Reclaiming mobile phone bill money?

Benabongo

Hello. I have had a mobile phone on the Vodafone network, based on an old business payment plan, since around 2013. I pay at least £41 a month but literally hardly use it for anything. Maybe 1 call per day and 1 or 2 texts, only use internet once a month or so for google maps. When I did use it more it was still not much, but often i'd get a bill for £60 to £70. Do I have any recourse to claim money back asking why they didn't ever offer any update to my plan to their best available (current best deals on minutes, texts etc.)? It seems like they are making a fortune off me, without ever offering better deals. Or is it all on me? I am guessing my plan should be more like £20 per month.

eDicky

Details of suitable currently available plans on Vodafone and other networks can be found with very little effort. What makes you think that Vodafone had the duty to remedy your neglect to do so for all those years..?

kasqueak

You have no recourse to claim anything back. 

Of course it would have been nice if they’d contacted you to talk you through other deals - but they have no obligation to do that. You agreed to the deal you were on and also bear the responsibility to know when it ends to shop around. Shopping around for better deals has never been easier. 
 
I think you need to chalk it off to experience and get on the phone to them to talk through your options. If they can’t offer you a better deal then request your Pac code and leave to find a new network deal. 

Benabongo

Thanks for the feedback.

Benabongo

Actually, I have the following to add - saying it is my fault and down to 'neglect', 'couldn't be bothered'. . Well, I have a separate phone, from O2 and I received the following email today:

"Hello,

We’re getting in touch to let you know that you’re currently out of your minimum contract term and your monthly Airtime Plan is £18.14*, this excludes any current discounts you may have. You can choose to stay on the same tariff, move to another tariff, or switch to another provider. To see what tariffs are available go online [they provided the hyperlink here]" So why were you all saying my issues with Vodafone were ALL down to me. Any good business values their customer and like O2 has done, offer options with clarity openness, and offer choice. Compare and contrast that to Vodafone. Not surprising they use 666 in their advertising.

Neil_Jones

Benabongo said:

Actually, I have the following to add - saying it is my fault and down to 'neglect', 'couldn't be bothered'. . Well, I have a separate phone, from O2 and I received the following email today:

"Hello,

We’re getting in touch to let you know that you’re currently out of your minimum contract term and your monthly Airtime Plan is £18.14*, this excludes any current discounts you may have. You can choose to stay on the same tariff, move to another tariff, or switch to another provider. To see what tariffs are available go online [they provided the hyperlink here]" So why were you all saying my issues with Vodafone were ALL down to me. Any good business values their customer and like O2 has done, offer options with clarity openness, and offer choice. Compare and contrast that to Vodafone. Not surprising they use 666 in their advertising.

So move away from Vodafone then if you're not happy.

Overarching point was (and always will be) if you're stuck on a legacy tariff paying a fortune then that's not the provider's fault, that's something you should take control over.

flaneurs_lobster

At least now (since 2020) providers have to tell you (annually) what your tariff is and what others are available. Applies to both personal and business accounts.

simax

flaneurs_lobster said:

At least now (since 2020) providers have to tell you (annually) what your tariff is and what others are available. Applies to both personal and business accounts.

However if the contract was taken out in 2013 and not renewed since then, those provisions don’t apply as the rules were not set at that point. Hence why the OP had no notification.

cx6

Have you really been paying that since 2013 - I make that about £4.5k ?

giraffe69

Failing to check your expensive mobile contact for half a decade and then asking if Vodafone should refund you some of that is a brave thing to do on this forum if you hope for sympathy.