Vodafone Mobile Broadband Cancellation

Brockney_C

Hi people!

Looking for a definitive answer here (ie one quoting a section of the law) if suchanswers exist.....

I took out a Vodafone Mobile Broadband contract in August 2008.

I called on June 26th this year to query the end date of the contract and was told it was August 22nd 2010. I asked to cancel it, and after being offered various deals I explained I no longer use it. I was then told to write in, and given the link to do so by email.

I emailed on June 26th 2010 to request cancellation of my contract upon expiry on August 22nd. The reply I received is copied and pasted below (exactly has received):

'Thanks for your email to Vodafone about your USB dongle. It a little for us to put your number ready for cancellation as its only 30 days notice we need. Please contact us in about 2 weeks to put this through.'

I did not contact them in 'about' 2 weeks but I resubmitted the request on 28th July. I then receive a reply stating the contract would be terminated on 27th August.

My question is, why my original request could not be honoured? Customer services told me they have to receive notice of cancellation PRECISELY 30 days before end of contract or an early termination fee would apply. Any later and the contract would continue past expiry.

When I mentioned there would have been no point in coontacting them 'in about 2 weeks to put this through.' all she could do is apologise. I said an apology was not good enough and that if somebody stole money from me in a shop I would expect it back.

Where does this 30 day notice stand within the law? I gave this with prior warning and did not expect them to cancel early, simply asked the contract to be honoured.

Additionally, about the vague wording in the original reply, this surely shows that they dont have a clear system themselves.

Incidentally, when I cancelled a T-mobile contract in June they did it on the phone on the day. As you can imagine, I am still quite happy to use them!!

Brockney_C

I called again this morning and spoke to the Online Team, who activated the cancellation of my contract on the date originally requested. They also applied a credit of £6 for the cost of yesterday's call (which exceeded one hour)

The entire process took approximately 3 minutes.

Incidentally, when I called Trading Standards, they advised me it would be easier to simply pay what they requested!!! A bit like telling a child to give his dinner money to the schoolyard bully upon request!!!

The theft of money from the mainstream economy by these methods must be phenomenal, no wonder we are in recession......!!

I am glad I found a solution to this corporate thuggery, I just hope this posting helps others experiencing similar situations.