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Vodaphone - Getting out of 2 year contract
Comments
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So who's fault is that? The companies aren't charities, they exist to make a profit.
What you really mean is that most people don't have the common sense to shop around for a good deal. They see the latest shiny phone, decide they have to have it now (whether they can afford it or not), sign up for a 24 month deal and then several months later realise how much they'll be paying, just for the privilege of owning the latest must-have trinket. That's when they start posting on here, asking how they can get out of their 24 month contract.
Exactly, yeah. The people that the companies know that they can take advantage of. The ones with no common sense. Lots of people.
We live in a capitalist part of the world, businesses are there to exploit and take advantage. They are, of course, there to make a profit. But at the expense of ethics.
They charge too much for what they're selling. If they were more transparant about their charges, and made people more aware of what they were paying for, I'd have less of a problem. But at the end of the day, they're taking still taking too much money for their service.0 -
First why do you think it's a privilege? It's *ALWAYS* been a goodwill gesture, not a right. Remember that at the end of the day Vodafone is a business, they need to make a profit, and they don't do that by getting less back than they outlay. If they make no profit they stop providing the service.
Looking at Wonga.com a 30 day loan of £400 (the most they do) would get interest of £125.
Coinsidering it as a 18 month loan of £500 to cover the handset makes it a £5 a month charge.
I understand your point but to be honest saving £5 a month is not worth the hassle.
And another view is that no £100 phone is ever going to be considered an upgrade to a Iphone...
Cash back schemes are there to take more money that they're entitled to in the first place, only to give it back after they've claimed the interest. That's what's happening here. They're taking more money than they're entitled to only to simply keep it for their profits.
If you want to give them £5 per month, be my guest. There are plenty of faceless money making machines that will take your money from you. Just know that it's money that you're getting nothing at all for.
It's apt that you compare these big mobile phone companies to rip off loan sharks like Wonga. They're similar to each other in many ways.
And no, £100 won't buy an iphone. So that must mean that £100 is completely valueless, yes? I have a hundred quid in my bank. I might call them up and tell them they can keep it...0 -
When looking at mobile phone contracts or aything else like it you should be looking at the 'Total Cost of Ownership' (TCO). Its simple, cost of hand set plus monthly rental times number of months you are contracted for. £100 phone plus 24 months @ £15 gives a TCO of £460. Thats how you should compare tariffs from different providers obviously taking into account any variations of minutes/texts/data.
Yes, the EU has forced the to offer 12 month contracts but lots of these are with cheap/no handset.
Some european companies only supply full price handsets but offer cheap calls, if you want the latest handset every year then its a case of put your hand in your pocket and get out the readies.
Excellent advice. TCO is the best way to decide on a new deal. By doing that it allowed me to see how much companies were charging for different things, it took away all the confusion and made it obvious to me that the longer the contract, the less the consumer gets.
It also made me realise why companies bombard people with so many tariff options and different prices etc. Blinding people with numbers means that they can confuse people into buying a more expensive deal.0 -
dangerman7uk wrote: »
We live in a capitalist part of the world, businesses are there to exploit and take advantage. They are, of course, there to make a profit. But at the expense of ethics.
Well, there are many countries in the world that aren't capitalist - although dwindling - and I am sure that they would welcome those who didn't want to live in the capitalist world.dangerman7uk wrote: »They charge too much for what they're selling. If they were more transparant about their charges, and made people more aware of what they were paying for, I'd have less of a problem. But at the end of the day, they're taking still taking too much money for their service.
It so happens that my Pension provider invests in a couple of the networks. So I benefit from them continuing to be profitable and solvent.
The long and short of it is that the networks are 100% upfront on what you will pay over a specific period for the service. But the "must 'ave it" mentality and "blame someone else" culture blinds some people to the real facts of life and they don't like it when others hold up a reality mirror to them.0 -
Well, there are many countries in the world that aren't capitalist - although dwindling - and I am sure that they would welcome those who didn't want to live in the capitalist world.
It so happens that my Pension provider invests in a couple of the networks. So I benefit from them continuing to be profitable and solvent.
The long and short of it is that the networks are 100% upfront on what you will pay over a specific period for the service. But the "must 'ave it" mentality and "blame someone else" culture blinds some people to the real facts of life and they don't like it when others hold up a reality mirror to them.
I tried to move to Cuba once. They said no. I might try China.
I most certainly do not agree that they're 100% up front. I have tested out some of the sales persons over the phone and in shops in the past and they do everything they can to keep the negatives hidden from you. Like 12 month warranty situations on 18 and 24 month contracts, or the TCO. Just imagine what they'd try to do if they weren't monitored by trading standards and ofcom and all those places?!0 -
dangerman7uk wrote: »We live in a capitalist part of the world, businesses are there to exploit and take advantage. They are, of course, there to make a profit. But at the expense of ethics.
