Reply to: Vodafone

[d000hg]

Not been a victim, but isn't Vodafone one of those that have done the "take 10% or 20% less money or ..... off" to contractors trick?

So what? They invoke a clause in the contract saying they can give you X weeks notice, and at the same time offer you an alternative to accept a lower rate. Nothing outside the contract...

Anyhow as said, mobile companies have to lock you in to get the money back on the hardware they give you for free (or heavily subsidised).
Note that you maybe just got a bad guy on the phone... if you try again and are very polite, spinning them a sob story about being unemployed and how you "obviously have to keep to the contract, but I'd really appreciate it if you can put me on a lower tariff, even on a longer term"... maybe someone more helpful will be nicer.
Worth a try anyhow.

[HairyArsedBloke]

I know.

And the answer is still 'No'.

Sorry, I was thinking about long gone history: Vodafone slashes IT contractor rates

I'm not a contractor anymore; I'm a 'proper' business.

I'm a foreign business too; so Hector:

[cojak]

I know.

And the answer is still 'No'.

[HairyArsedBloke]

No.

I ment the rates paid to contractors

[cojak]

Not been a victim, but isn't Vodafone one of those that have done the "take 10% or 20% less money or ..... off" trick?

No.

[HairyArsedBloke]

"As far as they are concerned a contract is a contract"

sorry, i must have missed something. when is a contract not a contract?

Not been a victim, but isn't Vodafone one of those that have done the "take 10% or 20% less money or ..... off" to contractors trick?

[Grinder]

How much money are we talking about here? ie monthly contract x number of months to completion on the minimum level?

Broadband is only about tenner/month, mobile usually you can step down to a lower tariff about £15/month.

You can make that much mowing a couple of lawns each month.

[swamp]

Personal contract...Anyone wanna buy a phone?

Here is an idea, though you may not like it!

Swap your personal phone to a business phone. Vodafone will tear up your personal contract(s) if you sign a new one in your business name. They did this for me and it was very easy.

Business tariffs are different from personal ones, slightly more expensive but this is more than offset by tax gains (every Ltd Co contractor should have a business phone.) Now when you switch tell them you don't want a data package, or downgrade to a cheaper one. You'll be dealing with the business centre and they won't normally have to chase down chavvy cheapskates, so they may well be OK with you dropping your data package or give you flexible terms.

[ASB]

Don't know which mobile internet contract you are on but my voda one (probably different to yours 'cos it's corporate) allows them to cut me off if I persitantly breach the fair usage policy. If they were to cut you off like this I don't see how they could realistically continue charging you for a service they have refused to deliver.

[uky kozak]

No I will pay by any means necessary to honour the contract. I have just moved my phone to PAYG and I will just use that for incoming calls mainly. Once I am back on my feet and its Feb 18 2010 I will phone them again and cancel my contract on both phone and mobile internet. I know it will mean nothing to them but at least I will have the satisfaction of saying to them "well considering you helped me out in time of need...blah blah.

[reddog]

One other thing that you may want to consider is that not paying will seriously affect your credit rating.

[Platypus]

blah blah blah

TykeMerc's post makes we wonder if they might be amenable if you offered to EXTEND you contract beyond the current term but on a LOWER monthly payment - thereby ensuring they get their investment back but over a longer term

[TykeMerc]

The mobile companies are well known for enforcing their contracts and when you consider their business model it's hardly surprising.

The cost of handsets is massively subsidised by the contract payments, they routinely give handsets worth several hundred pounds (cost to them) to customers for absolutely nothing, they have to maintain a significant infrastructure of cell towers and bulk telephone and data links and pay a licence fee for the radio spectrum that they use. They also have to pay commissions for the sale of contracts by retailers and have their own staff to pay.

I'm not making excuses for the way that mobile companies behave, but the simple fact is if you sign a contract for goods and services you should read the damn thing first. All of the mobile contracts that I've ever seen have made the cancellation terms very clear (I used to fit carphones when I was a student and even 20 years ago the contracts were transparent), while I sympathise to an extent you went into the deal with full information available and even a cool down period.
I believe that the mobile companies have been challenged in court quite a few times over their contracts and yet they appear substantially unchanged so they're probably pretty much rock solid.

[Platypus]

Could you not just close down your company?

I'm sure the cost of that (accountant's fees) will outweigh the cost of simply buying out of the contract.

[uky kozak]

Personal contract...Anyone wanna buy a phone?