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Mobile phone monthly contract

I am 4 months into a two year monthly contract with Vodafone. I received a text this week informing me that the monthly tariff would increase on 1st November from £15.50 to £15.85.

It's only a marginal increase I know but can Vodafone simply unilaterally impose such an increase? Surely a contract is a contract and should be binding on both sides for its duration.

Am I just being naive or is this just plain wrong?
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Comments

  • chanz4
    chanz4 Posts: 11,033 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    naive, you need to read what you signup to
    Don't put your trust into an Experian score - it is not a number any bank will ever use & it is generally a waste of money to purchase it. They are also selling you insurance you dont need.
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,128 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It's not a fixed price contract, any network can increase the price at any time within the minimum term (the day after you contract, if they wish). Telcoms contracts are never fixed price.
    And I believe that all the networks except O2 have done so in the past year or so.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • If you go abroad with your phone you might end up with a debit of £437.07 from your account, thats what went from my account without a word from the phone company. They seem to have free rein to take whatever amount once you have a contract with them. Be warned.
  • Buzby
    Buzby Posts: 8,275 Forumite
    Er, the DD you agree to gives them the right. If you don't want this, don't set one up. As for using the mobile abroad, surely you knew it would be expensive? This isn't something to do lightly, but it is accepted that the user remains responsible for costs incurred with their mobile, whether they make use of it or it is stolen by someone else (until you tell them yo cancel).

    For everyone else who dislikes this, there is PAYG.
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 11 October 2012 at 7:46PM
    Buzby wrote: »
    Er, the DD you agree to gives them the right.
    No, it doesn't give them the right to do this "without a word".
    If there are any changes to the amount... of your Direct Debit ..your organisation ... will notify you (insert number of) working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed.
    Whether the companies follow this rule or breach it is a different question that has nothing to do with "the right".
    Buzby wrote: »
    For everyone else who dislikes this, there is PAYG.
    Well, a contract doesn't necessarily mean a DD.
  • Buzby
    Buzby Posts: 8,275 Forumite
    (1) What does 'without a word' mean? Giving a DD means the vendor has established a relationship with your bank. The customer is out the loop, as they have no say in the matter until after the event. Giving someone this ability should be recognised as being ill-advised at best, and downright stupid at worst. The vendor has been given the 'right' to take money they say is owed - so any other right is secondary to this. It's not that difficult to understand.

    (2) Many retailers will refuse a contract without a DD, as do some networks, (just try signing up with 3UK). The other point is that non DD payers will be charged additional fees.

    PAYG means users have far greater protection, no credit file risk, no spurious charges, and no inadvertent roaming!
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 11 October 2012 at 10:28PM
    Buzby wrote: »
    (1) What does 'without a word' mean?
    Inver1967 wrote: »
    ... £437.07 ..., thats what went from my account without a word from the phone company. ...
    I don't see how the DD can be blamed for this. Inver1967 could have claimed all the money back under the DD guaranty, but what's the point if the bill has to be paid anyway?
    Buzby wrote: »
    (2) Many retailers will refuse a contract without a DD, as do some networks, (just try signing up with 3UK).
    You can sign up with a DD, then cancel it if you don't like DDs and use other means to pay.
    The other point is that non DD payers will be charged additional fees.
    Yes, but this point is OOT.
    PAYG means users have far greater protection, no credit file risk, no spurious charges,...
    However, they pay higher price for all thees 'features'
    ... and no inadvertent roaming!
    Yes, they don't have any roaming as soon as the credit expires. Clever people have cheaper uninterrupted roaming on contracts without any surprises.
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,755 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 11 October 2012 at 11:20PM
    I had the text your bill will be increasing. Poor timing on their part.

    So the last increase round everything upto nice numbers and now the new increase is rounding them up to silly odd numbers again???
    How long before another increase to make the numbers whole?

    We have 3 phones on my account, One is due an upgrade any day now, So i will be haggling hard to get the bill for the 3 phones to slightly less than it was BEFORE the increase. Its a challenge :)

    Might have to start making silly calls to use all my free minutes and texts up every month.

    Oh my an extra 70p a month on my phone alone...
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • JethroUK
    JethroUK Posts: 1,959 Forumite
    Wor_Bobby wrote: »


    Am I just being naive or is this just plain wrong?

    its just plain wrong and it flies in the face of everything understood in law by the word "agreement"

    true its not much, but equally, if its not much then why can company break the "agreement" over few pence

    the company can charge new customers whatever they like but they do not have a case for not adhering to the agreement for a few lousy months and few lousy £s

    they cant
    When will the "Edit" and "Quote" button get fixed on the mobile web interface?
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