Vodafone are the pits!

wurlitzerwilly

A short while ago I was approached by Evolve to upgrade my cell phone with Vodafone. I didn't like the upgrade and sent it back within a few days. I also decided to leave Vodafone because their coverage isn't good for me.
I had quite a job getting a PUK code out of them so that I could go elsewhere and retain my original number. I finally received an email from Vodafone saying that the account was closed and I needed to pay a final month's rental - which I did by phone and as far as they were concerned, the account was closed and we'd parted company.
A few weeks later I had a letter from Vodafone demanding £300+ for early contract termination and threatening me with a debt collector, so I phoned their call centre and pointed out that there was no contract because the handset had been returned. Their rep informed me that Evolve would have to tell them that the handset had been received, so I contacted Evolve and after a couple of weeks and a further threatening letter from Vodafone, Evolve called back yesterday and informed me that Vodafone have agreed that the handset has been returned and any outstanding amount is now zero.
This morning I received a letter from FPC Debt Collection Services (Weybridge), demanding the £300+ and urging me to call them. I had also received two automated phone calls (on my landline!!!) which were not returned because I thought they were a PPI scam. On phoning FPC, they wanted their reference number, my full name and address, date of birth and telephone number - they said for security under Data Protection Act! Hardly secure as quite a few people know my DOB, name, address and phone number, but they refused to talk to me without all that. Is this a try-on to get as much info about me as possible?
I told their supervisor that Vodafone had cancelled the demand because the handset had been returned in good time and he wasn't surprised, so I presume that inefficient Vodafone do this quite a lot?! No apology, only "we'll go back to our client (Vodafone)".
I would dearly have loved to go to court with this and have Vodafone pay some form of compensation, but I don't have the time at present.
I've also informed Evolve and they should be contacting Vodafone again, so what happens now? Who should I approach if I get any more demands - CAB, OFCOM???

Regards,

Alan.

visidigi

should be on praise, warning & vents...

vuvuzela

visidigi wrote: »

should be on praise, warning & vents...

And possibly should be slating Evolve (whoever they are) instead of Voda.

vuvuzela

wurlitzerwilly wrote: »

I would dearly have loved to go to court with this and have Vodafone pay some form of compensation, but I don't have the time at present.
I've also informed Evolve and they should be contacting Vodafone again, so what happens now? Who should I approach if I get any more demands - CAB, OFCOM???

Regards,

Alan.

For compensation, you need to show you have suffered a loss. it seems you haven't. Who are Evolve and why have you gone through them ?

wurlitzerwilly

vuvuzela wrote: »

And possibly should be slating Evolve (whoever they are) instead of Voda.

I see it as Vodafone's inability to check whether the handset was returned in time and jumping the gun with the debt collectors, after demanding that the CUSTOMER do Vodafone's job!

wurlitzerwilly

vuvuzela wrote: »

For compensation, you need to show you have suffered a loss. it seems you haven't. Who are Evolve and why have you gone through them ?

Evolve are like Carphone Warehouse and act as an agent for Vodafone.

visidigi

wurlitzerwilly wrote: »

I see it as Vodafone's inability to check whether the handset was returned in time and jumping the gun with the debt collectors, after demanding that the CUSTOMER do Vodafone's job!

Its not vodafone's job, its Evolve. They introduced the customer, they accepted the return. It was up to them to inform vodafone.

They didn't. Vodafone didn't get paid. Vodafone passed it to debt collectors.

wurlitzerwilly

visidigi wrote: »

Its not vodafone's job, its Evolve. They introduced the customer, they accepted the return. It was up to them to inform vodafone.

They didn't. Vodafone didn't get paid. Vodafone passed it to debt collectors.

Seems like a fair alternative perspective.

Vodafone

Hi wurlitzerwilly,

Thanks for making me aware of this.

To enable me to get matters looked into further could you email me with your details via the link in our profile here?

All you need to do is copy and paste the link into your web browser and it will take you to the Contact us form on our website.

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

Kind regards,

Lee

Web Relations Team

Vodafone UK