MSE News: Vodafone to raise pay monthly prices

Guys_Dad

Look - I agree that increasing mid term should not be allowed. In that we are as one.

However, your contract had terms and conditions and these allowed them to make a mid term increase within certain parameters. The other networks have the same thing and last year they all raised their prices mid term.

Now, from your posts, I conclude that you didn't know that they had that escalation built in and that means to me that you didn't read them.

If they had done something outside their published t&c or against OFCOM's rules and regs, then that's a different matter. In fact, the Regulator is looking at the very point you are making and hopefully will outlaw it in due course.

In the meantime, if they are following their t&c, then there's not a lot of point overreacting on such a small amount.

In fact, if you read this thread, you will see that a number of MSE members have succeeded in getting a goodwill gesture that negates the rise. I would advise you to do that, but remember that if they do, they are actually giving a goodwill gesture. Easiest to get that if you don't berate them for the rise, but ask in a reasonable manner as others have done.

thegoodman

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Look - I agree that increasing mid term should not be allowed. In that we are as one

What I cannot understand is why do so may people agree to terms and sign the paper work

I am sure many people would like to know the reason:
1. Most people's first language is not English.
2. The Schools are not teaching English to be able to read and write.
3. Why should I read, I need someone with me when reading the terms, so I can blame someone else. It's not my fault.
4. I just sign the paper work without reading any thing.
5. I like to go on and on when something I don't like happens
6. I like to blame blame big companies

Love to know the reason

iritchie

thegoodman wrote: »

What I cannot understand is why do so may people agree to terms and sign the paper work

I am sure many people would like to know the reason:
1. Most people's first language is not English.
2. The Schools are not teaching English to be able to read and write.
3. Why should I read, I need someone with me when reading the terms, so I can blame someone else. It's not my fault.
4. I just sign the paper work without reading any thing.
5. I like to go on and on when something I don't like happens
6. I like to blame blame big companies

Love to know the reason

A very smug and blinkered outlook to be honest, and it doesn't really contribute much to the thread, so thanks for that.

In my case, I signed up over the phone and was NEVER sent a written copy of the T's and C's, either at my original signup point or at renewal.
While I was on the phone, I made an agreement to a "fixed term" service. The sales advisor is quick to tell you "The cost is xxx over xxx months" with absolutely no mention that they can decide, it will be something else after month 2 and month 14...

The reason I personally, never read the T's and C's, is because they were never provided to me.
When you sign up to a "fixed term" service, then you expect it to be just that.

Now, I'm not saying that had I been provided with the T's and C's, I WOULD have spent the time reading them, because 99% of people DON'T READ T's and C's...you would waste half your life away if you happened to read every little piece of smallprint that you encountered every day.
When it comes to a significant financial outlay such as this, then of course it might be different, and having been bitten this time, I will never, ever, commit to anything with a significant financial outlay without finding out the T's and C's and actually agreeing to every point.
The fact is I am far more likely to avoid the financial committment required for services such as this and go the PAYG route from now on.

Now don't tell me also that you sit and read the T's and C's on every website membership or agreement, or every software agreement, or every license agreement...every day, almost everyone is guilty of ignoring some terms and conditions because the likelihood of being affected by any of them is almost nil.
This is the exception to the rule. Who would have guessed a term like this existed in a FIXED TERM mobile phone contract?!!?

Guys_Dad

iritchie wrote: »

Who would have guessed a term like this existed in a FIXED TERM mobile phone contract?!!?

That's because it isn't a FIXED TERM commitment/contract, although I admit it seems to be marketed as such. It is, of course, a FIXED MINIMUM TERM contract that rolls on indefinitely till cancelled.

So, if you accept that it it is an ongoing contract with a minimum term, then you surely do not expect an open-ended contract that could last for 10 years not to have any inflation-proofing built in? It is perfectly reasonable to expect that the other party can't jack up their costs willy-nilly throughout the contract, but did you actually get anything in writing that said "fixed rate for 2 years", did you even ask or did you just assume.

One good thing you wrote was "I will never, ever, commit to anything with a significant financial outlay without finding out the T's and C's and actually agreeing to every point."

We all learn from experience and would recommend to anyone that they read what they are going to commit to (if no paperwork, use the Web) and to ask questions and get it in writing.

DanSmith_2

I managed to get a discount from them because of this! I've made a youtube video on how to, but cant post it as i'm a new user, if you search 'intense40' and click on Dan Smith, You should find it

Dan

Is_it_worth_it

DanSmith wrote: »

I managed to get a discount from them because of this! I've made a youtube video on how to, but cant post it as i'm a new user, if you search 'intense40' and click on Dan Smith, You should find it

Dan

Watched your clip Dan, you seem to have been lucky.Infact a few people seem to be lucky with regards to this increase by getting some kind of deal struck with vodafone.
Myself on the otherhand have not been so lucky, tried your method, tried all different methods to different people and they will not budge at all with anything for me and they seem quite smug about it too saying ' the increase will happen wether i like it or not, they are even boasting how its been on watchdog and they could do nothing about it '
Lesson learnt by myself, and will make sure that i leave vodafone at the end, and will not reccomend them to anyone.

thegoodman

Is_it_worth_it wrote: »

Lesson learnt by myself, and will make sure that i leave vodafone at the end, and will not reccomend them to anyone.

All main networks have done this. So you would only use PAYG from now on even if total cost is higher.

Sci_Fi_Steve

Hi all,

Im hopefully getting somewhere, So far they have offered me another contract, although I declined as it didnt really offer me any more that I would use, and they have offered me a 'discount' which actually puts my bill lower than it is now.

However, to me thats not the point. they breached their Ts and Cs (by giving less than 30 days notice) and I am continuing to pursue this line with them

Is_it_worth_it

thegoodman wrote: »

All main networks have done this. So you would only use PAYG from now on even if total cost is higher.

No i would not use PAYG, i would go on a sim only deal something like Giff Gaff (which have good deals) which is only a 30 day tie.

iritchie

Going to do the same as the above poster.
You can get plenty of rolling 30 day contracts without tying yourself into something longterm for the sake of a new handset.
At the end of the day, the likes of the Nexus 4 will be a very good phone for an affordable outlay.
Current smartphone prices are vastly over-inflated and don't offer anywhere near value for money.
Just because people are "paying it" (Almost entirely in the form of a long term contract) does not mean they are worth it.

It doesn't matter if they are "all doing it" because this is a widely used excuse coming from Vodafone since I learned of the increase.
The fact is, I was a customer with Vodafone and they are the ones who chose to take the proverbial p*ss with me by opting to utilise a little-known smallprint term.

I won't be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire by buying into another long-term contract.
I'll be freeing myself of a significant cost, and leaving my options open as to who I bring my custom to, and it most definitely won't be Vodafone again.