Vodaphone price increases - can I leave?

VXman

Just been informed of a 9.3% price increase on my braodband. I am 8 months into a 24 month contract.  Delving into the terms and conditions it appears this increase is written in for each April. CPI increase + 3.9%.  I don't remember that being a headline aspect of the deal when I bought it. It didn't say "£22 per month with an increase every April"

I don't know why it's not like Gas/Electric. Sighn up for 24 months and that's it - fixed.

So, am I able to leave without penalty or do I have to bend over and accept it?

flaneurs_lobster

There are fixed-price broadband deals available but not from the cheap boys end of the market. People are usually more interested in the headline figure and the co-joined TopCashBack amount or Amazon voucher. Mind, not many people were forecasting 5% inflation a year ago.

Think you're bang to rights on leaving without penalty unless you have a convincing mis-selling case and a decent lawyer.

Neil_Jones

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/pricechanges - "If your plan started from [think this is supposed to mean after] 2 February 2021:

• Your agreement provides for an increase in your monthly bill effective each April, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 3.9%"

If you didn't read it at the time, that's your bad.

VXman

Neil_Jones said:

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/pricechanges - "If your plan started from [think this is supposed to mean after] 2 February 2021:

• Your agreement provides for an increase in your monthly bill effective each April, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 3.9%"

If you didn't read it at the time, that's your bad.

Agreed - however when its a guaranteed there will be 2 price rises within the terms of the contract I would've hoped that would have been somewhere in the headline details not hidden in pages if terms and conditions.

Owain_Moneysaver

Neil_Jones said:

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/pricechanges - "If your plan started from [think this is supposed to mean after] 2 February 2021:

• Your agreement provides for an increase in your monthly bill effective each April, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 3.9%"

If you didn't read it at the time, that's your bad.

Of course, it's ambiguous whether that's the CPI at the time of taking out the contract, or now. And any ambiguity in a contract must fall to the customer's favour. 
Chances of Voda agreeing to that are slimmer than a supermodel, though. 

Latchyboyo

VXman Very similar situation to me.
 I too was annoyed that they had increased the monthly fee after just 5 months after seeing a deal on MSE for a 24 month contract. Didn't think to trawl through the small, almost hidden print to see that it was not entirely true and because it was on this  trusted website.
Chatted to a person on live chat re: my annoyance and she went through the usual spat about re-investments etc; etc; The only outcome was they did give me a credit for £5 
Let us know VXman how you get on if you change supplier before your 24 months are up

southsidergs

Small?? Almost hidden print??? It's the first item when you drop down the terms on their website!!! Hardly hidden & small, sounds like the usual i never read everyrhing right so of course it was hidden

matelodave

I moved to VF in January ans by reading the contract documents was fully aware that the price would rise on 1st April by 3.9% + inflation which in my estimation would amount to around 10%. The same T&C's also tell me that I can expect the contract to increase by 3.9% and the rate of inflation in April 2023. 

There were no surprises mainly because I took the trouble to read and understand the T&C's before I signed up. They were pretty clear and concise. I cant say I was everso happy but I was fully aware that it was clearly stated in the contract and not "hidden" as some have suggested.

My previous BT contract which they wanted to renew at around £60 a month and had similar T&C's would have incurred a rise of around £6 a month whereas the £31.50 contract with VF only amounted to a rise of around £3 a month

400ixl

I don't think there are many suppliers who don't have this clause these days.