Vodafone - Changing upgrade eligibility.

Hayleysmiles

Has any one else experienced this?

My partner has been with vodafone for years. I use online vodafone for him and have been checking his upgrade options. at one point it said he was eligiable for an upgrade in November. Then it said he was eligable 22nd February and today i log in and it says 2nd April.

He is somewhat upset as we had a whole day planned tomorrow to go and pick up his new HTC.

I was pretty sure when he upgraded last time and took on a new contract he asked when he would be able to upgrade and was told 3 months prior to the end of his contract. Surely this is misrepresenation? Especially as that was the only reason he went with them again? especially with it being a 24 month contract!

Why do they constantly change? some sources show it has always been 50 days before the end of his contract which i assume is in may. But why would the website keep indicating he has a 160 day upgrade option or 70 day upgrade option.

I am with orange and thankful i do not seem to get messed around as much. Perhaps i should pursuade him to leave the vodafone network altogether.

Buzby

Because things change? This upgrade is a fallacy - he could take out a new contract under better terms, then close down his original one when it is due. Alternatively, BUY a replacement phone SIM free (a radical concept, I know) and he doesn;t have to dance to their tune for the next 2 years.

gjchester

Hayleysmiles wrote: »

I was pretty sure when he upgraded last time and took on a new contract he asked when he would be able to upgrade and was told 3 months prior to the end of his contract. Surely this is misrepresenation? Especially as that was the only reason he went with them again? especially with it being a 24 month contract!

Early upgrades usualy have the "early time" tagged on to the end of the contract, so if you upgrade 3 months early you have a 287 month contract not a 24.

It could be Vodafone have stopped the early upgrade offer (it always was at their discression), or they've realised he has the extra time to serve before he can use the early upgrade facility.

grumbler

gjchester wrote: »

...if you upgrade 3 months early you have a 287 month contract not a 24.

:eek:

I know, you meant 27, not 287.

gjchester

grumbler wrote: »

:eek:

I know, you meant 27, not 287.

I did but with the way smartphones are going prices wise a 24 year contract could be on the cards.....

I won't change it now as it will make your comment look wrong...

Baileycat

They've removed the online upgrade facility, which used to give early upgrade dates of up to 190 days before end of contract.

Now the earliest date you will be able to do it, will be 90 days before end of contract if done in store, or 70 days before end of contract if done on the phone with telesales.

grumbler

Baileycat wrote: »

They've removed the online upgrade facility, which used to give early upgrade dates of up to 190 days before end of contract...:(

Well done, Voda[STRIKE]ph[/STRIKE]fone!
Too early upgrades were far too expensive for your customers incapable of controlling their upgrading urges, and resulted in far too long tie-in terms.

spirit

Baileycat wrote: »

They've removed the online upgrade facility, which used to give early upgrade dates of up to 190 days before end of contract.

Now the earliest date you will be able to do it, will be 90 days before end of contract if done in store, or 70 days before end of contract if done on the phone with telesales.

Not quite right baileycat.

From 20th Feb it's changing to the last 50 days of a contract. However, the changes are being staggered to allow any customer who's eligible on 20th Feb (within last 70 days) to still be eligible up until 12th March in which case they will be within the last 50 days of their contracts and therefore eligible to upgrade.

spirit

grumbler wrote: »

Well done, Vodaphone!it's vodafone
Too early upgrades were far too expensive for your customers incapable of controlling their upgrading urges, and resulted in far too long tie-in terms.

apparently it's because it's inconsistent at the moment, 70 days/90 days.

pippy100

I've had the same problem, was able to upgrade from the 4th of Feb, couldn't decide what to do but kept looking each day.
Log in on the 20th and it says i cannot upgrade until 15th March:eek:.
Sent email and they did not explain this at all and said i could upgrade instore or phone up from the 24th Feb and then online from the 15th March.(my contract ends 4th May)
After a couple of emails not once did they explain why the date has changed. Poor customer service? Or have i missed something?
I think i will be waiting for my contract to end and will be looking elsewhere.

Baileycat

grumbler wrote: »

Well done, Voda[STRIKE]ph[/STRIKE]fone!
Too early upgrades were far too expensive for your customers incapable of controlling their upgrading urges, and resulted in far too long tie-in terms.

Agreed. I feel a 24-month contract is more than long enough, without wanting to add the extra months of my old contract on to the end :eek: at the same time, I wouldn't be interested in paying an extortionate amount upfront, just to change my phone or tariff - much prefer to wait it out if I'm comfortable with the handset & plan I have.

spirit wrote: »

Not quite right baileycat.

From 20th Feb it's changing to the last 50 days of a contract. However, the changes are being staggered to allow any customer who's eligible on 20th Feb (within last 70 days) to still be eligible up until 12th March in which case they will be within the last 50 days of their contracts and therefore eligible to upgrade.

Thanks for clearing that up. It sounds like a better idea overall to be honest! Although you can bet there'll be uproar...