Cheeky Vodafone

lor23

I am coming to the end of my 12 month sim only deal. I tried to cancel the contract, but faced a absurd situation, before making such a fuss that they backtracked.

I called in to the voddfone call center initially on the to cancel a few days earlier and they told me to call exactly 30 days before in order to time the cancellation with the end of term of my contract.

I duly did exactly 30 days before, but encountered some extreme cheekiness by Vodafone.

As I tried to cancel, they said i would have to pay a early termination fee of 18.50, even though i have already paid the line rental for the month. They told me that to avoid the termination fee I would have to cancel on the same date of the month (5th) that I joined. I duly explained that I am giving the firm 30 days notice as specified on the contract and that February only has 28 days, so I have timed the cancellation with 30 days in mind.

So basically they turn round and say. If want to cancel now i have to face the early termination charge of 18.50, because it is a few days early than the 5th that contract started. The also tell me that if a cancel on the 5th that its less than 30 days notice so I would have to pay another month line rental.

After explaining the craziness of what they were saying and the customer rep going to his supervisor twice, and explaining that they were trying to make it impossible to cancel even though I had paid and am fufilling the full term of the contract without extracting more money from me, they backtracked and told me that there would be a small charge of 49p instead.

I couldnt be bother to argue over 50p. so accepted the 50p charge, but its still very wrong what they were trying.

I have never encounter any mobile firm being so difficult on a cancellation of the contract, just curious if other people experienced the same from vodafone?

[Deleted User]

lor23 wrote: »

I am coming to the end of my 12 month sim only deal. I tried to cancel the contract, but faced a absurd situation, before making such a fuss that they backtracked.

I called in to the voddfone call center initially on the to cancel a few days earlier and they told me to call exactly 30 days before in order to time the cancellation with the end of term of my contract.

I duly did exactly 30 days before, but encountered some extreme cheekiness by Vodafone.

As I tried to cancel, they said i would have to pay a early termination fee of 18.50, even though i have already paid the line rental for the month. They told me that to avoid the termination fee I would have to cancel on the same date of the month (5th) that I joined. I duly explained that I am giving the firm 30 days notice as specified on the contract and that February only has 28 days, so I have timed the cancellation with 30 days in mind.

So basically they turn round and say. If want to cancel now i have to face the early termination charge of 18.50, because it is a few days early than the 5th that contract started. The also tell me that if a cancel on the 5th that its less than 30 days notice so I would have to pay another month line rental.

After explaining the craziness of what they were saying and the customer rep going to his supervisor twice, and explaining that they were trying to make it impossible to cancel even though I had paid and am fufilling the full term of the contract without extracting more money from me, they backtracked and told me that there would be a small charge of 49p instead.

I couldnt be bother to argue over 50p. so accepted the 50p charge, but its still very wrong what they were trying.

I have never encounter any mobile firm being so difficult on a cancellation of the contract, just curious if other people experienced the same from vodafone?

Eh? 12 months minimum contract term then 30 days notice to cancel. Seems normal to me.

BTW I terminated my SIM only and today was the last day. Final bill £3.18

[Deleted User]

There have been several posts on these forums about other providers making it difficult to cancel and imposing extra charges. It's childish behaviour on their part and counter productive because if they were OK about you leaving then you would be more likely to return if your new provider didn't give you a good service.

MataNui

I have just left vodafone and the rep said exactly the same when i requested my PAC. If i transferred the number out on the last day my PAC was valid for it would be 1 day before my minimum term date. Obviously though the PAC would be used before this. The vodafone rep told me i would need to pay an ETC as it would be before my minimum term was up. He didnt get that the worst they could legally do would be to charge me up to the minimum term date (1 day extra). I have just had my final bill and guess what? No ETC (well £1.24, big deal) exactly as i told the muppet at vodafone who tried to persuade me that i needed to wait till after the minimum term date to request my PAC. Dont listen to vodafone customer support. They take lessons in lies and BS from Talk Talk.

This is how it actually works:
You give 30 days notice. If that 30days is exactly on your minimum term date you pay nothing. If you are early and the 30 days is before your minimum term date you are charged the difference between the 2 dates (so you are charged to your minimum term date) - a refund for unused allowance in that month (this is what they call the frightening ETC). If your 30 days is past your minimum term you are charged up to the end of the 30 days notice. The vodafone rep you spoke to was lying as is normal for these people.

grumbler

jeepjunkie wrote: »

Eh? 12 months minimum contract term then 30 days notice to cancel. Seems normal to me.

Why "then"?!

mobilejunkie

I get this often with most networks. I always call and give notice to cancel exactly at the end of the term. I always do it when I get to within the last 60 days, thereby giving more than 30 days' notice. Most I ever get is an ETF of a few pence and always demand that back when that happens. Ignore all the rubbish they try to fob you off with.

System

I've had problems in the past with giving more than 30 days notice to various networks.

I therefore mark it in my calendar and request a PAC with 30 days notice til the end of the contract. This means that any final bill is normally a pound or two.

This also allows time for retention dept to call with any offers prior to leaving

mobilejunkie wrote: »

I get this often with most networks. I always call and give notice to cancel exactly at the end of the term. I always do it when I get to within the last 60 days, thereby giving more than 30 days' notice. Most I ever get is an ETF of a few pence and always demand that back when that happens. Ignore all the rubbish they try to fob you off with.

mobilejunkie

I never need retention deals, though have been offered some amazing ones sometimes; mine are far better without that. As for exactly 30 days - they have no right to demand that and I won't accept it, whether they like it or not. Gave notice this week to terminate a contract in the third week of March.

grumbler

mobilejunkie wrote: »

... As for exactly 30 days - they have no right to demand that...

What if the T&C say "30", not "at least"?

CKhalvashi

mobilejunkie wrote: »

I never need retention deals, though have been offered some amazing ones sometimes; mine are far better without that. As for exactly 30 days - they have no right to demand that and I won't accept it, whether they like it or not. Gave notice this week to terminate a contract in the third week of March.

If you've signed a contract to state that, then they do have a right to say (and do) it.

It may be because the PAC codes last 30 days, which would mean you're not without a phone in this time.......

CK

Techhead_2

grumbler wrote: »

Why "then"?!

Because many (most?) contracts say that you can give notice AFTER your minimum period. If someone gives notice before the minimum period then they will pay an ETC . That is, it's the giving of the notice before the end of the minimum term that is important ; not the date the contract ends.

Once you realise this, all these threads about fees are easily understandable.

By the way I am not saying these contracts are fair, because it makes the contract length minimum term plus however long it takes to port your number/give notice.

A canny moneysaver will reduce cost by arranging to port just after the minimum term.