Vodafone treating me badly

scum2k

Hi folks, I'd appreciate any advice on this matter.

So after a good few years with Vodafone I was finally lured away by O2 in order to unlock my second hand IPhone for use with other networks, however I've had a pretty awful experience cancelling with them.

So I rang up in August to find out what the process was, I was told 'just get your PAC number, pass it to the new company and your contract will end the day it goes through'. Great, or so I thought.

So last week I asked for my PAC code and passed it to O2 today. Then I rang vodafone and was told that I would still receive service for 30 days since I had not put anything in writing AND that I would not be able to use the final 30 days of service since my number would now 'belong' to O2.

The helpful man is question then went on to describe to the process by telling me to imagine I had a big pile of money and I gave that to Vodafone and that pile now belonged to Vodafone and they could do as they wish!!!??? Truly inspiring customer service.

Anyway, this seems unfair, if I am made to still be charged for service for 30 days should they not provide me with a temporary number for my sim card so I can actually utilise my free minutes and texts before the contract truly ends?

Does anyone have any experience with this? I was left feeling shakey and angry, I have loved and recommended Vodafone for years and to end like this surely is not in their best interests!? I only moved to O2 to unlock my IPhone and was going to come back to them in 12 months. Now I''ll take some convicing.

speedbird1973

Vodafone make it clear that when you finish your fixed term contract you go onto a rolling 30 day contract (you're not technically out of out contract despite the common terminology). They also make it clear that this needs to be terminated in writing.

A little bit of graciousness on their part would be nice to be honest, but they are in the right.

scum2k

Thanks for clarifying speedbird, so do you perhaps know if I still need to write to them to cancel or will my PAC code make that happen automatically, I have since rung yet another Vodafone representative who wasn't sure and couldn't ask anyone else since they were all on the phone..... makes me wonder what I saw in them all that time.

I checked the website but am none the wiser.

OneADay

If you have used the PAC code and ported number out, you will now just get billed the 30 days as your final bill. If you had terminated early, then it would be upto the contract length period.

You should not need do anything now - just wait for final bill.

Had you put it in writing that you wanted to end contract on a particular day with 30 days notice, then you would have had usage of your service up to that date. Its the same with every network so cant blame vodafone.

Astec

You should actually be billed for 30 days from when the PAC was issued, not from when it was used.

When cancelling or requesting PAC you must give 30 days notice, as per your contract. Best thing to do with a PAC is to request it then wait 25 or so days before you use it (it takes a few days to xfer number). This means your not paying twice for a whole month.

Although not tactful, the CS rep was right.

scum2k

Thanks folks, well I should only get charged for 3 weeks then, I better get on the blower and see if I can use up all my free minutes over the weekend

Buzby

I have to say giving 30 days notice is fair and reasonable. The facility to transfer your number is (relatively) recent and is a side issue only. Yes, a PAC will usually generate a cancellation, but the 30 days notice period will always remain, and yes - ALWAYS provide this in writing to confirm, as this saves problems down the line should your network try and compicate matters by suggesting that as they sent you a prepay SIM your cancellation would not be active until this took place. (Your written request to leave giving 30 days trumps this nonsense).

Clearly, since you have to give 30 days notice, you give this at the earliest opportunity so that you get the full value form yor final month. Porting and having to pay for a month you cannot use is NT unfair, but pretty stupid!