about to default on phone contract - vodafone

bumeyes2

Hi,

I royally messed up taking out a contract with Vodafone, and it's still got a year to go. I'm on benefits, and having to fight to have my DLA reinstated, and I've had serious health problems this year...

My contract is for £21 per month. I never really use anywhere hear all my minutes, don't text that much, but do use a bit of internet. I only got an S3 mini with the contract, which wasn't a good deal!

Somehow my bill always seems to be more like £40, which I just can't afford. I have occasionally gone over my data (my phone just seems to suddenly use a sh!tload at once sometimes for no reason) and had to pay late payment fees on a number of occasions.

On my income this is just plain impossible. After buying a few CHristmas present for my kids (not much - they live with their mum, I get nothing towards looking after them about 35% of the time)

So I'm going to have to default on my agreement. If they take me to court I'll promise to pay them £1 a month until it's paid or my income goes up. I can't see another option.

Is there any way I can keep my phone? I know this is rather dodgy but I was thinking of telling them I'd sold it! They've had so much money from me already, and I feel utterly ripped off. It needs minor repair at the moment but I'll have to sort it myself I guess.

Anyone got any suggestions? Apart from "don't default" - I just can't and won't pay them!

EDIT - my credit rating is already !!!!!!ed. I've had to cut back on several other things, with interest being frozen etc. So I don't have anything to lose on that front. And I just can't keep paying that kind of money. I'm going to have to go onto a !!!!!! pay as you go and never talk to anyone! I already have to freeload my internet off a neighbour and can't use anything like skype

Buzby

They'll not take you to court. As soon as you default, the SIM is blocked and your service stops. If you get the phone unlocked use any PAYG SIM, or switch to Vodafone PAYG which will save this hassle.

Under your current circumstances, you need a phone contract like a hole in the head - and as your credit file will be fried for the next 6 years try to rake care of the phone.

bumeyes2

Ah that's a relief! Thank you


I'll just default then and lose my number. My phone isn't locked anyway - it came from Carphone Warehouse, which means it's not locked to the network right?!

Then I can just shove a PAYG sim into it. They can't stop the phone right?

grumbler

bumeyes2 wrote: »

My phone isn't locked anyway - it came from Carphone Warehouse, which means it's not locked to the network right?!

Right.

They can't stop the phone right?

Theoretically they can, but very unlikely as it was CPW, not the network, who supplied it.


Re feeling 'ripped off', I see absolutely no reasons for this. Nobody forced you to buy this contract.
And sort out your mobile data setting at last for God's sake. Otherwise you'll get your PAYG credit wiped out instantly unless you have unlimited or big data bundle. Disable all auto-updates via mobile data.

preable

Im pretty sure if you dont pay your bill and you got the phone with the contract they will block the phone aswell as the sim

grumbler

Why on earth would the network block the phone supplied by CPW? They have nothing to do with this handset and have no rights to block it.

Not to mention that they cannot benefit from blocking in any way.

ladymagpie

I'm a little amazed you thought to get this kind of contract while on benefits. Unless you had a job at the time you signed, in which case that's bad luck.

I'm also amazed when people choose to buy Christmas presents over spending money on various debts, utilities etc first. I would consider it a lesson learned. I'm sorry but it had to be said.

I do hope you sort it out. But I don't imagine they'll let you go so easily.

bumeyes2

Ladymagpie, you are absolutely right. It was an incredibly stupid thing to do. I wasn't thinking clearly at all.

I had complicated reasons for going with vodafone, which probably aren't worth explaining!

I could have afforded the actual contract price as it was my only phone, but it always seems to be double the expected cost, despite my attempts at being careful, including telling it not to update over the network and usually switching data off.

Whenever I try to talk to someone about it I can only speak to people who have frankly terrible english (for which I don't blame them - it's Vodafone that are outsourcing to countries where people speak a different version of English) and aren't able to fully explain the price hikes. I often have great difficulty concentrating due to major health problems and always end up just accepting what they say even when I don't understand it.

hope that explains myself a bit - and thank you everyone for your help. I got myself into a stoopid situation and I'm just trying to work out how to get out of it!

Nice_Weather_For_Ducks

If you can russell up £20, get an Ovivo SIM card. 200 mins 300 texts 500MB data every month for FREE!!!

http://www.ovivomobile.com/offer/ovivo-for-phones/

ladymagpie

Have you tried ringing them and asking to have a cap placed on your bill?

I can't imagine what a difficult situation you're in. I was once contacted by a debt collection agency - I had no idea I owed a company money - they ended up admitting fault after sending bills to my old address even after they changed my details online to my new address - but it was a horrible feeling until I managed to sort it all out a week later.

Vodafone

Hi bumeyes2,

Thanks for making me aware of this.

If you'd like me to take a closer look at things, 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'll take you to the Contact us form on our website. To make sure it reaches me could you also quote the code WRT135 - MSE in the subject line?

Once sent you'll receive an automated reply with a reference number. So I can make sure I've got it could you update the thread with this and I'll get back to you as soon as possible?

Kind regards,

Lee

Web Relations

Vodafone UK