At my wits end with vodafone

kiz.bartlett

Right so i will begin at the start

I had got an early upgrade from vodafone, and had finally chosen on the HTC One X.

That day, i obtained screen flickering and the occasional wifi drop. After searching on the internet, it was proven the screen flickering is a software fault, and would be upgraded with the new software (this was not stated to me, i had to find it myself).

So i waited and waited for my update, and the 30 day mark to replace phone passed, still no update. Finally the update came, but i was outside my 30 days.

This software update did not fix my phone, and was told that now i could only get it repaired (although if i had got the phone replaced in the specified time period, it wouldnt have made a difference as it was a software fault)

I commute to work and live away from home, and need my mobile on me to communicate with work and home. I have actively stated my position and they still say they can only repair it, i cannot go without a phone for 2 weeks.

I had asked if they did a loan phone, to which i found out i need to pay 16 pounds a month for phone insurance, just for a loan phone.

Where do i stand on this? it was a faulty phone when i had received it, and was led to believe this would be fixed with a software update outside my timeframe to replace it.

macman

You are not entitled to a replacement, the retailer can repair or replace at their discretion. And consumer contracts do not give you an automatic loan phone.
Why not just use an old handset with your SIM (or a £10 PAYG handset) in the interim?

kiz.bartlett

The HTC one X contains a micro-sim, so i would need to find and order a micro-sim to sim adapter, then purchase a phone to fit this. i also would need to contact work, home, family members and friends to say i have changed a number for 2 weeks, alongside finding a phone which can aquire web and not just wap.


I have read on what consumers website that: "In the first instance the seller must offer to at least repair the phone. They must do this within reasonable time, at no additional cost to you and without causing any significant inconvenience"

I have stated that this will provide a significant inconvenience. I also run a youtube channel, and as such requires me to actively check statistics throughout the day, send emails to partnerships etc

kiz.bartlett

another comment made was "the law says you should not suffer significant inconvenience if an item is faulty. For this reason most mobile retailers offer a replacement phone while yours is away. You should now request one (they may charge you a returnable deposit)."

macman

2 weeks is a reasonable lead time for a repair.
If a phone is essential for your business, then you should have taken out a business contract that offers an SLA.
Why do you need to change number, you can just swap the SIM and use an adaptor?
It may indeed be inconvenient, but your standard consumer contract does not cover you for inconvenience.

kiz.bartlett

The business is only required when travelling to the destination of work and returning from, which is not considered business but as a commute. Not only this but i have 40 miles away from my family, and since the phone developed the faults i have already had unfortunate news (The joys of having a big family).

and under the soga S.48 it states that the repair does not cause significant inconvenience.

kiz.bartlett

i dont want to go around preaching to vodafone stating something which may not be true, but at the moment i really do not have even £10 to spend on a temporary phone. Due to running up bills through university for them not paying me for 8 months into the term, i have had to manage money and allow for the essential living and commuting until my bills are paid.

Buzby

That won't fly - the inconvencience is not measured by how hectic you've made your lifestyle. You do appear to be making heavy weather of a situation that is unfortunate, but in the scale of things not major. SIM adaptors a a few pence, or a workaround with cardboard would keep you going. Reuse your old handset, and ask (not demand) that they expedite the repair as you've been reasonable. They mightr even make a goodwill gesture - you never know.

As for money being tight - why on earth commit to a contract mobile? If anything went wrong, it would be like pouring vinegar into a wound....

macman

Use an old basic handset, borrow one from friends/family?
Sorry, but if you can't scape together a tenner for an emergency, then why have you just bought a contract for a smartphone worth nearly £400?

kiz.bartlett

I can see where your coming from, and i think by the looks of it i will have to send it off for repair. And in terms of contract vs PAYG, i had a pay as you go phone before, and with the amount of contact i had done, i used almost £100 of credit. My contract lets me use £32 a month instead of this, and i dont have that worry that i could be cut short midway. Also i had to relocate due to jobs, i wouldve loved to have stayed at home, but a graduate job is hard as peanuts to come by.

Out of everything i wouldnt have minded if it developed the fault after the 30 days, but it was initially a software fault, whereby the software was never released until a month and a half later, which did not fix this.

kiz.bartlett

also i will apologise for seeming unreasonable now. I used to be too relaxed to dispute things like this, but ive realised ive been taken for a ride one too many times in the past that i just want to know where i stand with everything aha.