Bye-bye, Vodafone

It's that time of the 18 month cycle again. I would say 'time of the year',
but the current trend is 18 month contracts isn't it?

Incoming rant!

Last time it was new contract time, I was obsessed with the Sony Ericsson
S700i. At the time, it seemed to only be available on Vodafone and O2, so I
went into the Vodafone shop where I was pleasantly surprised by their
helpfulness and commitment to getting me a contract that really suited my
needs - they mixed and match some old and new contract bits and pieces to
get me something quite nifty, so I was happy.

Renewal time.

I fancy the K800 now, as a die-hard Sony Ericsson fan since I got my first,
so I called up to ask about an upgrade. £20.

For a returned one.

Forgive me for not being especially enthused by this idea. Perhaps I'm too
fussy, and I was told it was the sort of phone that would have 'gone out to
the wrong customer' when, having worked in retail, my guess is more along
the lines of 'they decided they didn't like it', but that could just be the
cynic in me.

I pointed out that there were new contracts and offers, with half price line
rental and things like that, which appealed more to me. It's the age old
story of new customers getting better deals. And then he started.

Exaggerating wildly, he told me it would cost me 'at least £40 to leave'
(twisting the fact that I still have 3 weeks left on my current contract
which I would effectively be paying either way). I made the mistake of
mentioning that I since bought a K750i (yeah, gadgethead ) which is
unlocked and then he said they'd give me £49 for it, so before I knew it, I
was 'throwing away £100 if I left Vodafone' - well, sorry, I'd quite like to
hang onto the K750 too or sell it to a friend in need. He didn't seem to
understand this, either.

I'm not quite sure what happened next, but soon the figure was up to £200,
because of no doubt the charge I would pay on a new handset in a new
contract, or maybe that some of the contracts I mentioned to him that
appealed were slightly more expensive. (Had he looked at my spending, he
would see that I frequently go over my allotted minutes/texts etc, spending
£40-£60/month instead of £17....) By this time my brain had shut off. I
wonder if he was trying to confuse me with numbers, or underestimated my
researching and pegged me for a 'silly female' because we can't possibly
know about phones?

It just amazed me that someone who is meant to try and sell people things,
or encourage their custom, could make them feel so annoyed :P Or indeed
refuse to listen to a word I was saying. I redialled the cancellation dept.
and have now sent in my letter... it's off to Orange I go where
international calling/texting is actually considerably cheaper, and I have a
shiny fun new contract called a 'dolphin'

So yes, I do still have the remainder of my Voda contract to use up (but
grr, they make it hard to leave, sending a letter with 30 days notice, I'm
sure other providers have let me do it over the phone and it's been a
shorter period), but I don't actually give Orange any money until December
which is nice :P

Rant over

--
Sue

---

› See More: Bye-bye, Vodafone

In article <[email protected]>, Sprite
<[email protected]> writes
>It's that time of the 18 month cycle again. I would say 'time of the year',
>but the current trend is 18 month contracts isn't it?

>Incoming rant!
snip rant!
>Rant over

Yeah, they bug me too. I've been with them since 1996, always on
contracts, though fairly low value. My first phone lasted me 5 years and
I could upgrade free to a T39m, which lasted for another 3.5 years. Then
I decided to get something else and the "Upgrade" offers were pathetic,
because my monthly payments are so low. But for heaven's sake, if they
look over the contract, I'd have thought they'd done OK?

OTOH, the offer on a new contract was brilliant. OK, it was for 18
months because I wanted "Stop the Clock". Half-price rental for 6
months, free K750i - and a free HP photo printer!

Why?

