Vodafone Contract charges increasing?

[jasonmayall]

Has anyone else had this?
Wondering where I stand really...

Basically, My whole family are on Voda, all different contracts, each in our own name. I got a text yesterday to say that my monthly bill is increasing, All be it, its going from £31 to £31.70 a month. Its not a huge difference but when i took the contract out it was just under £30, its the second time they've done this to me, and no one else in my family?!

Where do I stand on this? Has anyone else had this problem with Voda?
I know you're all going to say 'call them' but i'd like to know if its going to be a wasted hour of my life on the phone to India - Which Vodafone will probably charge me for!

I've been a loyal customer with them for a long time now, and it just keeps getting more and more expensive!

[Penn]

Why is it increasing?

[Ross]

if they are putting the prices up, you have a right to cancel the contract without penalty.

[Gandi699]

if they are putting the prices up, you have a right to cancel the contract without penalty.

Is that so? I could whip in a shitty £10 sim deal then and save some dough

[jpsaxo]

Really depends on what was written in the contract to begin with. For example, I work for a telecoms company in Oz, the contracts we sign people up to clearly states;

"We can change the terms & charges of the plan"

Therefore my company can basically change the terms of the plan 1 month into the contract and still have the consumer / business locked into the contract for the next 24months, kinda crazy tbh

[jasonmayall]

Just reading through the Voda Forums and most people seem pretty peeved about this. Hardly surprising really when you sign up for a fixed contract. Apparently its in the T&C's that they can increase the cost, providing its not more than inflation.
What a joke.

[Chris_]

You must be going over on calls, messages or your internet data?

I'm with vodafone it's such a crap company/service they provide.

[jasonmayall]

You must be going over on calls, messages or your internet data?

I'm with vodafone it's such a crap company/service they provide.

Nope never been over. I get 600 minutes - I use barely any of these.
'unlimited' texts which i probably send around 1000ish (on a busy month)
and 500MB data - My galaxy broke so i've got an old Nokia lol, im using 0.

Wont be going back to them!

[craig180]

if they are putting the prices up, you have a right to cancel the contract without penalty.
I got out of my old Orange contract with this as it was written this way in the contract

Just reading through the Voda Forums and most people seem pretty peeved about this. Hardly surprising really when you sign up for a fixed contract. Apparently its in the T&C's that they can increase the cost, providing its not more than inflation.
What a joke.

Unfortunately this is the case for all providors now, which is governed by OFTEL

[devilsadvocate]

Im with Orange and they have increased the price twice in the past 2 years.

Only a small amount but if they are going to do it each year, its going to add up to a lot in a few years time.

[jasonmayall]

Im with Orange and they have increased the price twice in the past 2 years.

Only a small amount but if they are going to do it each year, its going to add up to a lot in a few years time.

I'm sure this is the second time i've had this current contract with Voda they have increased the price, this year.
I made the stupid mistake of upgrading early cause my phone was broke, and i got myself the galaxy s2 with this contract, which lasted me all of 4 months before the phone died and Voda wont change it, also Protect your bubble wont because they're also useless.
So i'm stuck with a Nokia e71 till March 2014 - Such a wounder, especially when they keep upping the prices.

[Ross]

Really depends on what was written in the contract to begin with. For example, I work for a telecoms company in Oz, the contracts we sign people up to clearly states;

"We can change the terms & charges of the plan"

Therefore my company can basically change the terms of the plan 1 month into the contract and still have the consumer / business locked into the contract for the next 24months, kinda crazy tbh

People could sign a £5 a month deal on a 24 month contract, then the provider would put it up to £500 a month and sue anyone who didn't pay...

Ofcom say customers are only allowed to cancel their contract if a change causes "material detriment" - a price rise is 100% a material detriment (money is a material item, unlike "loss of service" which could be considered not to be a material item, and detriment because it impacts you negatively - you're out of pocket), although the provider (vodafone in this case) may argue that, I'd for sure pushing this angle.

“Under General Condition 9.3, communications providers must provide customers for whom a change is likely to be of material detriment with one month’s notice of the change.
Customers must also be informed that they are entitled to terminate their contract without penalty if the change is not acceptable to them.”

From : http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2011/01/can-a-telecoms-provider-change-the-terms-of-your-contract/

[Giraffe]

People could sign a £5 a month deal on a 24 month contract, then the provider would put it up to £500 a month and sue anyone who didn't pay...

Ofcom say customers are only allowed to cancel their contract if a change causes "material detriment" - a price rise is 100% a material detriment, although the provider (vodafone in this case) may argue that, I'd for sure pushing this angle.

If it's in the contract that they can increase within inflation, and the customer has signed this contract, they sort of waiver their rights don't they? I know that contracts can't include unfair terms, but is it really unfair? I'm guessing the clause that says they can increase within inflation has already been examined by a regulatory body and deemed to be ok...

