TalkMobile has cut rates but won't be informing its customers

VeryFrustrated

Good news that TalkMobile has cut prices on its pay monthly tariffs. Bad news that they have launched them as ‘new tariffs’ rather than simply reducing rates on existing tariffs – therefore not automatically passing the reductions on to customers (although when the VAT rate increased, they immediately passed that rise on to us).

I was looking at their website and spotted these tariffs:
- SIMple £8, 1 month , 200 minutes, 500 texts, 500MB mobile internet data included,
- SIMple £12, 1 month , 500 minutes, Unlimited texts*, 500MB mobile internet data included,

Which I compared to my current tariff:
- SIMple £15, 1 month, 400 minutes, 400 texts, 500MB mobile internet data included

So, SIMple £12 gives about 25% more for about 20% lower cost. Since I rarely use all my minutes, the SIMple £8 could actually be the best product for me - at about 50% of the price I currently pay.

Therefore, I rang TalkMobile to ask if they would AUTOMATICALLY write to me to tell me that the rates have reduced or AUTOMATICALLY convert me to SIMple £12.. I was told ‘no, because they are newly introduced tariffs and it is not possible to tell all customers’. In my head I thought 'piffle' (or something stronger). Outloud, I explained that I was very disappointed by this as they clearly have customer databases so it IS possible to inform all customers and it would be great customer service to inform customers about better tariffs. Clearly, I also requested a change to a lower tariff with better services.

Could be worth checking out - it was for me.

gjchester

VeryFrustrated wrote: »

Could be worth checking out - it was for me.

So?

Tarrifs change all the time, if your in contract it matters not one iota as you generally can't change.

No business is going to tell you they would like you to pay less it's always doen to the customer to chase them.

VeryFrustrated

Interestingly, I have other servive providers who do tell me about how I can stay with them and reduce my bills even though they are not contractually obliged to. Such customer service promotes customer loyalty which in the long time is good business.

Clearly TalkMobile is not such a company. Yes, I agree it is my choice whether to stay or go. The SIMple contracts are 1 month rolling contracts, therefore it is very easy to change - it's not a 12 or 18 month contract.

In response to 'So?' ... My post had 2 aims:

1. Highlight to other TalkMobile customers that they may be able to save money without having to change providers.
2. Raise / confirm awareness that sometimes loyalty is not rewarded and that it is worthwhile reviewing services every now and then to see whether the service and cost is still the most appropriate for the user.

Best wishes
VF

MisterBrico

As mobile tariffs evolve sometimes newer ones are better some times worse, I'm glad you got a better deal which is always nice, but if the newer tariffs were not as good would you be so keen for them to start changing people around etc?

Also the note about the VAT is just silly, TalkMobile are still charging you the same amount, its the government who decided to take more!

gjchester

VeryFrustrated wrote: »

Interestingly, I have other servive providers who do tell me about how I can stay with them and reduce my bills even though they are not contractually obliged to. Such customer service promotes customer loyalty which in the long time is good business.

My utilities don't they jsut tell you an tarrif is ending but won't tell you to look elsewhere, wish they did but they don't.

VeryFrustrated wrote: »

In response to 'So?' ... My post had 2 aims:

1. Highlight to other TalkMobile customers that they may be able to save money without having to change providers.
2. Raise / confirm awareness that sometimes loyalty is not rewarded and that it is worthwhile reviewing services every now and then to see whether the service and cost is still the most appropriate for the user.

Quite honestly loyalty is never rewarded by phone co's it's down to your monthly spend. How long you have bene with a company is irrelevent these days.

No provider (of anything) is gpoing to tell you another provider is cheaper, it's down to the indicidual to monitor and change tarrifs as they need to. The companys have no loyalty to you why should you be loyal to them. TM were happy not to tell you of the change or move you automatically, why stay with them unless they really are the cheapest on the market.