HTC Desire Vodafone 500mb Fair Usage Policy

gjchester

bym007 wrote: »

I am so surprised, that so far out of so many posters, not one lawyer has come forward!

Or they read the contract and proposed changes and saw it was not a policy change and realised there was no case to answer...

gjchester

CaptainD wrote: »

Another reason to cancel the contract-


Smart phones require software updates, some of them may address security concerns and may be critical to the operation of the handset.

You should not have to pay for such updates, regardless of where in the world you are. Some of these can be large files and cost a minimum of £10 according to the roaming charges.

£1 per MB is wholly unaccepable anyway, even more so when its for something that vodafone have a duty to provide for free!!

Tom: Next time I go on holiday and someone steals my personal data as a result of me delaying a software update due to these excessive roaming charges; can you confirm that vodafone will be responsible for any loss or damage that occurs as a result.

Also, can you confirm that these updates should form part of the 500MB data allowance if I choose to download them in the UK?

No chance. The simple answer was you knew this may be the case when you took out the phone.

To be honest in the years I've had smart phones they have never had updates, my Windows mobile *NEVER* got any updates. Once the phone ships then that usually it for firmware, remember not only does the vendor have to release a new code but the operator (ie Vodafone) need to tweak it too. The only ones I know of is the Nexus One direct from Google had a few and the Iphone which gets them via itunes and the Itunes one doesn't come over the air anyway.

Vodafone charges for data and your using data, so you have to pay, what you use it for is irrelevent. Would you also say Vodafone should let you download windows update to your laptop for free too as it's a security patch. Anything you dowenload the phone comes out of the 500MB be it upgrades, patches, email, web or anything else.

Consequensial loss (ie loss of data on your device by theft of it or the data or actual loss) is not something you will get on a consumer level contract. If you want that get a business level contract and pay the increased charges that come with consequntial loss cover.

kaahu

:mad:Good job guys!

karatedragon

My Vodafone contract says 500MB Fair Use Policy.

CaptainD_2

gjchester wrote: »

No chance. The simple answer was you knew this may be the case when you took out the phone.

To be honest in the years I've had smart phones they have never had updates, my Windows mobile *NEVER* got any updates. Once the phone ships then that usually it for firmware, remember not only does the vendor have to release a new code but the operator (ie Vodafone) need to tweak it too. The only ones I know of is the Nexus One direct from Google had a few and the Iphone which gets them via itunes and the Itunes one doesn't come over the air anyway.

Vodafone charges for data and your using data, so you have to pay, what you use it for is irrelevent. Would you also say Vodafone should let you download windows update to your laptop for free too as it's a security patch. Anything you dowenload the phone comes out of the 500MB be it upgrades, patches, email, web or anything else.

Consequensial loss (ie loss of data on your device by theft of it or the data or actual loss) is not something you will get on a consumer level contract. If you want that get a business level contract and pay the increased charges that come with consequntial loss cover.

Of course I would not expect Vodafone to do anything if that were to happen, it is an extreme situation and very unlikely; admittedly I was playing devils advocate and not being entirely serious when I suggested it-

Just as you are probably being when you suggest would they let me download a patch for my laptop lol

If the laptop was on contract with vodafone (ie on a data package) and needed an update, them yes I would; But then again the data allowances on the data packages are more generous, so likely I would not be too fussed if this was not included as likely I would not have to make any sacrifices or modify my internet useage to be able to download it.

I would expect 500MB fair use to be MY fair use, to be the data that I choose to use, not the data that THE DEVICE needs. Thats out of my control and there is a big difference there.

I state again the first update for maemo was 90MB, theres another one coming soon I think?......now there is a good chance that these updates are going to start costing you money if you want to apply them.

Its just another thing that has been given no consideration when setting this limits, like you say the nexus one has had 'a few' updates, who knows how big those filesizes are? Maybe they do come round once a blue moon, but you need to make allowance for this.

My point is that they marketed these phones as 'unlimited' which promises a degree of freedom to the consumer, the more you analyze what they are offering you actually find you have very little freedom- even just keeping the device switched on as some people are finding will put you over the limit.

CaptainD_2

simon1 wrote: »

I just got my first ever smartphone ten days ago (Desire) and it has the option to switch off all data when roaming, ie when outside the UK. So all I am able to do is get calls/texts and use wifi. I can turn on roaming data if I wish but it's under a couple of menus so thankfully not easy to do. I'm sure every smartphone has this. I'm on a trip right now and have not used a kb on data for 7 days. If I can work it out, anyone can!

Yes, but that is Vodafones answer for everything 'well you'll have to switch it off then won't you', its not a SOLUTION.

So lets get this straight, you take a smartphone on holiday, don't use an ounce of data for a week.......and you are happy? Does that not defeat the object of taking a smartphone on holiday?

T-mobile offer roaming data packages, now I'm with them, I could select a variety of boosters that will allow me to use data when I'm travelling.

I could select a 200MB data package for just £40, that would be perfectly adequate for a weeks vacation and give me all the freedom I would ever need. Vodafone would charge you £200 for the same.

I could download as much stuff as I wanted on holiday, any google maps, make train/hotel reservations, receive all my emails, apply any software updates, book flights and look up tourist information. I could probably even watch eastenders too. Free of fear and worry.

You can't do anything with yours, you may as well leave it in the safe deposit box in the hotel and take a cheap PAYG out with you instead because you are gaining absolutely no benefit in roaming with a smartphone on VF. Its just a liability, and one with probably poor battery life.

Oh actually, sorry, you can download 50* mobile web pages according to vodafone for 1MB. Should only cost you a pound. care to give it a try for us?

(*statistics generated from the Vodafone random number generator, may not be a fair reflection of usage. Most of these handsets don't even display mobile internet pages anyway, so realistically no ones ever going to put it to the test. In reality we've never actually tried it, it just sounded good for marketing purposes so we thought we'd throw it in there to make it sound like charging per 1MB for an 'always on' smartphone is reasonable.)

CaptainD_2

Anyway, As my beef with vf appears to be resolved as I am out; probably time for me to sign of as I have nothing further to add to the discussion and I seem to be digressing somewhat (sorry!) :beer:

Would not have been at all possible without all the useful information I got from this thread though- in fairness I probably wouldn't have even known about the proposed stealth plans and would likely have only found out when the first bill landed on my doorstep- thanks to all for your help, greatly appreciated

Best of luck to all with the continued struggle and hope it gets resolved successfully for you all.

//CD

N20Y1D

gjchester wrote: »

Or they read the contract and proposed changes and saw it was not a policy change and realised there was no case to answer...

You say yourself they are changing the contract, yet you insist they are not...:rotfl:

Woby_Tide

bym007 wrote: »

I suppose when people talk about "can't cancel", it means "can't cancel without penalty" generally.

Reading the Voda forums it more comes down to "How can I cancel the contract and keep my £300+ handset for nothing?"

If people were willing to return the handset I think Voda would cancel most contracts without penalty from some of the posts/offers. But it still seems to be an almighty mess

DarkConvict

Its a difficult decision, the contract price subsidies the phone contract so to hand it back could be seen as a loss for the customer to hand over a £200+ phone near the end or even mid way through when they could have got a same deal alot cheaper if they had no phone..
But i don't argue people use changes to ditch a contract and walk away with a phone then use a SIM only contract at a fraction of the price.
But you can then argue that VF shouldn't change the terms and conditions. Just version the T&Cs apply it to a contract and don't change it, just sell the news contracts and renewals with the new versions.
In my opinion, VF are more to blame for not having a better way of introducing changes to only new contracts.