[Jay_T87]

Im with voda and have been for about 10 years.. I've never had any price increases to my contract nor any issues with customer service. The recption can be a bit ropey in places but other than that ive never had an issue.

[Ashleyp]

I officially made the move away from Vodafone this morning :)

It happend a few times whilst I was with them, over the course of 4 or 5 years. as you say, although a small amount, it's still pretty annoying.

[Jungle]

1) If its only 70p who cares? You can't expect to them to honour the same price forever, that's not how the economy works. Saying that I'm with T-mobile and my bill goes down every time I upgrade, you must be doing something wrong ;)

2) If you have had a phone for less than 12 months and it has broken it is still under warranty, legally you get a 12 month warranty on everything you buy. Unless by died you mean you smashed it up or something in which case that's your own fault.

[wicked-vtr]

Got that text this morning, does anyone know if we can just end the contract? I want a new phone but still under contract for a few months yet lol

[Ashleyp]

1) If its only 70p who cares? You can't expect to them to honour the same price forever, that's not how the economy works. Saying that I'm with T-mobile and my bill goes down every time I upgrade, you must be doing something wrong ;)


Try reading.

£16.80 over 2 years. I know, still pocket change over the course of the time stated, but the point being made isn't the extra money, but the fact the OP signed a fixed contract.

[jasonmayall]

1) If its only 70p who cares? You can't expect to them to honour the same price forever, that's not how the economy works. Saying that I'm with T-mobile and my bill goes down every time I upgrade, you must be doing something wrong ;)

2) If you have had a phone for less than 12 months and it has broken it is still under warranty, legally you get a 12 month warranty on everything you buy. Unless by died you mean you smashed it up or something in which case that's your own fault.

1. Yes its only 70p, but its the second time they've done this since i've had this contract. You expect signing a contract you'll pay the same price for the term of the contract. If you pay for your car insurance monthly and get a text to say its going up mid contract - You would hit the roof, Surely? Same principle.

2. It was my fault the phone broke, it got water damaged which i fully accept, my own fault and i wouldn't expect Voda to cover me for it. However, When i did ring them up to see if there was anything they could do, Maybe offer me a discounted phone to buy from them as i'm a loyal customer, they said I could have a replacement for around £500, so not really helpful there lol - Wouldn't offer me an alternative phone or a used one either.

[blackie_2k5]

I'm with voda


Had no letter, did get a text saying I was nearly over my Internet usage (never gone over yet and have not used the phone anymore then usual)

Was from a random number so didn't believe it as I've had a few dodgey texts recently from ppl pretending to be voda

[blackie_2k5]

Such as this one that made me lol

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/04/evytesyb.jpg

[Baz]

Im with voda and have been for about 10 years.. I've never had any price increases to my contract nor any issues with customer service. The recption can be a bit ropey in places but other than that ive never had an issue.

+1 on this

[nicole_]

Had the same text, mines increasing by 80p from November too apparently.

[Baz]

Got my text this afternoon, as of the 1st November it goes up

[P_Connor]

I'm guessing it is happening across the board then? Just received mine a second ago.

[jasonmayall]

At least i'm not the only one lol - Still seems strange how none of my family have received these texts?

[blackie_2k5]

At least i'm not the only one lol - Still seems strange how none of my family have received these texts?

I haven't yet lol

[blackie_2k5]

Just got it now

[Cam]

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/Cameron_Harman/2289E4D3-13F6-415E-A7D7-36F25A58FBB8-3713-000006A5CDFFD612.jpg

Bastards ! :(

[Saxlow]

Most contracts in the small print will always say if prices increase u are still liable to pay. And u won't be able to cancel it.

[Chris_]

I got the text also, annoying.

[Jungle]

Try reading.

£16.80 over 2 years. I know, still pocket change over the course of the time stated, but the point being made isn't the extra money, but the fact the OP signed a fixed contract.

But that contract will have had terms in it saying that they can increase the price within inflation, which he will have signed. So what's your point?

1. Yes its only 70p, but its the second time they've done this since i've had this contract. You expect signing a contract you'll pay the same price for the term of the contract. If you pay for your car insurance monthly and get a text to say its going up mid contract - You would hit the roof, Surely? Same principle.

As above RE fixed contract. Car insurance completely different contract, you are paying a fixed quoted price. If you pay it monthly you are entering into a contract with a finance company who are lending you the money to pay the insurers, just like if you got a loan from your bank. But no if my car insurance went up by 70p a month I would not bat an eyelid, it might have for all I know!



2. It was my fault the phone broke, it got water damaged which i fully accept, my own fault and i wouldn't expect Voda to cover me for it. However, When i did ring them up to see if there was anything they could do, Maybe offer me a discounted phone to buy from them as i'm a loyal customer, they said I could have a replacement for around £500, so not really helpful there lol - Wouldn't offer me an alternative phone or a used one either.

Buy a nokia with snake, will solve all your problems and you will have snake.