Vodafone Contract termination

OneADay

BAA1 wrote: »

Cheers for finding this info, I'll have to read through the T&Cs in detail, but I still think an auto-renewal clause would be deemed as "unfair" in contract law. See this "What Consumer" article as an example.

Afraid its standard practice - even if it is seen as unfair. In an ideal world, we would all like contracts to run for the time we sign up to and turn automatically into pay-n-go deals after the contract ends unless otherwise instructed. But this much logic requires too many brain cells for Ofcom to enforce such rules.

System

OneADay wrote: »

Afraid its standard practice - even if it is seen as unfair. In an ideal world, we would all like contracts to run for the time we sign up to and turn automatically into pay-n-go deals after the contract ends unless otherwise instructed. But this much logic requires too many brain cells for Ofcom to enforce such rules.

I've checked the online T&Cs for the Vodafone Pay Monthly contract.
There is no mention of an auto-renewal at the normal end of the original contract or at the end of any new contract period agreed at the time of a phone upgrade.

It only mentions giving them 30 days notice, which we have done.

So, I'm now armed with the evidence, if Vodafone try this argument, I will see if they can get it upheld by the independent ombudsman under their own Code of Practice.

OneADay

BAA1 wrote: »

I've checked the online T&Cs for the Vodafone Pay Monthly contract.
There is no mention of an auto-renewal at the normal end of the original contract or at the end of any new contract period agreed at the time of a phone upgrade.

It only mentions giving them 30 days notice, which we have done.

So, I'm now armed with the evidence, if Vodafone try this argument, I will see if they can get it upheld by the independent ombudsman under their own Code of Practice.

This is where I got my earlier quote from

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/vodafone-uk/about-this-site/terms-and-conditions/products-and-services/pay-monthly-terms-and-conditions/index.htm

At the top "Minimum period"

n00b_boy

Hi,

Just to check - have you tried a new battery in the phone? It might just be the battery reaching the end of its life.

You might be able to pick up a new one from a well known auction site for not much money

Search for the battery number and not just the phone number, and you should have some results come up. (Hopefully!)

System

n00b_boy wrote: »

Hi,

Just to check - have you tried a new battery in the phone? It might just be the battery reaching the end of its life.

You might be able to pick up a new one from a well known auction site for not much money

Search for the battery number and not just the phone number, and you should have some results come up. (Hopefully!)

It's definately the mains charger that is knackered, when you thump it the phone starts to charge for a few seconds then shuts off again.
Anyway, the Nokia 6124 is too small for my Dad now so he needed a new phone anyway. Also, since he moved home a while ago now, there is no Vodafone signal in the area so he cannot use the mobile on the Vodafone network anymore.

All of these factors went towards his decision to cancel the contract.

@OneADay - that is the same link that I have read, so the paragraph near the top "Minimum Period" confirms that his contract minimum term would have expired in Dec 2009 according to the letter that came with the upgraded phone received in Jun 2008.
He has not received any other letter or email or text or any other form of communication from Vodafone to inform him of anything noted in that T&C which could have extended that term.
i.e.

...
the minimum period begins when we change your price plan and continues for the remainder of your previous minimum period plus any new period of time shown on the changed price plan in your new order form/welcome letter/welcome email.

Techhead_2

OneAday is incorrect, there is no auto-renewal on phone contracts in the UK. For a very brief time in the 1990s it was the case. What happens now is that contracts continue forever until you either cancel or port the number out. There is a minimum period before you can do this.
What you should do is get your father to phone Vodafone. When he passes security, he can then pass the handset to you. If you don't get what you want, then make a Subject Access Request for all paperwork and notes relating to the taking out of the contract which allegedly ends next year.
This is a formal legal requirement and costs £10, you may have to put it in writing.

System

Techhead wrote: »

...
What happens now is that contracts continue forever until you either cancel or port the number out. There is a minimum period before you can do this.
What you should do is get your father to phone Vodafone. When he passes security, he can then pass the handset to you. If you don't get what you want, then make a Subject Access Request for all paperwork and notes relating to the taking out of the contract which allegedly ends next year.
This is a formal legal requirement and costs £10, you may have to put it in writing.

Many many thanks for your help, sounds like a good plan, I need to arrange to visit my Dad during the week so that we can phone them and do as you suggest to pass DPA.

Guys_Dad

BAA1 wrote: »

I wish I could, he has never registered on the Vodafone site and I cannot register for him because part of the process is for them to send a security code via a text to his phone. His phone doesn't work so that scuppers that idea.

I

Have you not got a friend who could lend you an old handset to put his sim in just till you get the text or even get the handset he would like PAYG and unlocked and use that to get the text?

Seems silly to take out a new contract when a simple phone and sim-only is the answer.

System

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Have you not got a friend who could lend you an old handset to put his sim in just till you get the text or even get the handset he would like PAYG and unlocked and use that to get the text?

Seems silly to take out a new contract when a simple phone and sim-only is the answer.

Thanks, but since Vodafone do not have network coverage in my Dads locality, he needed to change to a different network provider.

He got a PAC number from Vodafone and has used it now, so the Vodafone contract will end shortly anyway. If we do not get any joy from the call centre, I am going to wait until they send him a final bill for account closure, then I will know exactly how to word my letter of complaint (on his behalf)
He is going to pay the charges on that final bill (via the D/D) because we do not want Vodafone to be giving him hassle over any unpaid (disputed) amounts on the bill.

Guys_Dad

BAA1 wrote: »

He is going to pay the charges on that final bill (via the D/D) because we do not want Vodafone to be giving him hassle over any unpaid (disputed) amounts on the bill.

Sensible move. You can always get money back - plus expenses - from MCOL and I am sure he would be more worried by an unjust blot on his credit record.