Cancelling a contract owing to an unexpected increase to the monthly cost?

Jezza60

Hi,

I recently got an email through from Vodafone advising me I am now on a new (more expensive by £1.50 per month) bundle which I did not agree to and did not sign up for.

I still have 6 months left on my contract, but I never agreed to an increase in the cost at any point during my contract. I was also NOT given any advance warning or notice that there would be an increase to my price plan.

From reading the update from Ofcom "Guidance on “material detriment” under
GC9.6 in relation to price rises and
notification of contract modifications" (can be found by googling the title).

It seems to me like I'd have strong grounds to notify Vodafone that I'd like to cancel without a penalty fee.

Has anyone tried similar?

Any ideas on what I should expect, or how to go about it?

macman

It's not a fixed price contract, so no agreement is required-Voda can increase the price any time they like, by as much as they like. Equally, you can give notice to void your contract (on the grounds that the increase is detrimental) within 30 days of the 'notification' of the increase, and this should be done without penalty.
Do it in writing, not by phone: you will still need to give the normal 30 days notice.

grumbler

MSE (old) news: Vodafone pledges to freeze prices for pay-monthly customers

Daz2009

It's about time contracts for a fixed length of time also were fixed on price for that period.

Jezza60

Well I've contacted Vodafone via the online chat function and stated my case.

Their response?

Because I stated that I did not agree to or request a price increase, they're raising a "Fraud investigation" to listen back to all calls because apparently they cannot up my price plan without my consent.

I don't know what this means- are they now accusing me of lying about having agreed to a price plan?

Feels like a MASSIVE delaying tactic when all I want is for Vodafone to acknowledge my 30 days notice to cancel the account.

Any experience from anyone else in this respect? Slightly worried now as I thought it would be fairly simple but Vodafone are saying that they'll conduct a fraud investigation and get back to me in 5-6 days.

What an abysmal company.

grumbler

Jezza60 wrote: »

...Vodafone are saying that they'll ... get back to me in 5-6 days.

I bet they won't. Possibly ever.

diamonds

:rotfl:

grumbler wrote: »

I bet they won't. Possibly ever.

Voidafone....its surprising they got this far, ok VOice DAta but its phone not fone.


Such a British company could fall to americanism english or txt shorthand before kids even invented it.

Jezza60

grumbler wrote: »

I bet they won't. Possibly ever.

I'm not holding my breath!

Jezza60

Oh this is absolutely brilliant- I'm now locked out of my account so can't even login online to see what's going on. Presumably this is because of the "fraud investigation"???

20aday

Weren't some Vodafone accounts breached recently?

Edit: http://www.theweek.co.uk/66448/vodafone-customers-told-to-be-vigilant-after-data-breach

Vodafone do promise to honour "Fixed means Fixed" (excluding out of bundle charges and factors outside of their control i.e. an increase in VAT).

What happens when you dial 191 and request a breakdown of your current usage? Or do you get transferred to an operator?