Vodafone customer? Might want to read this...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
I think that Vodafone "gave" people a free internet bundle if they took out a contract, so it doesn't show up on your online billing. It does show up in the extra's part for some people though.
 
"andy" said:
all the info about my unlimited internet has been removed from my online billing....

yet i just found my upgrade emails , which states
Price plan: Anytime 600 + Unlimited Texts + Vodafone World (24 Months)
+ Unlimited Mobile Internet


so whats going on ?
Click to expand...

Ring them and check, mine was like that and they were infact charging me for data on a pay as you go basis.

I think that Vodafone "gave" people a free internet bundle if they took out a contract, so it doesn't show up on your online billing. It does show up in the extra's part for some people though.
Click to expand...

Not true in my case, they were charging me for data despite an email when I ordered saying it was included in my tariff.
 
well, it appears that they are trying to backtrack slightly, although they still have to change the T+C of the contract.
Also, they do not specify a proper timescale before you are charged, which according to consumer law they are required to.
Here is the message posted by Tom from Vodafone on their E-forum:-
Hello Everyone,

We have seen quite a bit of speculation on the out of bundle charges for Vodafone UK mobile internet users on forums and in the media. We wanted to clarify things. Here are the facts as they stand today:

In June we'll be introducing a free text service to tell our contract customers when they're approaching the upper limit of their data bundle. As the vast majority of our mobile internet subscribers (more than 97 percent) never reach the limit they will not be receiving the text alerts at all.

The minority of our customers (less then 3 percent) who do come close will receive a text telling them they are approaching their data allowance and advising them to monitor their usage going forward. At this point customers will not be charged anything more.

If after receiving several such alerts, over a period of few months, customers continue to use excessive amounts of data they will be contacted by Vodafone and advised to upgrade to another data plan to avoid incurring unnecessary additional charges.

Customers will be able to make an informed decision on whether to continue, limit their use or change to a different price plan, giving them total control of their spend.


However, if customers continue to use excessive amounts of data over a longer period of time, the costs are as follows:

Current charge Out of bundle charge

No handheld data bundle 50p a day for 25MB 50p for an additional 10MB

Handheld data bundle £5 a month, or £7.50 with a flexi-bundle £5 for an additional 500MB

Note: 500MB means you can read and reply to thousands of emails, download 24 Google maps and read 8,000 BBC News stories. Today, a tiny fraction of our customers use their full allowance.

Thanks,

Tom

eForum Team
 
If a tiny fraction use 500MB a month then why change things at all is what I have to say.
 
That reads as they as going back to a fair usage system and only charge once you have been warned for a couple of months?
 
Yeah if that's the case that that system was and will remain to be fine in my view.
 
They could have surely gotten around all of this by just increasing everybody to 1gb hard cap (like the I-phone and Nexus), or letting them stay on the 500mb limit, but giving them notice that they would be charged if they went over?
 
Also

"If after receiving several such alerts, over a period of few months, customers continue to use excessive amounts of data they will be contacted by Vodafone and advised to upgrade to another data plan to avoid incurring unnecessary additional charges."

Now the funny thing is that there is no "upgraded" data plan since Vodafone do NOT offer a 1GB plan on anything but iPhone.

So they're still advertising false details unless this actually means they will be charging extra for a future 1GB data bundle?
 
Khaaan! said:
Also

"If after receiving several such alerts, over a period of few months, customers continue to use excessive amounts of data they will be contacted by Vodafone and advised to upgrade to another data plan to avoid incurring unnecessary additional charges."

Now the funny thing is that there is no "upgraded" data plan since Vodafone do NOT offer a 1GB plan on anything but iPhone.

So they're still advertising false details unless this actually means they will be charging extra for a future 1GB data bundle?
Click to expand...

"Handheld data bundle £5 a month, or £7.50 with a flexi-bundle £5 for an additional 500MB"

I think upgrading your data package would mean adding an extra £5 a month on for a further 500mb.
 
That latest statement looks like an epic climbdown to the exact same position they were in before they announced the changes.
Except now they've got a tidy bunch of ****ed off customers, who will be looking to shift elsewhere as soon as they get the chance.
I'll wager they did the calculations and realised the changes were going to cost them a fortune in cancelled contracts, too little, too late, in terms of PR.
As much as I'd like to bounce out of my contract 14 months early, if it doesn't work out, then at least it's struck a blow for consumer power.
 
