Conditions surrounding Vodafone early contract termination

[Deleted User]

Looking to move from Vodafone back to O2 as my 6 months with Vodafone has been an utter horror story from day one, including current actions such as having to do a DPA request, none of my monthly bills ever being the amount they said they'd be, multiple charges coming in over multiple months for a few roaming texts, the online billing system being so bad to browse that I've requested paper bills at £1.43 a go, charging me over £3 to examine my bill first before the payment is taken rather than letting them help themselves by DD (which I have cancelled due to the irregular monthly amounts), etc, etc, etfc.

They say to pay up my contract is about £500. Given that I dispute the quality of their service and that'll be an ongoing complaint with Ofcom (basically, Vodafone have ignored the vast majority of questions in two letters I've sent them, instead offering me a SureSignal to presumably carry around London I know not how, and telling me to clean my SIM because they've checked their service maps and everything is fine) and possibly the ICO depending on the outcome of the DPA request, let's put that to one side.

What I want to know is this: If I request a PAC and transfer my number back to O2, this essentially closes the service part of the account with Vodafone and leaves me with the job of paying up the remainder of the contract. Fine, no problem, as I can quite happily sell the pristine phone from the new contract and make most of that money back.

But, while this remainder payment is outstanding, can Vodafone:

1) Mark me as a defaulter on my credit record,
2) Block the transfer of my number to O2,
3) Do anything else that will adversely affect my credit record and/or phone service during the time that the account, payment of remainder and complaint with Ofcom are under dispute and ongoing?

Also, has anyone ever managed to get a copy of their contract out of Vodafone? They state that they can't provide one via a DPA request. Surely that's one of the major reasons to submit one. They send customers to their site as they're all supposedly on there. But where?

Would prefer to hear from an actual human being with experience in this, rather than the Vodafone reps I know float around this forum parroting the same garbage I've heard from the company time and again. I will not be emailing you with a reference number, as there's already a chain of letters in motion, so don't waste your time.

Gordon_Hose

Do you need to keep your number?

[Deleted User]

Yes. Will the PAC process complicate the matter?

Gordon_Hose

No. The Port Authorisation Code is required for keeping your number.

I was thinking along the lines of getting yourself a new phone and contract with O2 while you fight it out with Voda.

grumbler

Deleted_User wrote: »

But, while this remainder payment is outstanding, can Vodafone:

1) Mark me as a defaulter on my credit record,

Easily

2) Block the transfer of my number to O2,

Theoretically they cannot: Can my mobile provider refuse to give me a PAC?
Practice can be different and Ofcom is unlikely to intervene if it is the case.

thatsean

Yes
No
Yes

If you don't pay they will record missed payments. Miss 3/4 and the account will be closed and the balance passed to a debt collection agency. At this point the default will be registered, unless you've spoken to a person who can assist you by manually intervening, I'm sure that there are people there who can suspend the debt whilst it's in dispute.

No, an outstanding balance is no reason to with hold a pac, be aware that the moment you port out, your account with vodafone will be closed and the remaining contract fees invoiced immediately

What do you mean copy of the contract? Is it the ts and cs you are after, or the paperwork you signed? Did you but from them or a 3rd party retailer?

Excuses such as poor online billing wont help you at all if you're looking to get out of termination fees, your contract allows them to bill you if you don't get a signal.

Poor service in London? Where?

[Deleted User]

thatsean wrote: »

Yes
No
Yes

If you don't pay they will record missed payments. Miss 3/4 and the account will be closed and the balance passed to a debt collection agency. At this point the default will be registered, unless you've spoken to a person who can assist you by manually intervening, I'm sure that there are people there who can suspend the debt whilst it's in dispute.

But is it a default if the amount and service is subject of an open dispute? Surely not. If it's in a dispute, doesn't that need to be resolved either way before the payment is demanded?

What do you mean copy of the contract? Is it the ts and cs you are after, or the paperwork you signed? Did you but from them or a 3rd party retailer?

I 'bought' the service in a Vodafone shop in person. I have never received a copy of any form of contract showing T&Cs, anything to sign and return or anything of the nature that you'd expect when agreeing a contract. They allege you can see everything on their website, which is almost useless and often broken, and I can't find it.

Poor service in London? Where?

WC1! In the street! But their coverage map says this isn't the case so as far as they're concerned the problem doesn't exist.

Ultimately, I want to get away from Vodafone, as soon as possible, but would prefer it if I can prove that they haven't provided the alleged service. Hence me wanting a contract. Which they won't provide. And specifically refuse to provide by a DPA enquiry, according to their website.

spiro

Whenever I have signed up with VF in store you get some paperwork but I dont know if this includes all the T&Cs. As to their website and rarely if every have a problem using it or finding the information I receive.

As to a poor signal no mobile contract guarantees a good signal. Don't know which part of WC1 you are/were in but I dont have problems when I am in parts of that area.

mikej90

best opf british to u... i was with vodaphone for 2years with a hopeless connection and terrible customer services department. i managed to get a buy our from phone 4 u... i think the maximum they will buy u out off is around £300 tho...

[Deleted User]

Looks like I'll just port away back to O2, pay off Vodafone and make the money back by selling O2's supplied iPhone then. Thanks.