It cost us both. It cost them more (half-price, printer) than I was
looking for with an upgrade and I lost the number I'd had for over 8
years. It seems to make no sense. I guess they are being rewarded (or
viewed by the city) on the number of /new/ subscribers?
--
Peter

"The Drone" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, Sprite
> <[email protected]> writes
>>It's that time of the 18 month cycle again. I would say 'time of the
>>year',
>>but the current trend is 18 month contracts isn't it?
>
>>Incoming rant!
> snip rant!
>>Rant over
>
> Yeah, they bug me too. I've been with them since 1996, always on
> contracts, though fairly low value. My first phone lasted me 5 years and I
> could upgrade free to a T39m, which lasted for another 3.5 years. Then I
> decided to get something else and the "Upgrade" offers were pathetic,
> because my monthly payments are so low. But for heaven's sake, if they
> look over the contract, I'd have thought they'd done OK?
>
> OTOH, the offer on a new contract was brilliant. OK, it was for 18 months
> because I wanted "Stop the Clock". Half-price rental for 6 months, free
> K750i - and a free HP photo printer!
>
> Why?
>
> It cost us both. It cost them more (half-price, printer) than I was
> looking for with an upgrade and I lost the number I'd had for over 8
> years. It seems to make no sense. I guess they are being rewarded (or
> viewed by the city) on the number of /new/ subscribers?

He did try to make a big deal about me losing my number - the truth is, I
don't really care that much as my phone is really used socially. I can just
tell anyone who matters my new number, and so be it. In fact, changing
number is sometimes a breath of fresh air for those you don't want to
'associate' with so much socially anymore.

The ironic thing is, if you take out a new contract with another network,
you can *keep* your number. I'm sure the person I spoke to in the
cancellations department would've offered me something a lot more tempting
than a hand-me-down (*cough*exaggeration*cough*) but I was honestly
extremely put off by the guy, and wanted a 'clean break' I suppose, after
our conversation.

Now, maybe if, when she asked, "anything I can do to tempt you to stay?" I
had said "yeah, fire that moron", I might've found something more appealling
)

I compare this to Orange - Orange have an offer where they give upgrade
customers the *same* package options as new customers. They also reduce
your line rental each year. Orange Wednesdays. Magic Number (free calls to
one specific number) plus lots of addons and nice people, and the ability to
cancel over the phone. There's a lot of nice benefits..

--
Sue

Sprite wrote:
> It's that time of the 18 month cycle again. I would say 'time of the year',
> but the current trend is 18 month contracts isn't it?

Only if you humour them by signing up for one.

Keep it up and it'll be two years before you know it.

"Sprite" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It's that time of the 18 month cycle again. I would say 'time of the
> year', but the current trend is 18 month contracts isn't it?

Make the most of it.
The service providers are about to start pushing 24 month contracts /

Sorry to hear of the problems you had, Sprite.

Regarding the offer of a refurbished handset, when you mention 'it went
to the wrong customer' / 'the customer didn't like it', it does involve
a bit of both. A refurbished handset is one that has been returned to
Vodafone within the 14 day cooling off period. All handsets are tested
upon return to make sure they're fully functional. The largest number
of return handsets come from those that have been ordered online or via
telephone (e.g. the user didn't get a good look at the equipment before
ordering, other than maybe a photograph - this can highlight the
benefits of upgrading in a store where you can view the equipment first
hand before taking it out).

Contract offers on upgrades can vary from those for first time
customers. The way I've often looked at it is, everybody gets the first
time promotional offer when they take out the contract, then receive
upgrade contracts from that point onwards. As mentioned on another
thread today, it's always possible to keep your number by requesting a
PAC (port authorisation code), this lets you take your number to
another network. If your Vodafone contract is still in place (e.g. you
say you've sent off a cancellation letter but you're still inside your
30 days) and you really wanted to keep your number you could always
override this by calling customer services and requesting a PAC,
although I must stress if your Orange contract is now officially signed
then you wouldn't be able to port the number over as part of it (this
has to be done at point of taking out a new contract, I imagine Orange
may have already issued you with a new number).

Again, working for Vodafone I'm sorry to hear of the problems you had.
Although in hindsight I hope the above helps give you a little more
detail on PAC codes and the like for the future.


