Vodafone won't let me downgrade

giddykipper

Rang vodafone to try and get myself on a more reasonable mobile phone tariff ... but they tell me that I can't 'downgrade' until I've been in contract for 9 months ........ oh I can upgrade at any time of course - but if I want to save myself a few quid ..... oooooooh nooooooo!!

Unless I'd be prepared to add another 6 months onto my contract - they could maybe help me then!!

I'm really annoyed - I specifically asked if I could change my tariff at any time when I got this phone and was told that after the first month yes I could!!

Luckily I can change it next month - but they've just definitely made my mind up for me ........ as soon as this contract's up - I'm off!!

J x

SunderlandBlackCat

giddykipper wrote:

Rang vodafone to try and get myself on a more reasonable mobile phone tariff ... but they tell me that I can't 'downgrade' until I've been in contract for 9 months ........ oh I can upgrade at any time of course - but if I want to save myself a few quid ..... oooooooh nooooooo!!

Unless I'd be prepared to add another 6 months onto my contract - they could maybe help me then!!

I'm really annoyed - I specifically asked if I could change my tariff at any time when I got this phone and was told that after the first month yes I could!!

Luckily I can change it next month - but they've just definitely made my mind up for me ........ as soon as this contract's up - I'm off!!

J x

Is your contract direct with Vodafone or through a retailer?

I used to work the evening shift at a Vodafone call centre for a bit of extra cash & used to downgrade tariffs on request all the time regardless of how long they'd been in contract.

We did used to get problems though with people who thought they were with Vodafone but they'd actualy signed up through the likes of Carphone Warehouse or Phones4U as they weren't really Vodafone customers.

Those companies sold contracts from 3rd party suppliers who basically paid for Blocks of numbers on the Vodafone network but wouldn't budge on tariff changes & there was nothing we could do to help as the contract signed by the customer was not with Vodafone.

Phoenix79_2

SunderlandBlackCat wrote:

I used to work the evening shift at a Vodafone call centre for a bit of extra cash & used to downgrade tariffs on request all the time regardless of how long they'd been in contract.

I'm sure they put something in place to stop that happening. They lost lots of money by people getting an expensive phone for free then getting home and downgrading to the lowest tariff. The line rental then never covered the cost of the subsidised phone.

Giddykipper - the reason you can't downgrade is down to the above. You obviously got yourself a shiny new phone nice and cheap as you went on a higher tariff...it would have been more expensive on a lower tariff. The flip side to this is that you are tied into the higher tariff for a set period of time. I always thought it was 6 months but i may be wrong? Vodafone aren't there to make your life easier or to save you money. The real issue is that the assistant in the shop said you could downgrade at any time. Whether this constitutes as breach of the Sale of Goods Act (effectively you were mis-sold the contract) is debateable but you would really need proof to pursue this. Chalk it down to bad luck and vote with your wallet and move network when your contract ends. I find T-Mob the best value now (i used to have numerous lines on Voda)

giddykipper

Yep my contract is direct with Vodafone - it was originally through Singlepoint but then we got a letter (thinking about it I think it was after my last upgrade) saying that all accounts were being transferred directly to Vodafone and now our bills come from them as well.

Phoenix79 - yep, not much I can do about it until next month (when my 9 months is up) as I suppose its my word against theirs that they said I could change tariff at any time - and yes I did get a very nice Samsung just on the market when I renewed my contract.

Ah well ........ you win some .........

Phoenix79_2

Yeah Voda purchased Singlepoint from the Cauldwell Group for £400m (i think) and the billing was switched over to Voda direct.

If you can afford it then once you have downgraded, pay off the remaining 3 months of your contract. They always remove the vat element when you settle early thus saving you 17.5%

sgx.saint

They always remove the vat element when you settle early thus saving you 17.5%

Is that true of all mobile operators? ... and why do they do this?

rog2

I wouldn't give up that easily. Try writing to the customer service manager, at Vodaphone, explaining that you are experiencing financial difficulties and had asked to downgrade your contract as, in your view, it will be better for Vodaphone to continue to receive regular payments, than to have to chase you for money you will NOT be able to afford.

Phoenix79_2

sgx.saint wrote:

Is that true of all mobile operators? ... and why do they do this?

Bizarrely not! I think the other networks do charge the VAT (T-Mobile do, O2 seem to but sometimes forget!) Voda should be charging the VAT but for some reason they don't! I've settled early on four voda contracts and have never been charged the VAT on the future months rentals.

Dr.Shoe_2

Phoenix79 wrote:

I'm sure they put something in place to stop that happening. They lost lots of money by people getting an expensive phone for free then getting home and downgrading to the lowest tariff. The line rental then never covered the cost of the subsidised phone.

Giddykipper - the reason you can't downgrade is down to the above. You obviously got yourself a shiny new phone nice and cheap as you went on a higher tariff...it would have been more expensive on a lower tariff. The flip side to this is that you are tied into the higher tariff for a set period of time. I always thought it was 6 months but i may be wrong? Vodafone aren't there to make your life easier or to save you money. The real issue is that the assistant in the shop said you could downgrade at any time. Whether this constitutes as breach of the Sale of Goods Act (effectively you were mis-sold the contract) is debateable but you would really need proof to pursue this. Chalk it down to bad luck and vote with your wallet and move network when your contract ends. I find T-Mob the best value now (i used to have numerous lines on Voda)

You'll find that the phone you get for your first year will be the same regardless of the tariff. It's the second year you get more towards your phone depending on the tariff you were on the previous year.

Ironically, I asked for a loyalty discount instead of an upgrade and T Mob offered me £10 off unless I took a phone where I get £15 off per month! It just doesn't compute most of the time!

Dr.Shoe_2

Perhaps the VAT is already calculated at source whereas with T Mobile it's added onto the bill.

Phoenix79_2

Dr.Shoe wrote:

You'll find that the phone you get for your first year will be the same regardless of the tariff. It's the second year you get more towards your phone depending on the tariff you were on the previous year.

Ironically, I asked for a loyalty discount instead of an upgrade and T Mob offered me £10 off unless I took a phone where I get £15 off per month! It just doesn't compute most of the time!

Same cost? Thats wrong. You only need to go into a shop to see the prices of new phones vary depending on what tariff you go on. The Nokia 8800 Sirocco is £500 on a £25pm tariff but its free on the £75pm tariff. Certainly your profitability in the initial term (be it 12 or 18 months) will determine what deal you get offered come upgrade time.

O2 seem to be the best when it comes to loyalty deals.