Increased Mobile bill

Author
Discussion

apotek

Original Poster:

647 posts

184 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
I have taken out a new Vodafone contract nine months ago and have just been told it will increase by 3% next month.
If I have a contract for two years surely it`s fixed.
Just doesn`t seem right

davek_964

8,795 posts

174 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
apotek said:
I have taken out a new Vodafone contract nine months ago and have just been told it will increase by 3% next month.
If I have a contract for two years surely it`s fixed.
Just doesn`t seem right
It's fixed if the T&Cs say it's fixed for the duration of the contract. But I bet they don't say that, and I also bet you didn't read them (just like 99.9% of us don't).

tankplanker

2,479 posts

278 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
They are allowed to increase it by whatever they want, if it is more than the RPI rate of inflation then you have the right to cancel without paying the termination fee: http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/the-...

Bet this is for Vodafone, who have put up most people's bills by the RPI rate of inflation.

MrBarry123

6,025 posts

120 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
It's increasing by the latest published RPI figure i.e. 3.2%. An increase in the cost of the contract in accordance with RPI figures will be a term within your contract's T&Cs.

As I understand it, they are however on dangerous ground if they raise the cost by more than the RPI figure i.e. customers are able to cancel without a termination fee/penalty.

ETA: SWMBO's contract is increasing by the same amount although mine isn't as it began in April 2015 which was during the period* Vodafone offered a "Fixed Price Promise".

*April 2014 to May 2016

davek_964

8,795 posts

174 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
It's not just VF - EE are doing it too. I got a text about it a few weeks ago - they even mentioned the fact that it was going up by RPI in the text.

thescamper

920 posts

225 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
MrBarry123 said:
As I understand it, they are however on dangerous ground if they raise the cost by more than the RPI figure i.e. customers are able to cancel without a termination fee/penalty.
If you cancel the contract do you just hand the handset back and walk away, if that is the case then you are losing any residual value from the handset. Most smartphones are worth at least £100 at the end of two years.

apotek

Original Poster:

647 posts

184 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for replies all interesting. I have been 20 years with Vodafone just renewing when I fancied a trendy phone, I will consider this come renewal time as this smacks of sharp practice that I cannot avoid at the moment

Joey Ramone

2,150 posts

124 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
They all do it

boxst

3,699 posts

144 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
It will say in the contract that they will increase at the rate of inflation in April (or whatever month).