What can my mate do?

Jonny ///M · 22 Aug 2007 at 00:55

My mate took out an 18 month contract with vodafone i think with an N95. Paid around £150 or something for the phone itself.

He thought he had insurance on it but it turned out if he wanted 3 months free insuranec he had to sign something. I dont know what to make of that as he's not very finanically astute.

He was only 3 or 4 months into the contract when he lost the phone or somebody stole it,he isnt sure which.

He didnt have money in the bank when the phonebill came off and got a bank charge but managed to get that refunded,but he still has to pay a bill for a phone that he doesnt have and cant use.

To cancal the contract the company want £650, or some ridiculous figure,but he doesnt have that kind of money jsut to cancel it.

I said to him to see if he can pay for a new phone or start a new contract with a different phone for a lower amound per month but he said they wont do anything for him. Surely the company would rather a lower income per month than £650 in bad debt?

Do any of you guys have any information i could use to help him? He's going back to college so will be giving up his full time job and can be doing without creditors chasing him.

Verbium · 22 Aug 2007 at 01:36

There isn't too much he can do really, the insurance side of things will be in limbo as neither side can prove that it should or shouldn't be there apart from not a piece of paperwork signed. He'll be able to lower his tariff on vodafone at month 9 to at least £20 and if you're lucky and know a bit about the vodafone data 10 tariff then he could get down to that.

Otherwise they won't help as the phone is your responsability, it's not their fault this happened so they shouldn't loose out on it.

Jonny ///M · 22 Aug 2007 at 01:41

Mr Sniper said:
There isn't too much he can do really, the insurance side of things will be in limbo as neither side can prove that it should or shouldn't be there apart from not a piece of paperwork signed. He'll be able to lower his tariff on vodafone at month 9 to at least £20 and if you're lucky and know a bit about the vodafone data 10 tariff then he could get down to that.

Otherwise they won't help as the phone is your responsability, it's not their fault this happened so they shouldn't loose out on it.

He basically didnt read the small print. Im the cynical bugger who makes sure everything is legit and he dives in there right way.

So your saying he will have to pay the contract till he gets to nine months when he could possibly reduce it to £20 a month? I think he was paying around £40 PM.

Is there anyway he could request a new sim for the same contract? Since i could supply him with an unlocked fone and he could get the use out of the contract?

Edit:I know nothing of contracts,i stick to PAYG so i know what im spending.

Tute · 22 Aug 2007 at 01:53

I don't see why they won't replace the SIM, but they won't replace the phone unless you're insured.

Jonny ///M · 22 Aug 2007 at 02:15

Tute said:
I don't see why they won't replace the SIM, but they won't replace the phone unless you're insured.

Alright i'll say to him. He's a ******* idiot. He probably had the phone out to show it off and left it lying around somwhere. :rolleyes:

Will give it a shot anyway guys.

Rambaud · 22 Aug 2007 at 07:15

I assume that he is not covered under his Home Contents policy?

I see no reason why he cannot use a substitute Vodafone SIM card (plus your phone) and have the contract transferred to it.

Vodafone transferred my Voice bundle (and mobile number) to a new SIM card after I managed to block the old one.

Martynt74 · 23 Aug 2007 at 19:27

Yeah or they may charge him for a new sim card but then he just has to buy a cheap phone and he still gets all the stuff he would on his contract just without the N95. Tis what i did when i lost my old 8800

midlands_lad · 24 Aug 2007 at 08:24

Hi,

It's common if you lose a SIM card or the SIM becomes faulty that Vodafone would be able to send out a new SIM card and switch the number from the lost SIM to the new one. There is an email option on the Vodafone website where your friend could get in touch, although he would need to do it (you wouldn't be able to do it for him due to the need for him to pass the relevant data protection checks - Vodafone email contact)

An easier solution might be for him to discuss the option in a local Vodafone store and get a new SIM set up, then he could either buy a new handset or take out the option you're offering him.

Bennah · 24 Aug 2007 at 11:17

When I had a contract with o2 and my phone got stolen, I rang o2 up and they cancelled that Sim Card and sent out a new one to me as I argued that Im paying for a service, which without any sim card I would'nt be able to use.

Couple fo days later then sent one out with the same number as last time as I requested, Im pretty sure that I could have got a new number as if I asked.

At the time I got in stolen, I phoned the police and got a crime number. Then contacted o2 a day later. They checked that the phone was'nt used so I would'nt have to pay for any extra calls / texts that had been used in that period.

I did'nt have insurance at the time which was stupid of me so I couldnt get a replacement phone sent out to me so I had to buy a PAYG phone on o2 and use it with my contract sim card. Iirc, I didnt have too long to wait till me contract renewel anyway, which was'nt too bad.

Your mate has to get a new sim card through the post and use another phone till he can get an upgrade.

Jonny ///M · 24 Aug 2007 at 22:36

Cheers guys. I forgot to say to him last night because i was out my face.

I think it would be his best bet to get a new sim,borrow a phone from me and continue with his contract as it is.

thebloyn · 27 Aug 2007 at 00:08

This might be a daft question but whats to stop you cancelling the direct debit? (most banks let you do this online)

If voda ask why say your emigrating or soemthing.

One More Solo · 27 Aug 2007 at 00:25

Because you're committed to paying the bill according to the terms of the contract.

teulk · 27 Aug 2007 at 02:45

Yup he's stuck with either paying the monthly tarrif or "buying" the tarrif out so to speak........im sure he could get a replacement sim from them without any trouble to use with a "cheaper" phone he could buy. Not really much he can do

NokkonWud · 27 Aug 2007 at 03:25

Why did he buy an 18month contract when he doesn't have the money to pay for it?
What was he thinking would happen?

Bennah · 27 Aug 2007 at 10:35

NokkonWud said:
Why did he buy an 18month contract when he doesn't have the money to pay for it?
What was he thinking would happen?

I always go for 12 month contracts. Reasons for, anything can happen 18 months down the line, could be changing jobs and not afford it at the time. Dont really want to wait a little longer for upgrades. Plus if there is a good deal that comes along with a phone I want, then it would'nt cost as much to buy out the contract.

A couple of my mates have 18 month contracts, they just went into a shop and said I want this phone, then they practically got bombarded with deals on 18 month contracts with the sales person saying it was the 'better' deal. Signed up there and then. After telling me Ive shown them better deals that could have been had, they have been a bit dispointed. Its best to shop around for the deal that suits you best.

Really, going out to get an N95 because its the 'in' phone then wondering how to pay for it, its a very bad idea.

OspreyO · 27 Aug 2007 at 12:45

Bennah said:
....Really, going out to get an N95 because its the 'in' phone then wondering how to pay for it, its a very bad idea.

Exactly. 18 month contracts are also a bad idea. Buying very expensive phones when you can't afford them doesn't make any sense.