Question about contract renewals

laissez-faire · 19 Jul 2006 at 18:05

I spoke with an account manager at Vodafone today who said that I could extend my contract beyond the 12 months and usually get at least 50% off line rental.

Obviously they must love this because it saves them forking out for a handset, but does anyone know if the extension will tie me into a 12 month contract extension? Suppose 4 months into the extension I wish to cancel can this be done? I called Vodafone back but the stilly woman told me it would definitely be for another 12 months firm, also said she wouldn't be able to put me through to an account manager to confirm becuase I was being 'hypotethical' ?!?

Anyway I can't see why there would be a need for a fixed length contract since Vodafone wouldn't need to recover any subsidies - was she just talking out of her rear end?

I have had similar battles with Sky extending contracts and being told I have to wait for another 12 months, then when I actually get transferred to someone who understands the concept of subsidy reclaim I am of course allowed to cancel!

Sorry about the rambling post.

youstolemyid · 19 Jul 2006 at 18:11

If you don't upgrade and stay as you are after your initial 12 months then you are not tied down, you can cancel at any time after giving 1 months notice.

If you upgrade your phone whilst in your initial 12 months contract or after your initial 12 month contract then that will renew your contract and you would be tied down again.

laissez-faire · 19 Jul 2006 at 18:14

youstolemyid said:
If you don't upgrade and stay as you are after your initial 12 months then you are not tied down, you can cancel at any time after giving 12 months notice.

If you upgrade your phone whilst in your initial 12 months contract or after your initial 12 month contract then that will renew your contract and you would be tied down again.

Yup, sure, but specifically with Vodafone if I take out a deal to reduce my line rental after 12 months, will this tie me in?

youstolemyid · 19 Jul 2006 at 18:19

No, i don't think it will.

I think if you go on a Stop the clock price plan that means your on an 18 month contract so that might increase your term time, but just downgrading price plans and not upgrading phones wont tie you down.

PinkPig · 19 Jul 2006 at 18:56

laissez-faire said:
Yup, sure, but specifically with Vodafone if I take out a deal to reduce my line rental after 12 months, will this tie me in?

It very much depends on the terms of the reduced line rental - you will have to find out directly from them. Try to find someone else who's more helpful. It may be a reduced price simply because you're outside of your minimum term and they want to keep you as a customer, or it may be a deal (12 months reduced line rental) as an alternative to a phone upgrade when you agree to a new 12 month contract. Certainly I recently agreed to a 12 month contract extension with O2 in exchange for £5 a month off for a year and a £100 credit.

garyh · 19 Jul 2006 at 19:40

laissez-faire said:
Yup, sure, but specifically with Vodafone if I take out a deal to reduce my line rental after 12 months, will this tie me in?

Yes chances are it will - It's known as a 'none hardware upgrade' in the business, they reduce your tariff in exchange for not giving you a phone.

Vodafone are qiute bad for this...

youstolemyid · 19 Jul 2006 at 21:21

there are teams of people who pro activly contact customers offering them one of the following...(also they tend to offer stuff that the normal guys who take calls are not aware of)

a Standrard upgrade - this will include a handset and some extras depending on your spend such as 3 month half price or 3 months free insurance etc.

a none hardware deal - this will be in one of 2 forms. either reduced Line rental so 3 or 6 months half price depending on how much you spent over the last year and what new contract length you take

both of the above will put you inro a new contract. the bigger the discount more likely it is to be 18 months.

a sim only handset - full price for phone no new contract.

other things to consider is that if you upgrade and have or want Vodafone Stop The Clock then you will need to take an 18 month contract, however the money saved will out way this and your phone is still covered by warrenty if you took one as the upgrade.

it all depends what you want as to what your decision should be. do you like up to date phones? do you change your handset every 12 months? If not work out are you saving money? if not put a suggestion back to them that shows you will save money. You can always buy a handset from somewhere else and still save money over the lengh of the contract.