Not allowed to upgrade Vodafone contract!?

DailyClicker

Hey,

I'm currently on Vodafone SIM only contract (600 mins/unlimited texts/12 months) for £20/month. I'm around 6 months into my contract, and have just noticed quite a few better offers pop up on HotUKDeals.

The current packages that are available:

• 900 mins/unlimited texts/12 month contract - £20/month (300 more minutes than my current package)
• 600 mins/unlimited texts/12 month contract - £15/month (£5 cheaper than my current package but exactly the same)

They are not willing to upgrade or downgrade my account until 2 months before it ends. This is really disappointing, I don't mind signing a new 12 month contract either meaning they will make more money from me overall.

I'm also looking to get a Blackberry, either Bold or 8900 Curve.

• Blackberry 8900 Curve - 24 month contract - £30/month - 600 mins/unlimited texts/unlimited internet & email
• Blackberry Bold - 24 month contract - £35/month - 600 mins/unlimited texts/unlimited internet & email

They won't even let me upgrade to one of those packages, even though I'd be paying more money and be locked into a 24 month contract.

Can anyone give me advise on what I can do, and which out of them two Blackberry's you would reccomend.

Thanks

CrazyClum

Sorry to be a killjoy but there is nothing you can do.

When you put pen to paper you signed for the duration of your contract. Over this time your line rental pays the handset(although not in your case) you have and the minutes you use. It just wouldn't be economical to upgrade everyone or anyone after six months unless the contract was £100 a month!

I've tried lots of times to upgrade my old phones during their contract. I advise you to look for loopholes.

The networks can be stubborn - break them down, give them a sob story etc!

Eg -

1) Carphone Warehouse changed O2 prices to 0845 - I got out of contract and got better deal with Three
2) Three changed minimum charge to 1 minute - I got out of contract only 4 months in and sold my handset as new for over £100.

Currently got an iPhone with no intention of leaving!

Good Luck - scour that contract!

macman

Their definition of 'upgrade' is: you pay more per month. One of the 2 packages you list is the same price, one is less-why would that possibly benefit Vodafone to allow you to change?
I think that your definition is probably: more minutes/texts, or a newer phone!

DailyClicker

macman wrote: »

Their definition of 'upgrade' is: you pay more per month. One of the 2 packages you list is the same price, one is less-why would that possibly benefit Vodafone to allow you to change?
I think that your definition is probably: more minutes/texts, or a newer phone!

Sorry I wasn't too clear, the first two I listed I understand are not an upgrade, but the £35/month package with Blackberry for 24 months surely counts as an upgrade?

OneADay

You are allowed to upgrade in 11th month of a 12 month contract.

macman

DailyClicker wrote: »

Sorry I wasn't too clear, the first two I listed I understand are not an upgrade, but the £35/month package with Blackberry for 24 months surely counts as an upgrade?

You are missing the point, which CrazyClum clearly makes. If you are only 6 months into your existing contract, and you have a handset worth say £2-300 from that, then they need to earn enough from that contract to recover the handset subsidy before they'll want to give you an even more heavily subsidised Blackberry.

DailyClicker

macman wrote: »

You are missing the point, which CrazyClum clearly makes. If you are only 6 months into your existing contract, and you have a handset worth say £2-300 from that, then they need to earn enough from that contract to recover the handset subsidy before they'll want to give you an even more heavily subsidised Blackberry.

I'm on a SIM only package though? This package that I'm on for £20/month does not include a phone, so I don't see where they are making a loss?

And if anyone has recently managed to get out of a Vodafone contract via some clause they have found, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it!

Thanks

Vodafone

Hi DailyClicker,

If you'd like the Web Relations Team to take a look at this feel free to email your details to us using the 'Contact us' form on our website here. Naturally I can't promise anything but we'd be happy to take a closer look at things to see what your options are.

When sending the email could you include a link to this thread within the body of it and state the code WRT135 in the subject line to make sure it comes through to us?

Thanks,

Lee

Web Relations Team

Vodafone UK