Vodafone 'Debt' I don't owe

macman

You can't give notice and request a PAC-one overrides the other. It seems that your PAC request canccelled the notice request, and therefore as far as the network is concerned you gave notice on 18/6. Therefore your contract and billng would continue for 30 days beyond that.

Herongull

Perhaps, but phoning up on the 18 June (and getting confirmation from Voda staff that the contract was now definitely cancelled) over-rides the non-use of the PAC. If the Voda person didn't have the right authority to do this that is Voda's problem.

I'm sure a court would uphold this. Pay the money under protest and claim it back through the small claims court (and insist that they fix any damage done to your credit rating).

Buzby

Networks are said to be 'helpful' by not processing a disconnection when a PAC is issued as if it did not happen, your number would be lost for all time.

However this is a network policy, and not contract law - your disconnection request takes precedence, but you may have a hard task to see them take your PoV. If you didn't care about the number, never ask for a PAC.

Earthworm

In order for you to move your number to a new provider your service has to be active. That is why no disconnection request is placed. Asking for your PAC is giving your 30 days notice but if you change your mind you just don't use the code. You have not used the code on the basis you have kept the new number but didn't tell Vodafone this. You are liable for the charges but if you fight it I think Vodafone will back down. There is only so much fighting they will do over 30 days line rental when that time could be spent on signing new contracts.

Silk

Jo_H wrote: »

1) I gave my 30 days notice of cancellation on 18th May 2013 and this is when I requested my PAC code (which expired on 18 June 2013)

2) I called an advisor in the cancellations team on 18 June 2013 and informed them I wanted to cancel my contract and as far as I was aware this was done. I was not told that because I hadn't used my PAC code by 18 June my contract continued

I don't follow this ???

If you gave notice on the 18th May why did you have to ring back on the 18th June to cancel ....... if you then gave 30 days notice that would take you into late July for the contract to run and you say you got the bill end of July ???

Techhead_2

Buzby wrote: »

Networks are said to be 'helpful' by not processing a disconnection when a PAC is issued as if it did not happen, your number would be lost for all time.

However this is a network policy, and not contract law - your disconnection request takes precedence, but you may have a hard task to see them take your PoV. If you didn't care about the number, never ask for a PAC.

This isn't correct. (See the Mobile Number Portability process manual on the OFCOM site for a description of the regulations)

A service provider is required to cancel any disconnection request when the subscriber requires a PAC.

However the service provider must inform the subscriber of the validity period of the PAC and that the contract will continue if the PAC is not used before cut off time on the expiry date. If the OP was not informed of this then they may be able to argue the debt is not owed.

Buzby

Unfortunately what OFCOM require of the network when porting has absolutely no relevance to the consumer (as they are not party to this trade arrangement). It is neither binding on the consumer, or a consideration UNLESS it forms part of the contract - and of the four recent Terms I have reviewed, it is not.

Indeed, when you realise what information consumers are Pre-advised what they have to do to cancel, what happens to any debt outstanding, and a whole host of seemingly other irrelevances, would you not agree that to have any hope of 'avoidance of doubt' the contract term would need to at least stipulate that a PAC code cancels any customer request to cease?

If the service provider informs the customer that their cancellation request has been invalidated by the PAC, they may have a slight advantage, but in no way can this be used as a method of ignoring the consumers original instruction to cease (only modify the date of termination, at worst) but certainly not result in the re-imposition of the standard notice period.

Do not be too quick to believe the imposition of terms from a regulator has any relevance on a consumer unless full disclosure is made.

Lastly we are not talking of 'debts', as this is separate. But if notice has been given and this is not disputed, no debt will actually exist.

Jo_H_3

Silk wrote: »

I don't follow this ???

If you gave notice on the 18th May why did you have to ring back on the 18th June to cancel ....... if you then gave 30 days notice that would take you into late July for the contract to run and you say you got the bill end of July ???

This was because I gave my 30 days notice to an online adviser on 18th May who then got an adviser to call me about my PAC code (all I was told that it would expire on 18th June and I would be charged £1 per day for however many days early I used it - I didn't end up using it as my new supplier wouldn't accept it) and I was then told I had to call back on 18th June as the cancellation had to be done over the telephone.

Silk

Jo_H wrote: »

This was because I gave my 30 days notice to an online adviser on 18th May who then got an adviser to call me about my PAC code (all I was told that it would expire on 18th June and I would be charged £1 per day for however many days early I used it - I didn't end up using it as my new supplier wouldn't accept it) and I was then told I had to call back on 18th June as the cancellation had to be done over the telephone.

That would have been correct if you didn't use the pac code .....there would be no need to call them had you used the pac code as that would have ended the contract hence another 30 days started on the 18th June

keith1950

Basically , due to your lack of knowledge, you ended up giving notice on 18th of June so the contract would now end on the 17th July.

I would advise you temporarily pay what they are asking for to ensure your credit file isn't affected and then argue over the amount later.

Whatever you think , you actually now owe until the 17th of July.