Vodafone deceptive practice with 0844 numbers

mistafeesh

I've been pulling my hair out, as mentioned in a previous thread, about enormous bills from Vodafone. Having finally been shown one of my bills, I realised that the package I'd bought to cover 0845, 0870 type numbers didn't include 0844, and possibly other codes. And of course, their rates for these calls are enormous!

Surely this is just a cynical, deceptive practice on their part?! I ordered the package from someone who didn't speak great english in the first place, and there was no way I was warned that some codes weren't included!

I've found vodafone to be extremely unhelpful with this and other issues I've had with their service. I'd recommend anyone looking for a new contract to give them a very wide berth!

niftyone

If you bought the £3 bundle it clearly states it includes 300 minutes to call any number starting with 0800, 0845 and 0870 in the UK. So why you assumed it included 0844 and other 08 numbers i am not sure.

https://www.weq4u.co.uk and https://www.saynot0870.com are you friends in cutting cost of calls to well known 0844/0871 numbers if you have inclusive geographical minutes.

zenmaster

Which bit of

Get 300 minutes to call any number starting with 0800, 0845 and 0870 in the UK, for just £3 a month

do you find misleading?

digp

that bundle not even worth it. refuse to call companies with such numbers. best practice is email their ceo with your query. eventually they might get the hint that they need to fix their numbers.

Ypaymore

digp wrote: »

that bundle not even worth it. refuse to call companies with such numbers. best practice is email their ceo with your query. eventually they might get the hint that they need to fix their numbers.

They will not be able to use them as much soon.

From 13th June 2014, it will be a legal requirement that businesses provide a standard rate number (i.e. 01, 02 or 03) for their customer service lines. This law has been passed to ensure that no customer is forced to pay an additional charge – frequently incurred with 084x and 087x and similar numbers – when making a complaint about a faulty service or product.

mistafeesh

I signed up for it over the phone with someone whose English wasn't that great. I asked, if memory serves me right, if there was a package for calling all those 0845 etc kind of numbers.

Most of the calls were to benefit helplines, which is in itself very frustrating, and for some reason there just aren't any alternate numbers for those. I can't always get to the jobcentre to use their phones due to probems with my legs.

Anyway, after complaining a lot, Vodafone eventually refunded the cost of the calls, so all's well that ends well I guess. But I still think it's sneaky!

Cat2011

Just use saynoto0870 website. Type in the business or phone number you want to call and they'll give you a landline number that you can use. Sorted.

d123

Cat2011 wrote: »

Just use saynoto0870 website. Type in the business or phone number you want to call and they'll give you a landline number that you can use. Sorted.

The OP mentions benefit lines, most government departments don't have (or refuse to help) when phoned on alternative numbers.

Hazzanet

Another one of these (deception/scam/ripoff)* posts that when you dig deeper you find it's a matter of the poster (not checking the price/not checking their bank statement/not reading the rules)*.

*delete as appropriate

Ypaymore

How comes you were calling 0844 numbers for benefit enquiries. They are not used by the Dept Of Work and Pensions or other Govt Depts, and the 0800/0845/0345 numbers they currently use would have been included in your bundle or your inclusive minutes.

Did you by any chance get them from bogus number ads where they connect you to the correct number at a premium rate,and pocket the difference.

Rusty!

d123 wrote: »

The OP mentions benefit lines, most government departments don't have (or refuse to help) when phoned on alternative numbers.

Depends if you get the right number, I guess. I've phoned the DWP on an 01603 number a couple of times recently and it was fine.