Vodafone/Collect Direct

Kerrie74

Hello,

I'm looking for a bit of advice, I'll try and explain as best as I can what's happened.

I had an account with Vodafone for a pay monthly phone, which was all fine, however I thought I get a phone for my son, this was ok for a couple of years but then this year he ran his phone account up to over £480, the problem is it's in my name.

The debt was passed over to Collect Direct who said when I explained everything that my son would need to pay £22 per fortnight and that they wouldn't accept anything lower. My son's been paying this however he is struggling as he doesn't get much money per week and I'm having to try and help him with food. I've just tried to get a hold of Vodafone to sort this out but they no longer use email and I'm not really good on the phone because I suffer with anxiety.

I was thinking about just telling my son to cancel his payments to them but could someone tell me what would happen if we do this? I just think £44 per month is a lot seeing how we no longer have any monthly contracts with Vodafone anymore.

Thanks in advance

Sedge123

You no longer have a monthly contract but the fact if the matter is that he owes the money. How much of the debt is left to pay?

Kerrie74

He owes £394 still, the amount before he started paying was around £520, that was termination fee added and another fee added because it's being dealt with by another company.

Kerrie74

Oh I did mean to say in my original post, that he still wants to pay just at a reduced rate, he doesn't want to just dump the bill which I wouldn't allow anyway, it's in my name and I have enough of my own things to pay.

Sedge123

Could he speak to Vodafone on your behalf?

I wouldn't just stop paying as that will cause you big problems. Much better to contact them and renegotiate the amount although this obviously mean it will take much longer to clear the debt.

Kerrie74

Yeah I'm trying to get a hold of someone, tried seeing if someone would get someone to call me back, I left a message on their forums, not with my personal details obviously lol, I said that I'd reply to pm's.

It's a shame that virgin removed 0845 and 0847 numbers from the package I'm on, they used to do a booster for it but they don't even do that anymore, quite sneaky really, they just want you to get the top package, not a chance, I think I'll switch to Talk Talk next year!

Thanks for the advice

Vodafone

Hi Kerrie74,

Thanks for making me aware of this.

If you'd like any help from me, 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

Kerrie74

Vodafone_company_representative wrote: »

Hi Kerrie74,

Thanks for making me aware of this.

If you'd like any help from me, 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

Thanks but I already tried emailing and got this response, which I'm not happy about because I asked before the account was sent to a debt collection agency about seeing up a payment plan but was ignored.

"Hi Kerry,
Thanks for your email. I’m sorry to learn about the payment issues you’re facing.



I’ve checked your account and can see that it is currently being dealt with the Collections agency Telepefomce Prime. As such, we won’t be able to offer any payment plans for your account now.




Any payment plans can now only be provided by the Debt Collections agency, so we request you to contact them to arrange a more suitable payment plan for yourself.




Kind regards,

Aftab Alam
Vodafone Customer Services"

Firstly he spelt my name wrong.. secondly I explained everything in the email about trying to set up a payment plan with this terrible company for less and about them insisting that my son pays £22 per fortnight. Now if my account is no longer with you then why am I receiving invoice from Vodafone and why do I have an account number with Vodafone??

I'm really not impressed with how Vodafone has gone about this.

In the past they have taken money out of my account in the when I had already made a payment then wouldn't give it me back when I explained I'd already paid and that they'd left me with no money for food for the week.

My son CANNOT afford £22 per fortnight, simple as, I don't know why a lower payment can't be taken until my son is in such a position to pay more. Non of us have a contract with Voda anymore so we can't run up anymore debt.

Not impressed and will be making a complaint about the shoddy customer service and the fact that my request for a payment plan with Vodafone was ignored.

I know this is partly my son's fault for running the bill up in the first place, but I'm just looking for a bit of help as I'm having to try and buy his food as well as mine and I'm on sickness money and don't get much and I'm getting into a mess with my own bills.