What is Vodafone up to?

Ollsbols

So I have been a customer of Vodafone since 1995ish. I am on a good deal (but out of contract since Oct 2011 so now just on a rolling 30 day). Vodafone texted me to tell me that from 27th Oct my contract would be going up by £18.50/mnth, I would be getting less calls (150 mins less), losing passport and stop the clock and some calls charges were increasing.

So I have called them. I was told they are installing a new computer system and cannot move all the old contracts across. I asked if they could offer me a 30 day contract (as that is what I am on) as close to what I have at the moment, at no additional cost. They said no, they made no offer at all and offered me my PAC code. Looking around at all the other major phone companies, all the deals are almost identical.

So I am being penalised for the benefit of their new computer system and they seem very happy just to let me go, I assume, knowing that whatever I get elsewhere will be almost the same deal. There is a nasty whiff about all of this.

Has anyone else had the same or similar issue?

Guys_Dad

You need to be realistic. You were on an old Orange plan that seems to not be on offer now.

Orange have now offered you a new plan that, inevitably, is more expensive. You have completed your minimum term some 12 months ago and now both of you are free, within the terms, to give notice or renegotiate. (It wasn't a contract for life!)

The same thing happened with my Gas and Electricity contracts when their fixed term ended. I used Uswitch and found the best deal.

If Orange can't offer you a deal you like, you are free to take your number and port it to someone who can give you the best deal.

Obviously you won't be happy to pay more for less. Neither would I, but that is life, so you need to deal with it.

Ollsbols

Hi GD,

its Vodafone not Orange but your point still stands. Its just a shame that after all these years they so happy to lose me (and the other phone i have on my account).

It seems all the companies are hardening their pricing at the moment. There is almost no difference between them now. It has to do with 4G licence auction coming up I suspect. So i will move but it is out of principle rather than getting a better deal.

Guys_Dad

Ollsbols wrote: »

Hi GD,
So i will move but it is out of principle rather than getting a better deal.

Sorry about the network confusion on my part.

Try not to take business things personally - remember in the Godfather "Not personal - just business".

Get the best deal you can - even if it is from Voda. Negotiate with their retentions team and I am sure they will try their best to retain you if your business is worth it. But remember that, in the end, they are all the same as threads on this forum will show.

Ollsbols

I know I should not take it personally. If I can find the same deal elsewhere for the same price I shall take that. Unfortunatly Vodafone are not willing to do anything at all to keep me. Its very strange. I have always managed to negotiate a good deal. I am well known in my office for being the go to guy for mobile phone contract negotiations.

I asked Vodafone about the Galaxy III. They wanted £44/mnth over 2 years (£1056 for a phone I can buy for £400 or less). They are probably buying the phone for half that. That means they are charging £856 (£35.50/mnth) for the contract. Well it costs them nothing to give you calls, data and txts. They have to maintain the network (they stopped developing it years ago), billing is online. So their overheads are pretty low (£50/year if that?). Their margin is pretty high. In effect you are paying for credit on the cost of the phone at over 100%/year.