Sprite wrote:
> It's that time of the 18 month cycle again. I would say 'time of the year',
> but the current trend is 18 month contracts isn't it?
>
> Incoming rant!
>
> Last time it was new contract time, I was obsessed with the Sony Ericsson
> S700i. At the time, it seemed to only be available on Vodafone and O2, so I
> went into the Vodafone shop where I was pleasantly surprised by their
> helpfulness and commitment to getting me a contract that really suited my
> needs - they mixed and match some old and new contract bits and pieces to
> get me something quite nifty, so I was happy.
>
> Renewal time.
>
> I fancy the K800 now, as a die-hard Sony Ericsson fan since I got my first,
> so I called up to ask about an upgrade. £20.
>
> For a returned one.
>
> Forgive me for not being especially enthused by this idea. Perhaps I'm too
> fussy, and I was told it was the sort of phone that would have 'gone out to
> the wrong customer' when, having worked in retail, my guess is more along
> the lines of 'they decided they didn't like it', but that could just be the
> cynic in me.
>
> I pointed out that there were new contracts and offers, with half price line
> rental and things like that, which appealed more to me. It's the age old
> story of new customers getting better deals. And then he started.
>
> Exaggerating wildly, he told me it would cost me 'at least £40 to leave'
> (twisting the fact that I still have 3 weeks left on my current contract
> which I would effectively be paying either way). I made the mistake of
> mentioning that I since bought a K750i (yeah, gadgethead ) which is
> unlocked and then he said they'd give me £49 for it, so before I knew it, I
> was 'throwing away £100 if I left Vodafone' - well, sorry, I'd quite like to
> hang onto the K750 too or sell it to a friend in need. He didn't seem to
> understand this, either.
>
> I'm not quite sure what happened next, but soon the figure was up to £200,
> because of no doubt the charge I would pay on a new handset in a new
> contract, or maybe that some of the contracts I mentioned to him that
> appealed were slightly more expensive. (Had he looked at my spending, he
> would see that I frequently go over my allotted minutes/texts etc, spending
> £40-£60/month instead of £17....) By this time my brain had shut off. I
> wonder if he was trying to confuse me with numbers, or underestimated my
> researching and pegged me for a 'silly female' because we can't possibly
> know about phones?
>
> It just amazed me that someone who is meant to try and sell people things,
> or encourage their custom, could make them feel so annoyed :P Or indeed
> refuse to listen to a word I was saying. I redialled the cancellation dept.
> and have now sent in my letter... it's off to Orange I go where
> international calling/texting is actually considerably cheaper, and I have a
> shiny fun new contract called a 'dolphin'
>
> So yes, I do still have the remainder of my Voda contract to use up (but
> grr, they make it hard to leave, sending a letter with 30 days notice, I'm
> sure other providers have let me do it over the phone and it's been a
> shorter period), but I don't actually give Orange any money until December
> which is nice :P
>
> Rant over
>
> --
> Sue

Can't seem to quote properly here so I'll use "s

"Contract offers on upgrades can vary from those for first time
customers. The way I've often looked at it is, everybody gets the first
time promotional offer when they take out the contract, then receive
upgrade contracts from that point onwards."

This is something that I've always understood to be the norm, but times are
changing it seems. Have a looksie at this:
http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/o...oct06114_ex_08
I will always be impressed by the service which rewards its existing
customers.

--
Sue

[email protected] declared for all the world to hear...
> If your Vodafone contract is still in place (e.g. you
> say you've sent off a cancellation letter but you're still inside your
> 30 days) and you really wanted to keep your number you could always
> override this by calling customer services and requesting a PAC,
> although I must stress if your Orange contract is now officially signed
> then you wouldn't be able to port the number over as part of it (this
> has to be done at point of taking out a new contract, I imagine Orange
> may have already issued you with a new number).

Orange do actually allow porting-in at any point in the contract, not
just at point of connection. This applies to PAYG and contract.

--
Regards
Jon

"MinervaUK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Sorry to hear of the problems you had, Sprite.

