu

Yes, that seems likely as I am eligible for an upgrade in the 21st month of the contract. I wonder what phones and deals will be available by then?

chriswatts

I've just moved from T-mobile after getting a better deal than T-mobile (they just don't bother do they!) I'm noticing that they include more texts in the standard package than T-mobile. Don't think I've ever paid contract price on T-mobile as there's always something not included.

MrsTinks

Interesting as I have just got the HTC Magic free with a £24 something a month for 600 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited internet usage on the handset... plus 3 months free insurance which I intend to cancel when it's up and take private insurance out for the handset (their insurance is frankly rubbish! the company who handles it are so appalling at customer service it's shocking!)
But when the handset comes through Monday I'll shop round and see what I can get before calling Vodafone back and seeing what else I can get

chriswatts

Well as long as those unlimited text aren't on T-mobile, if they are they might as well be unlimited texts to your uncle bob! :rolleyes:

A few years ago T-mobile use to provide a similar service to Vodafone but they've gone down hill over the recent years. I don't know if it was just because I was on their flex contract but they stopped allowing you to switch plans after a certain period, those unlimited texts became limited to just mobile numbers and not short codes. Even after my contract ended they wanted me to renew the contract to change plan, I could renew the contract without a new phone for a lower price or take a new phone or a free phone if the plan was increased. Also I couldn't pay the contract in advance which previously would have resulted in a discount.

Add in the fact that you have to leave T-mobile to get the best deal (I use alternate between T-mobile and Virgin mobile (aka T-mobiles in disguise )) they aren't very good on retention.

ashnojutsu

I was discussing this at work, and a colleague told me his brother works for t-mobile, and told about the retentions process. Basically, customers are profiled and groups into bronze, silver, and gold "tiers", according to the following categories:

1. Consistent payment: Have you always paid on time, or have any direct debits bounced etc?
2. How much your average bill comes to: This is the big one, if your bills regularly come to £50-£60, t-mobile will bend over backwards to keep you. If you hardly ever go over your allowance, then they are less likely to offer you a good deal to stay.
3. There maybe more, like length of contract, average usage of allowance etc but the first two are the most important.

I was quite good on the first (in eight years only a single DD payment bounced due to lack of funds), but on the second I tended to stick to my allowance limits (and rightly so). If was a big spender I guess t-mobile would have moved heaven and earth to keep me, but as it is, they are £20 worse off each month because of lacklustre retention deals.

MrsTinks

No it's a vodafone thread so I assumed people would guess I meant the unlimited texts are on a vodafone contract (also I think HTC handsets are Vodafone only - like the iPhone is O2...)

chriswatts

Sorry there I assumed that you were referring to the previous message before yours when you posted saying it was interesting and that you'd managed to get that deal on T-mobile. Although for standard rate text messages it does seem that Vodafones inclusive text messages are inclusive unlike other networks, for someone who emails more and who's texts are all to short codes certainly a pleasant surprise.

ashnojutsu

Well, my first bill arrived and guess what? No discounts had been applied! :rolleyes:
Got off the phone to vodafone customer care, and they have credited my account with the amount overcharged and have promised that next month's bill will show the correct amount. Now I can only wait...