HTC Desire Vodafone 500mb Fair Usage Policy

andywicks

Just posted this over on the VF Forum:

@Tom_Vodafone, I have a few questions regarding the updated announcement (here)

1) It states:
-- These new charges come into effect on 1st October 2010
-- In order to cancel, you must put your request in writing before these new charges come into effect.
-- You will not be eligible to cancel if you have not received on of the required text messages

What happens if, like me, you have not received any of these text messages yet know that these charges will affect you - it is clear to see from my previous usage history that these charges will affect me as my usage has consistently been higher than 500MB (in many cases over 1GB)? Are you trying to say that I will not be able to cancel as I haven't received any of these text messages?

2) In one of your posts you state
"The truth is it's difficult to say at first glances whether any particular individual can cancel or not, which is why the announcement doesn't mention any specifics. If you believe you should be entitled to cancel, it's best for you to write to us following the instructions in that thread under point (2). We'll then be back in touch as soon as possible."

Surely the Terms and Conditions provide a clear-cut case as to whether you would be able to cancel or not? If this is not the case then Vodafone are wrong in stating the introduction of these new charges is a commercial decision as the rules are being applied on a person-by-person basis. If this is the case then this becomes something that comes under the remit OTELO.

3) If this is a commercial decision and it being applied uniformly to all customers on an appropriate price-plan, then why are not all customers who use 'excessive' amounts of data not receiving the text messages? I know that for the past few months I have used more than 1GB of data (1.1GB, 1.4GB, 2.2GB and 2.4GB) and have not received a single text message notification whilst at the same time I know others who haven't even used 1GB and yet they have received numerous text message notifications.
A response to my questions would be much appreciated,

Andy

Andy

4$£&*(£$&*(!

This is all a very clever ploy from Vodafone.

Realistically, in order to cancel right now you must have received the text mentioning money. If you do, you can try to cancel but they will make it hard for you (see pages 1 to 72 of this thread). If you haven't received the text, or you have been under 500Mb up to now, you have to exceed the 500Mb limit for your billing month that ends in September and again for your billing month that ends in October. That way you will get charged the £5 but because it's compared on your previous month's usage, you can say 'ahha, but you didn't charge me for this last month, therefore I can go under clause 11.2(c)'.

In other words, if you want to cancel but haven't already gone over your 500Mb cap or you haven't received the text mentioning how much it will cost you, you have to use over your allowance for the billing month ending in September. If you don't, but you do in October, chances are you'll be told you cannot cancel as compared to the previous month you was under the limit.

Still with me?

Sooo... anyone who hasn't gone over their limit before October but then do and get charged will be told tough, they didn't tell you about the change as you was always under the limit before, it's your fault your use has changed not theirs.

But... and this is the clever bit... Vodafone reckon only 3% of users ever go near 500Mb, so that's only 3% of customers who will ever get a warning. Out of those, a lot will be warned off by the message they're about to hit the limit so let's say that knocks half out. Down to 1.5% of customers. Out of those, there will be a hardcore fighting Vodafone (i.e. most on this thread I should imagine) which will account for let's say 0.5%, and the other 1% watching to see what happens. They have dragged this out so well on their forum, adding on at least a week's time since someone asked the initial question does the £5 text mean they can cancel; meaning we are only 5 and a half weeks from October.

They can accept people's cancellation letters with a 30 day termination period. What if they didn't write to people with PAC codes until the 30 days is nearly up? That takes you to 22 September. What's the first thing people are going to do when they get their PAC code? Post on here about it. That's going to trigger the other 1% of people who are watching to see what happens to actually write in.

Vodafone will say at that point you had to write in 14 days before the charges come into force, you're too late. Meaning on these very rough, back-of-a-fag-packet type figures, only 0.5% of their customers will cancel penalty free.

ZootHornRollo

i got my text today.

Is there an up to date cancellation letter posted online anywhere? The one on bitter wallet is still referring to the eforum 'announcements' made way back in May.

Notsram

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

i got my text today.

Is there an up to date cancellation letter posted online anywhere? The one on bitter wallet is still referring to the eforum 'announcements' made way back in May.

I'd be interested in seeing an up-to-date letter as well. As you state, the Bitterwallet one is a little out of date now. I could probably cowboy something together from it, but would be far better to have something new from somebody who knows how to word these things

Notsram

Vodafone have now updated (again) the announcement on this, including more details of what constitutes' proof'.

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/index.php?showannouncement=137

bym007

I have been regularly exceeding 500MB on my Internet FUP for past few weeks. Does anyone know whats happening, or am I cool to carry on enjoying the package while my 18 months last ?

Notsram

bym007 wrote: »

I have been regularly exceeding 500MB on my Internet FUP for past few weeks. Does anyone know whats happening, or am I cool to carry on enjoying the package while my 18 months last ?

It seems to vary from person to person. I got my new phone and started getting texts from Vodafone saying I was over my limit in the first month, wheras I know of others who've been going over the limit for months and haven't had any texts yet.

Is this the first month you've gone over the limit?

bym007

I have just had a look, and here is my usage for previous months:

previous months +1.00 GB
July 880 MB
Aug 442 MB (moving to new house, hence less time to enjoy mobile Internet)
current month 1.07 GB

*note my billing runs 22nd to 21st of every month.

I have been using SPB Wireless Monitor on my HTC HD2 to watch my 'net diet.
Funny enough, I have never seen a message telling me to curb my 'net enthusiasm!

4$£&*(£$&*(!

Someone else has that problem on the Vodafone forums, they posted about not receiving any texts despite being well over use and asked how do they go about cancelling if they are subsequently charged.

Vodafone have not answered this, but what they have said is you cannot cancel if you do not receive one of their new text messages about it; and you must send a written cancellation request 14 days before the new charges commence (I make that 16 September as the last day they have to receive your letter by, and I would encourage everyone to use recorded delivery following my experience of them not receiving letters).

bym007

CitySlicker wrote: »

Someone else has that problem on the Vodafone forums, they posted about not receiving any texts despite being well over use and asked how do they go about cancelling if they are subsequently charged.

Vodafone have not answered this, but what they have said is you cannot cancel if you do not receive one of their new text messages about it; and you must send a written cancellation request 14 days before the new charges commence (I make that 16 September as the last day they have to receive your letter by, and I would encourage everyone to use recorded delivery following my experience of them not receiving letters).

So do you mean that, if Vodafone do not send me a message about these new charges, and subsequently choose to charge me £5, I cannot do anything about it ?