Vodafone contract renewal issues

tasty_snacks

I've just spoken to my cousin who is more than a little upset with Vodafone; and he's asking my advice about a contract renewal situation. I promised I'd post on here to see if anyone can offer advice.

His 2 year contract expired in the summer 2012. He was paying just over £41 pcm which included a 'Stop The Clock' add on. The allowances were all sufficient and he never once paid more than the £41 pcm. Since the summer, until the bill dated late November, he continued to pay the £41 without issue.

However the late December bill arrived with a charge of nearly £107. A few phonecalls later he discovered that the contract was actually changed with effect from the first day of the December billing period. Asked why he wasn't informed, he was told that a text was sent to him in October alerting him to the changes that would occur from late November.

Vodafone has since offered a £20 bill reduction, a 50% off the additional charges reduction (equating to £33), then finally a £15 reduction - in that order. He has refused all of these and wants the excess charges removed in their entirety, which I think is equitable given the circumstances.

He's now in dialogue via email (where the latest £15 offer originated from), and has reached the point where he's cancelled the contracts for both him and his wife out of pure frustration. I've told him to persist with seeking a reduction by email/agreeing to renew both contracts as I believe this is the best chance of resolution.

But what I'm unsure about is the T & Cs of the contract after it has expired. If renewing at the same tariff, is Vodafone obliged to serve notice of intended contract changes by post/ email rather than just by text?

Cheers :beer:

macman

The contract does not ever 'expire', it just reaches the end of it's minimum term (in this case, after 2 years). It then continues on the same terms until 30 days notice is given.

Buzby

The tariff he signed up to is no longer available. However, it is a false economy to take out a new contract on the basis of what might be offered. PAYG keeps you in greater control.

Vodafone

Hi tasty_snacks,

Thanks for making me aware of your cousin's concerns.

To enable me to review matters further could you ask him email me with his details via the link in our profile here?

All he needs to do is copy and paste the link into his web browser and it will take him to the Contact us form on our website.

To ensure that it reaches me could he also quote the code WRT135 - MSE in the subject line and once he's received our automated reply could you update the thread with his email reference number and I'll get back to him as soon as possible?

Thanks,

Lee

Web Relations Team

Vodafone UK

Herongull

£41 per month is ridiculously expensive if he is no longer paying off the cost of the phone (ie out of his minimum contract period).

You can get sim only contracts for vast amounts of minutes, texts and data for less than £20. For example for £17 per month Virgin gives 1200 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited web.

And unless he really needs 1200 minutes, he can get a much cheaper deal than £17.

Why would anyone pay £41 per month?