Oh boy, all is forgiven it seems! Had yet another courtesy call from
Vodafone, from someone who's job it is to try to stop people cancelling.
The outcome of this is;

A free, new Sony Ericsson K800i.
A 12 month instead of an 18 month contract. (£30/month for 200 anytime
mins/500 texts)
6 months half price (so £15/month, not a cashback, just discounted)
Vodafone Passport (which apparently gives you benefit from calling within
the UK to international countries, something I didn't know. Minerva,
perhaps you could just confirm this for me before I rack up a huge bill -> I
want to make a call from my mobile phone to Norway. I was just told that
Passport works in this way, allowing me to pay the one-off charge and then
use my set minutes. Is this correct? I only ask as looking at the website
all it talks about is doing it from other countries back to the UK)
Stop The Clock

I think that was about it
Tomorrow I will be refusing delivery for the Orange handset, then! :P

--
Sue

"Sprite" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "MinervaUK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Sorry to hear of the problems you had, Sprite.
>
> Oh boy, all is forgiven it seems! Had yet another courtesy call from
> Vodafone, from someone who's job it is to try to stop people cancelling.
> The outcome of this is;
>
> A free, new Sony Ericsson K800i.
> A 12 month instead of an 18 month contract. (£30/month for 200 anytime
> mins/500 texts)
> 6 months half price (so £15/month, not a cashback, just discounted)
> Vodafone Passport (which apparently gives you benefit from calling within
> the UK to international countries, something I didn't know. Minerva,
> perhaps you could just confirm this for me before I rack up a huge bill ->
> I want to make a call from my mobile phone to Norway. I was just told
> that Passport works in this way, allowing me to pay the one-off charge and
> then use my set minutes. Is this correct? I only ask as looking at the
> website all it talks about is doing it from other countries back to the
> UK)

Hm, just called Voda and I've been told he was not correct /gasp.

Oh well, the other stuff is still shiny.

--
Sue

[email protected] declared for all the world to hear...
> Minerva,
> perhaps you could just confirm this for me before I rack up a huge bill -> I
> want to make a call from my mobile phone to Norway. I was just told that
> Passport works in this way, allowing me to pay the one-off charge and then
> use my set minutes. Is this correct?

No, it's the other way around. If you were in Norway calling back to the
UK it would help you.
--
Regards
Jon

"Jon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] declared for all the world to hear...
>> Minerva,
>> perhaps you could just confirm this for me before I rack up a huge
>> bill -> I
>> want to make a call from my mobile phone to Norway. I was just told that
>> Passport works in this way, allowing me to pay the one-off charge and
>> then
>> use my set minutes. Is this correct?
>
> No, it's the other way around. If you were in Norway calling back to the
> UK it would help you.

As I thought :\ Lying little toerag! I upgraded the tariff on his
assurance I could use those minutes. Thought it was too good to be true, so
I'll have to see if I can downgrade it again tomorrow which should be
possible methinks...

--
Sue

Hi Sue,

Sorry for the late reply. As Jon says, Vodafone Passport only works
while you're overseas: full information below:

http://www.abroad.vodafone.co.uk/ind...e=a2&nu=1&le=2

Vodafone do offer a service which will allow you cheap calls from the
UK to abroad, but this would be something called International Call
Saver rather than Vodafone Passport. It might be worth having a check
to see if this has been included along with Passport as part of the
offer. International Call Saver will bill at 'Vodafone World' rates,
there's more information below, including a link to a zone / charge
chart which allows you to work out the rate of any costs to Norway:

http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatc...pageID=GM_0146


Sprite wrote:
> "Jon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > [email protected] declared for all the world to hear...
> >> Minerva,
> >> perhaps you could just confirm this for me before I rack up a huge
> >> bill -> I
> >> want to make a call from my mobile phone to Norway. I was just told that
> >> Passport works in this way, allowing me to pay the one-off charge and
> >> then
> >> use my set minutes. Is this correct?
> >
> > No, it's the other way around. If you were in Norway calling back to the
> > UK it would help you.
>
> As I thought :\ Lying little toerag! I upgraded the tariff on his
> assurance I could use those minutes. Thought it was too good to be true, so
> I'll have to see if I can downgrade it again tomorrow which should be
> possible methinks...
>
> --
> Sue