Vodafone debt

Herongull

You never have to pay what you don't owe, but you do need to get disputes resolved. This is what complaints procedures and ombudsman are for. And they do work.

Just withholding money without following procedures to get matters resolved does not work (and you get hassled by debt collectors and have negative impacts on your credit rating etc etc)

But you don't have to be flexible with people who demand money from you. It is completely unreasonable to expect you to pay money that you don't owe.

If they refuse to talk to you - keep note of this phone call (and ask for it in writing) and add it to your list of complaints. If they refuse to supply any paperwork ditto. Unreasonable behaviour by the other party just strengthens your hand (as long as you keep records).

Keep copies of letters (send them by recorded delivery). If they just ignore them, guess what - more ammunition to throw at them. Not that you needed it - sounds like an open and shut case based on what you've said.

But all is not lost now. Assuming you have reasonable records, you should to get all the money back, but bear it in mind in future.

Buzby

And your Credit File shows....?

Paying anything 'under protest' means nothing - it gives you no right of refund from the person you paid, and has no legal significance (other than you paid what was demanded, and the matter is closed).

Since there is general agreement your file has been trashed somewhat, it would be reasonable to check and confirm this as, if you want justice, you gave to remove this blight ASAP.

mobile_user

Thanks guys I will check my credit rating after my conversation with Vodafone on Thursday, hopefully by then they would have received the details that I have paid capquest.

Not sure my credit rating has been trashed as i've recently taken out a contract with T-mobile (the £8 free one) and there was no problem then, usually they ask for £100 deposit first for individuals with a poor credit rating

Silk

Buzby wrote: »

Paying anything 'under protest' means nothing - it gives you no right of refund from the person you paid, and has no legal significance (other than you paid what was demanded, and the matter is closed).

Thats not true, it's a well used term that clearly states you intend contesting the issue at a later date

For example Which consumer guide to supply of goods and services ......
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/supply-of-goods-and-services-act-1982/

Payment Under Protest

You may have to pay under protest and take legal action for compensation if you're still in dispute with a trader.
To do this either write 'paid under protest' on the back of the cheque, or when paying also hand/send the trader a covering letter stating that you are paying 'under protest'.

Herongull

Buzby wrote: »

And your Credit File shows....?

Paying anything 'under protest' means nothing - it gives you no right of refund from the person you paid, and has no legal significance (other than you paid what was demanded, and the matter is closed).

Since there is general agreement your file has been trashed somewhat, it would be reasonable to check and confirm this as, if you want justice, you gave to remove this blight ASAP.

Disagree with your 2nd paragraph. Yes, of course it gives you no right of refund. But if you do decide to pay a disputed amount (although I don't think you should), it makes it clear that your payment does not imply that you accept the debt and that the matter is most definitely not closed as far as you are concerned. If you don't put this in, payment can indicate that you have accepted the debt.

mobile_user

Update:

I have received no proof of purchase after 48 hours which was specified by Vodafone.

I have received no response to my web query either after 48 hours.

I contacted Vodafone today to try and cancel my contract.
They confirm that they have received payment from CapQuest and I have an additional amount (another month of the contract) to pay, which I've done. But they are unable to cancel the contract as I have to give 30 days notice this I have done today.

I requested that I would like to make the payment for the end of that period but they were unable to take payment today only at the end of the contract. Fine as supposedly I could incur charges between today and January.

I asked my call to be escalated and was informed I would be contacted by a manager within 3 days. 3 more days of waiting!

If i don't get a satisfactory resolution from Vodafone by 3 days I will be escalating this to their complaints department. Or indeed the small claims court. My patience is now wearing thin!

MataNui

I am pretty sure i know what this sim thing is about. 2 years ago i went to the local vodafone shop for an upgrade. I was offered a 'free' sim (loyalty sim they called it). Unlike in the OPs case i was told that it was basically a 30day sim only contract that was free for the first so many months (it was 2 years ago and i really cant remember but i think it was free for 4 months) and after that would be £15.99 a month unless i gave 30 days notice and cancelled it. I was also told that i really didnt have much choice about taking it if i wanted the discounted upgrade deal i had been offered. Things like this are a well known and very dishonest tactic by mobile phone companies. Its the same with the 'free' insurance. They hope that you will forget to cancel in time meaning they get a couple of months payment.

For the OP:
My extra sim was detailed on my original upgrade contract (not a separate one) so check yours carefully if you have not already done so. The direct debit was for both contracts together so it would be easy to miss if your bills are variable anyway (as mine normally are).
You didnt need to pay CapQuest. They cant do anything. If your credit report is messed up then that will be because vodafone already did it. Debt collection agencies have no power to do anything other than harass you unless they have a court order (which they wont have because you would have known about that).
I would definitely now push vodafone till you get a deadlock letter. The long and the short of it is that unless they can prove that you agreed to a 'contract' then they cant claim money from you.

mobile_user

Vodafone has put a mark on my credit report it's come down to 961 the entry was for the amount i paid to capquest

Lee from the web relations team has been in contact to set a time to discuss this further.

Silk

mobile_user wrote: »

Vodafone has put a mark on my credit report it's come down to 961 the entry was for the amount i paid to capquest

Lee from the web relations team has been in contact to set a time to discuss this further.

Which as we pointed out is what happens before it gets passed to the debt collectors.
It will probably be changed to late payment and debt settled if not already marked that way

Vodafone

Hi mobile_user,

It's just a quick post to confirm that I've received your most recent email.

Please be assured that I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Kind regards,

Lee

Web Relations

Vodafone UK