From VF Forum...

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/topic/5...nternet-usage/page__view__findpost__p__390467


Person has had a reply from the CEO's office.

Dear Mr Wicks



Mr G Laurence has passed your email to me as I am responsible for investigating matters raised with him.



Last week we sent an incorrect test message in error to a small number of customers informing them that they are coming up to the top end of the bundle and they would be charged if they went over. This has caused some confusion so we want to set the record straight and clarify what we're doing.



We are launching a free service on June 1st by alerting those customers who consistently use more than their data allowance. This alert will say we will review your spend and if you continue to use more data than your allowance consistently over the coming months, we'll contact you to have a chat about your usage and offer an alternative data plan to avoid incurring out of bundle charges. That means you will be able to manage your usage more effectively. We're also giving clarity to what these data rates are, for out of bundle charges.



Given you are already reaching your allowance and in some cases are over, from June 1st, you will start to receive an alert to say you've gone over your allowance. We will be tracking your usage, and in the following months if your usage continues to be over your data allowance, we will contact you to discuss alternatives (including for example, upgrading to one of our mobile broadband plans) and that you could incur charges.



As you know we have a Fair Usage Policy and for the vast majority of customers, they do not use more than their data allowance. This Fair Usage Policy has always formed part of your price plan Terms and Conditions and due to this we are not in a position to allow you to cancel your contract without penalty



I trust this clarifies Vodafone's position.



Kind regards





Lisa Gray

Directors Office
Click to expand...




And this is his reply....



Clause 11.2.c of the Terms and Conditions of my contract state:
------
"You may end this agreement by writing to us if: ... we increase your charges in the UK which have the effect of increasing your total call and usage charges (based on your usage in the previous month) by more than 10% and you write to us before the increase applies"
------


In addition, the Ofcom General Conditions (that Vodafone must observe at all times while operating as a service provider) state:


9.3 Where the Communications Provider intends to modify a condition in a contract with a Consumer which is likely to be of material detriment to the Consumer, the Communications Provider shall:

(a) provide the Consumer with at least one month’s notice of its intention detailing the proposed modification; and

(b) inform the Consumer of the ability to terminate the contract without penalty if the proposed modification is not acceptable to the Consumer.
(Copied from: http://www.ofcom.org...ogc18032010.pdf)
It would appear that you require clarification on a few facts.

1. I am writing to you 'before the increase applies' as stated in clause 11.2.c above.
2. Applying the new charges to my previous bill (dated 12th April), it is blatently clear that my total bill would increase by more than 10% as required in clause 11.2.c above
3. Nowhere does it state that I am required to see if I will be charged over the next 3 months before terminating
4. As the new charges would leave me, the consumer, at a 'material detriment' as stated in the Ofcom General Conditions above, clause b applies - I am legally entitled to "terminate the contract WITHOUT PENALTY if the proposed modification is not acceptable to the consumer."

If a satisfactory response to this email is not received then this matter WILL be taken up with Ofcom, who I am sure would be most interested in Vodafone's breaches of their legal requirements.

Regards
Andy
Click to expand...



I absolutely love how they are trying to fob it off as a free service they are now providing. **** off you sneaky barstewards. I think I will ring Ofcom up when I get back home and see what they say.
 
They are just trying to wriggle out of it, if I can guarantee them I will use more than 1GB per month, their argument will fall flat as I will inevitably incur extra charges.

No way I'm waiting that long :p What a joke of a company.
 
I think (as someone on Moneysavingexpert) said, they are just doing this to stop people being able to cancel.

You have to cancel within 30 days of the announcement coming from Vodafone, if you wait 3 months while they review it, you will effectively lose your right to cancel.

Nothing has changed really, it just seems like they are trying it on. Idiots.
 
BF-Bert said:
It now sounds like vodafone are enforcing the existing contract terms rather than trying to change them
Click to expand...
Agreed, which means OFCOMs GC 9.3 doesnt really apply.

Some of the quotes Ive seen in here from other forums are really poorly researched...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom