Vodafone upgrade due - advice on tactics please

mwddrwg

Hi,

I'm currently paying £25.99 a month to Vodafone for 300 mins, 500 texts, and 500MB internet and own a Nokia E72. I'm due to upgrade over the phone tomorrow and fancy the Samsung Galaxy S2. Phones 4 U have offered me one free if I pay £31 per month (same terms for calls etc) but I'd prefer to stick with Vodafone at the same monthly rate but only if they don't charge for the phone. Has anyone any experience of phoning to upgrade and getting them to give you the phone for free (they will want around £100 otherwise I reckon :eek:). Any advice appreciated. Cheers.

robbies_gal

just ask them and see what they say-go through to retentions rather than upgrades though they'll be able to help more

Buzby

Nobody is ever 'due' an upgrade - this is a msnomer. It is simply the completion of the minimum term, and users sometimes see this as the network requiring to 'keep their custom' with a deal of some sort, but in reality it is simply the reimposition of the minimum term which may result in a 'free' handset, but this is incorrect - the lock-in is worth at least £8pm to the network operator for the duration of the minimum term (not contract) and this extended commitment should be realised for what it is and never ignored.

Guys_Dad

1. Research what is available on other networks.

2. Decide what you want - minutes, texts, data. Then look and see what that would costs sim-free 12 months and also with a lower range handset.

3. Ask Voda for their opening offer. Be honest about what else you can get as a new user on other networks if they are better and then ask Voda what they can do. You might, for example, get free landline calls aded.

The important thing is to know what you really want. 900 minutes is useless if you never use more than 200, for example.

I found Voda and Orange very easy to deal with and helpful, but I played straight with them and was lucky enough to get sensible, helpful CS people. If you keep it friendly, you should get a good deal. If you get an unhelpful CS rep, then ring off, wait a couple of hours and try again.

mwddrwg

Thanks for your replies. Found a £26 per month deal with a free S2 (300 mins, unlimited texts and 500MB) which matches my current contract at buymobiles . com. Could I bargain with this and has anyone dealt with this company before?

mwddrwg

Update - phoned Vodafone and they can only offer 100 minutes per month and will have to pay £67 for the handset. Told them that I'll get back to them to request my PAC code nearer to my contract end date. Is it normal for the retentions team to phone me now after making this initial contact?

Tony5101

no - retentions would normally only call you once you have actually obtained your PAC. At this moment in time, you are still very much in contract with VF - so until you make the final step to end your committment - they would have no reason at all to call you.

robbies_gal

phone retnetions yourself say you want to leave-when they say why tell them about the deal you have found and see if they will match it if not then ask for your PAC

gjchester

gabbyevs wrote: »

phone retnetions yourself say you want to leave-when they say why tell them about the deal you have found and see if they will match it if not then ask for your PAC

You can't. Retentions phone you, and the number they use is stored on your phone is a generic one to call vodafone so you can't call back.

Generally asking for a PAC prompts retentions to call you a few day after the PAC request depending on their workload.

robbies_gal

thats funny i got put through to them when i wanted to leave when i phoned cs last time my contract was due for renewal-or is that only with orange?

gjchester

gabbyevs wrote: »

thats funny i got put through to them when i wanted to leave when i phoned cs last time my contract was due for renewal-or is that only with orange?

Possably but it's not the case with Voda. The number they use when you ring back goes to a genereic " vodafone called you, there is no need to call us back" loop and customer service can'ttransfer you.

I had a call back about 2-3 days after I requested my PAC.

Actually you can get to renewals, but retentions usually offer better deals.