Dud Nokia N95's on 18mnth contracts

pennypinching77

Just out of my 14 day returns, I and most users have problems with this phone. To cut a long story short most of the items on this phone do not work properly. Took mine back to Vodaphone over 2 weeks ago, was due back last week but still not corrected.
I have heard of people having to exchange this phone up to 4 times, this phone has been out barely a month.

Is there anyway I can get out of this 18 month contract if the phone keeps going wrong and say have had to have 3/4 changes taking weeks at a time?. Vodaphone has told me I can only get like for like and Nokia are hardly going to admit they bought a dud phone to beat off other competition. The store claims none have been returned though I know this to be untrue.
The phone is not even on their best buy list anymore.

Surely I have some rights under the consumer act? to at least exchange for another phone or cancel altogether.
Any advice welcome

chocolateypie

You won't be able to get out of the contract even if you have the phone changed 10 times - problem is with the phone and not the network itself.

At best you'll be able to get a different model of phone, however that is at the discretion of the store manager.

If you're out of your 14 day returns period but still within 28 days then surely they should just give you a new one over the counter instead of sending it off? Unless Vodafone has a different returns policy?

pennypinching77

Thanks for reply

I had the Nokia N73 before returning it for the N95 so I guess my contract started on 25th March 07. The store Manager has already told me I cannot exchange this phone only like for like. Surely that would be unreasonable if it turns out it spends more time being fixed which is inconvenient to me.

Also Vodaphone gives you 'free' insurance for 3 months which they then charge you for. They have refused to cancel my 'free' tv mobile service on my bill its says its for a month when I callled they said it was for 3. Obviously hoping I'll forget and incur a charge and also their Vodaphone Live service is expensive and internet charges are extortionate.

Worse of all they dont send your first bill for 6-8 weeks and are extremely cagey and obstructive when you ask for your account balance.

It seems we are paying more for our phones and services in general but the quality is getting worse and everything is being done to tie us into contracts from phones, utilities, banking, mortgages etc.

This truely is RipoffBritain.

pennypinching77

Can anyone also tell which would be the best insurance to take once this 'free' initial period runs out as I expect more problems and dont want to have to shell out each time I have to return it.

Dont know if it is relevant, but I took out a lifeline cover with Carphone Warehouse for a phone I bought from them - T-mobile flext 18mnth.

After 13 months I cancelled for this current deal. They later cancelled my insurance once I returned the phone even though on their correspondence it says I had to give them written notice, which I did not.

So does that mean my initial insurance could stand for this phone? or am I clutching at straws?!?

Thanks in advance

chocolateypie

pennypinching77 wrote: »

Also Vodaphone gives you 'free' insurance for 3 months which they then charge you for. They have refused to cancel my 'free' tv mobile service on my bill its says its for a month when I callled they said it was for 3. Obviously hoping I'll forget and incur a charge and also their Vodaphone Live service is expensive and internet charges are extortionate.

Just ask your bank to cancel the direct debit for this insurance? Then they won't be able to charge you further. As for your free tv mobile service, you could try setting a reminder in your phone's calender before you're due the first payment. Many people I know do this for cashback deals where they have to send their nth bills off.

pennypinching77 wrote: »

Worse of all they dont send your first bill for 6-8 weeks and are extremely cagey and obstructive when you ask for your account balance.

You're put on a billing cycle, which is randomly (as far as I know) determined by the network, when you sign up to a contract. If you're lucky your contract will start on the first day of your billing cycle, meaning the first bill you receive will be in approximately 4 weeks' time and you will just be charged for one month's line rental. If you sign up half way through your billing cycle, your first bill will be in around 6 weeks' time and you'll be charged a month and half's line rental + a full month if that makes sense

pennypinching77 wrote: »

So does that mean my initial insurance could stand for this phone? or am I clutching at straws?!?

Your initial insurance won't be of any help, as CPW only insures phones sold through themselves. I'm not sure of any insurance companies specifically targeted at mobiles, but sometimes bank/house insurance will cover phones, however you won't be able to cancel your contract early like you could with Lifeline