Fixed tariff going up

akkers

I signed up with Vodafone last year on a fixed 2yr contract paying £28/month.

They have now written to me to say that their charges are going up in line with inflation and my monthly payment will go up by £0.90/month. They cite this as being inline with T&Cs.

How can they call it a FIXED contract and then increase the payments some months into the contract?

Do I have a legal right to challenge them?

TadleyBaggie

akkers wrote: »

I
Do I have a legal right to challenge them?

Probably not. But you probably can terminate your contract without early termination penalties.

d123

akkers wrote: »

I signed up with Vodafone last year on a fixed 2yr contract paying £28/month.

I'm quite sure you didn't.

They have now written to me to say that their charges are going up in line with inflation and my monthly payment will go up by £0.90/month. They cite this as being inline with T&Cs.

It is.

How can they call it a FIXED contract and then increase the payments some months into the contract?

They don't.

Do I have a legal right to challenge them?

No.

d123

TadleyBaggie wrote: »

Probably not. But you probably can terminate your contract without early termination penalties.

It's an RPI increase as allowed by the terms and conditions, why would you think a penalty free termination would be possible?

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/explore/costs/rpi/

TadleyBaggie

d123 wrote: »

It's an RPI increase as allowed by the terms and conditions, why would you think a penalty free termination would be possible?

That was based on other providers recently having to allow penalty free exits due to mid contract price increases.

Mister_G

Is this a phone contract or a broadband contract?

teddysmum

Fixed refers to a fixed discount percentage and not a fixed monthly payment.

d123

TadleyBaggie wrote: »

That was based on other providers recently having to allow penalty free exits due to mid contract price increases.

RPI or below increases have never allowed penalty free termination.

20aday

I'm afraid Vodafone stopped offering 'fixed means fixed' minimum term agreements in May 2016:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/phones/2016/05/vodafone-to-ditch-fixed-price-promise-as-it-unveils-free-roaming-in-europe

Unless the increase was above RPI (which is isn't) then you're unable to end your Minimum Term with them penalty free I'm afraid.

DnlJMrs

Does this also apply even though OfCom state (ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/29682/guidance.pdf) any increase is considered 'material detriment' and as such consumers should be entitled to leave penalty/early termination free?

d123

DnlJMrs wrote: »

Does this also apply even though OfCom state (ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/29682/guidance.pdf) any increase is considered 'material detriment' and as such consumers should be entitled to leave penalty/early termination free?

Material detriment is when the increase is higher than reasonable, RPI increases are considered reasonable as you agree to them in the T&C's.