They charge too much for what they're selling. If they were more transparant about their charges, and made people more aware of what they were paying for, I'd have less of a problem. But at the end of the day, they're taking still taking too much money for their service.
When you sign up you know the monthly cost and the minimum contract length, call charges on on diplay in the sales literature as are all the terms and conditions if you choose to read them. Whats ethics got to do with it, the costs are not hidden, not is the term you sign up for.
What they charge is irrelevent, if you don't want to pay what they ask then walk away. No-one is forcing you to buy.dangerman7uk wrote: »If you want to give them £5 per month, be my guest. There are plenty of faceless money making machines that will take your money from you. Just know that it's money that you're getting nothing at all for.
Your right, the network of stores and customer service people at a call centre all come for free. I suppose you don't care thay they need to make a profit to maintain and expand the network coverage because that too is free.
GiffGaff don't have any support as such, they rely on the community to solve most issues. Nice trick, get your customers to support themselves, saves a fortune.
Three are cheap but they don't work reliably in my area, so whilst I could save £10 a month on paper by going with Three, I have very poor coverage at home with Three so it doesn't matter how cheap it is I won't use them because it would be false economy.dangerman7uk wrote: »Like 12 month warranty situations on 18 and 24 month contracts, or the TCO. Just imagine what they'd try to do if they weren't monitored by trading standards and ofcom and all those places?!
I'm sorry but again whats you point? If you don't like the warranty buy a different phone.
These details are not hidden, you just need to ask. No-one forces people to take out a phone contract. Salesman may not mention downside unless you ask but so what they are there to sell the product.
As someone mentioned in the rush to get the latest gadget people forget to ask simple questions, nothing to do with the network or the salesman, just people having no common sense.
Each and every one of us has different reasons and priorities as to why they are on a set network and what phone they have, the cheapest is not always the best as you seem to think.0 -
dangerman7uk wrote: »
Like 12 month warranty situations on 18 and 24 month contracts, or the TCO. Just imagine what they'd try to do if they weren't monitored by trading standards and ofcom and all those places?!
That statement is not correct, if you are on a contract, you will have the Vodafone warranty for the duration of the contract and will get a free repair.0 -
That statement is not correct, if you are on a contract, you will have the Vodafone warranty for the duration of the contract and will get a free repair.
Right, I didn't know that was the case in the UK. I know in the US their trading standards stepped in and forced them to offer the warranty for the length of the contract.0 -
When you sign up you know the monthly cost and the minimum contract length, call charges on on diplay in the sales literature as are all the terms and conditions if you choose to read them. Whats ethics got to do with it, the costs are not hidden, not is the term you sign up for.
What they charge is irrelevent, if you don't want to pay what they ask then walk away. No-one is forcing you to buy.
Your right, the network of stores and customer service people at a call centre all come for free. I suppose you don't care thay they need to make a profit to maintain and expand the network coverage because that too is free.
GiffGaff don't have any support as such, they rely on the community to solve most issues. Nice trick, get your customers to support themselves, saves a fortune.
Three are cheap but they don't work reliably in my area, so whilst I could save £10 a month on paper by going with Three, I have very poor coverage at home with Three so it doesn't matter how cheap it is I won't use them because it would be false economy.
I'm sorry but again whats you point? If you don't like the warranty buy a different phone.
These details are not hidden, you just need to ask. No-one forces people to take out a phone contract. Salesman may not mention downside unless you ask but so what they are there to sell the product.
As someone mentioned in the rush to get the latest gadget people forget to ask simple questions, nothing to do with the network or the salesman, just people having no common sense.
Each and every one of us has different reasons and priorities as to why they are on a set network and what phone they have, the cheapest is not always the best as you seem to think.
Dude, do what you like. You're obviously well clued up on where you spend your money. But all you're doing is justifying these companies over charging for things.
If there is no competition, charge whatever you like, right? As long as you can make people cough up ridiculous amounts of their money with glossy enticing advertisements and 'must have' handsets, why not?! Over charge for the handset, over charge for the network... And then tie them in for two whole years! Excellent!
I disagree. I think that they should charge for what it's worth, not what they can get. I believe that profit is good. That's business. I'm a business man. Money makes the world go round. But I don't want businessmen growing fat on honest people's hard earned money, taking gluttonous amounts of profits each year!
I allow for the benefits of having a bigger better network. As you say, better coverage and sometimes it's handy to have customer services. I agree that this will cost more, and so I would be willing to pay more. But not that much. Your talking hundreds of pounds a year for what actually costs them pittance!0
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