Watchdog: Mobile phone contracts whilst OOA

Watchdog has discovered big discrepancies in the way some mobile phone companies treat soldiers who want to suspend their phone contracts before being sent to Afghanistan.

Full story here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2010/05/forces_sweetheart_goes_into_battle.html
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Replies

  • paulofessexpaulofessex Forumite
    1.7K Posts
    In knowing that l am no doubt going to be shouted down on this......after watching the programme l personally cannot understand why our service men and women should be allowed to suspend their contracts, surely during these current times of conflict they know they will be sent to the war zones so why sign up for a 12, 24 month contract. Do they also request the same treatment from the DVLA, car insurance compaines etc.
  • jockettukjockettuk Forumite
    5.8K Posts
    In knowing that l am no doubt going to be shouted down on this......after watching the programme l personally cannot understand why our service men and women should be allowed to suspend their contracts, surely during these current times of conflict they know they will be sent to the war zones so why sign up for a 12, 24 month contract. Do they also request the same treatment from the DVLA, car insurance compaines etc.


    i dont see why not.. to get better deals from phone companys you have to sign up for longer contracts, its not like they are paid a fortune so need to get best deals going..

    god forbid they killed in the line of duty and still made to pay
    Those we love don't go away,They walk beside us every day,Unseen, unheard, but always near,
    Still loved, still missed and very dear
    Our thoughts are ever with you,Though you have passed away.And those who loved you dearly,
    Are thinking of you today.
  • Andy_LAndy_L Forumite
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    Looking at the company responses on the link all the big players seem happy to suspend contracts. Non-story imo, just requires people to sort out their admin before deployment.

    Expanding on Pauls point - if the're out of pocket due to a deployment then why should a private company pick up the bill rather than the MoD?
  • barbie22193barbie22193 Forumite
    104 Posts
    paulofessex,
    (my dh is in the forces so please forgive me if i get defensive :) )
    when a serviceman gets sent abroad they can do some thing regarding their cars, alot of companies have respect for the job our serviceman/women do and are very understanding, but a few are not.
    i feel they should be allowed to suspend the contracts, they dont ask to get sent away from friends/family for months on end do they? to leave their children and miss out on the important mile stones they make, i know its part of the job in some trades but it doenst make it easy for them.
    my dh is going away for 4 months and cant take his contract but we have it so we have 1 contract and 1 payg between us so we can get the best of both worlds, while hes away i will have the contract, its not even like they can use the phone over their, singal is terrible to get and the prices for using contracts are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over the top, all the extra charges.
    i think some companies just need alittle compassion and to stop thinking about their profits,

    and surely they only want to suspend not end!! so the contract would be resumed when they return to home soil

    but like i said i am biast, sorry its all been percived nicely, the way i intended i hope :)
    2010 wins: cadburys cream egg ball, £30 voucher,micropet, wii newu game, micro-chips x6, doritos chips & dip, koala x2, Eylure goody bag , Fanimal x2, Jaffa cake goal posts x2, ST IVES SCRUB,puddle puppy x2,football x2,vest &tshirt,picnic hamper,mascara,pink wig,rimmel sunshimmer,
  • CHR15CHR15 Forumite
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    When I was serving I never even considered trying to put my contract on hold, neither did anyone else I served with. It was just one of those things.

    This is just another story for the tabloids to jump on, I very much doubt it is causing outrage amongst the ranks in any great number.

    The additional money you receive when deployed more then makes up for a poxy mobile phone contract.

    Most people will take the phones with them despite the poor signal and high charges, there is also an option to leave the thing at home and let someone else make use of it (but I don't know anyone who did that!)
  • EmmEveEmmEve Forumite
    260 Posts
    I thought mobile phones weren't allowed in theatre?!

    To be fair paulofessex most people are going out at least once every 2 yrs at present if not more so in the case of 24 mth contract its a choice of signing up and not being able to use it for 6 mths or just never buying one!

    As for the DVLA they could declare their cars SORN if they wanted to and not need any insurance. If its not declared SORN insurance is still needed anyway whether they are driving it or not so not really comparable to a mobile phone contract imo. In my case i still use the car whilst my partner is away.

    However saying all that the suspension of phone contracts is a goodwill gesture at the end of the day, its nice but shouldn't be expected. If people feel that strongly presumably they would do their research and choose a company that they know will offer such a gesture.
  • fyimatefyimate Forumite
    44 Posts
    Maybe this whole phone contract thing isnt a major issue for most soldiers but I think the fact that phone companies couldnt give a hoot and made things so difficult is just irritating.
    I got quite angry when I saw this issue on watchdog, I don't understand why our government and country has made things so hard for our troops and ex troops.
    We actually have a veteran who fought in WWI & II, in Australia who has said he would NEVER come back to England because he gets treated much better in Australia than he would here! Now if that doesnt tell you something I dont know what will, it's shameful.

    Ok rant over! :p
    It is what it is :wall:
  • CHR15CHR15 Forumite
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    Shameful too was the treatment of the Chinese serving as Laundrymen when Hong Kong was handed back.

    Many many years of good service to Servicemen by those guys (and I do mean hard work) was rewarded with a ticket out of the Country once Hong Kong was handed back.

    They took the same risks (and suffered the same casualties) standing side by side of people they could barely understand without complaint.
  • oscardogoscardog Forumite
    364 Posts
    In knowing that l am no doubt going to be shouted down on this......after watching the programme l personally cannot understand why our service men and women should be allowed to suspend their contracts, surely during these current times of conflict they know they will be sent to the war zones so why sign up for a 12, 24 month contract. Do they also request the same treatment from the DVLA, car insurance compaines etc.

    We do often get sent away at short notice so one cannot always plan a nice neat life when it can be subjected to considerable upheaval in a moment.

    Terms of service I know but a little public support is always welcome.
  • Marker_2Marker_2 Forumite
    3.3K Posts
    CHR15 wrote: »

    The additional money you receive when deployed more then makes up for a poxy mobile phone contract.

    Lol does it? When my husband goes away for six months, he and we deserve to spend the bonus (which is no where near justifiable for what the majority do out there) on nice family things and not poxy mobile phone contracts and other money related issues we may incurr for their deployment.

    My husband was with Vodafone and they were more than accommodating when he deployed so thumbs up from me to that company (or at least the rep I spoke to). They didnt have to suspend his contract for 6 months but they did and we were very greatful.
    99.9% of my posts include sarcasm!
    Touch my bum :money:
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