HTC Desire Vodafone 500mb Fair Usage Policy

4$£&*(£$&*(!

I will post Otelo's take on this to see what you make of it. I even think Ofcom may come down hard on Otelo themselves as I believe both Otelo and Vodafone are misinterpreting their terms of reference, even Ofcom have said this informally to me so both parties could be in trouble here.


I write to advise you that a commercial decision relates to any service old or new that you have with Vodafone.

Otelo cannot get involve in complaints like this due to our own ‘terms of reference’. As we advised in our previous letter 'whether to provide a product or service, and on what terms, are
'commercial decisions'.

Otelo is unable to help you with this. Vodafone have already corresponded with you in advance making you aware of its change in policy and as to when you are likely to be charged.

I advise you to contact Ofcom regarding this matter once more, advising it that Otelo are unable to help.

essex_chris

The real joke is how Vodafone will likely not be treating all customers the same;

They will charge people, but if they kick up a stink they will offer them to move onto a new tariff. If they refuse then Vodafone will likley tell them how their use will be monitored, hoping that they will curtail it, and if they are persistent then perhaps they will not charge the tiny %.

This will mean that they can charge people and raise revenue, move some onto a new deal where they lose the rights they had, and then not lose out on the line rental for the few so all in the accountants will be happy.

Expect more massive profit announcements in another year!

They are supposed to treat all customers the same, apart from the rare exception (eg. me getting a month of free line rental for their repeated account mistakes). It's meant to be a level playing field and all are equal.

ruggedtoast

I've taken out two new contracts for Desires with Vodafone. Both missold as 1 gig "unlimited" with an FUP.

Obviously this doesnt exist, although Vodafone made sure I was well into my commitment period before letting me find that out.

Ive ended up with one phone on a 500mb FUP, and the other on a 1 gig hard cap.

Vodafone have (eventually) offered to change either one to either the 500mb FUP or the 1 gig. Any idea which one is "best" (or least worst) .

Basically I would like to be able to use between 750mb and 1.5 gig each month.

bym007

ruggedtoast wrote: »

I've taken out two new contracts for Desires with Vodafone. Both missold as 1 gig "unlimited" with an FUP.

Obviously this doesnt exist, although Vodafone made sure I was well into my commitment period before letting me find that out.

Ive ended up with one phone on a 500mb FUP, and the other on a 1 gig hard cap.

Vodafone have (eventually) offered to change either one to either the 500mb FUP or the 1 gig. Any idea which one is "best" (or least worst) .

Basically I would like to be able to use between 750mb and 1.5 gig each month.

Neither of them covers 1.5 GB out of box, 1GB is a hard cap. So you use any extra data and they will charge you straight away.

I will stick with 500MB FUP, as it gives me plenty of room to move.

ruggedtoast

The 500mb FUP is great, if Vodafone dont enforce it very strictly. If I use between 750mb and 1.5gig month on month does anyone know what will happen, from experience.

The last VF person I spoke to said a small amount wouldnt be flagged as abuse. Its anyones guess what a "large" amount comprises though.

essex_chris

Your best option is likely to be the 500mb fair use policy - they won't charge you, and if they try and charge you then you might find you can cancel without penalty.

The 1gb option is a hard limit with no fair use policy - if you use 1001mb then you pay £5 to increase your limit to 1500mb. If you use 1501mb then you will be charged a further £5 to increase your limit to 2000mb. And so on...

Notsram

ruggedtoast wrote: »

The 500mb FUP is great, if Vodafone dont enforce it very strictly. If I use between 750mb and 1.5gig month on month does anyone know what will happen, from experience.

The last VF person I spoke to said a small amount wouldnt be flagged as abuse. Its anyones guess what a "large" amount comprises though.

From my experience, they enforce it the first time you go over 500MB. I've only had my new phone just over a month and I've already had 3 warning texts. This despite me using less than 500MB for the whole of the previous two years or so with my old phone.

I'm almost hoping that they do charge me (if anyone's interested why then see my "Misled by Vodafone over 'unlimited' internet" thread) as I'll then be able to cancel and move elsewhere

ruggedtoast

Yeah thats what I thought. Rubbish.

essex_chris

To be fair they have just warned, not enforced it. If you go over the 500mb you will not be charged, and your mobile internet is not speed throttled or turned off.

The texts are an odd thing, they are not notification that you will be charged - that may come later.

If it does come then Vodafone will likely be in breach of contract, so you can leave without penalty.

Fullspizz

The notification system is a joke anyway, last month I got 5 texts for going to just over 1gb and this month I have done the same and had no texts.
There is no consistency with them, I think that now they have put the frighteners onto a lot of the general public, they may leave the few percent (in their eyes) alone as such.
I hope they try to charge me, as I will invoke the cancellation rights.