Pay as you go services

[migamn]

Hi all,

A member of my family went to buy a PAYG phone today and got told that they have to buy a top up with the phone, and would not be sold the phone without it, yet online you don't have to pay for a top up.

My question is why is this?

My main concern is that no explanation is given, and also the price listed is not the price you pay.

Regards

[DaveCD]

Hi migamn

Thank you for your post and it is great to see you here.

The reason a store would sell you a SIM card with your device is so that you have an active number with the network and can give you a discounted TopUp and when you order a device online this comes with a SIM card.

I am unsure how you mean that the cost is different from that advertised, I have just gone through the ordering process with a Pay Monthly device all the way to entering payment details and the price has remained the same.

Please can you advise me which device you had tried to buy online and I will also check this.

Many Thanks

DaveCD

eForum Team

[Stemcsteste]

Hi migamn

Also when you buy from other retailers (ie Carphone, Phone4 U) you have to buy the phone on a network as they reduce the price of the handset,

for example there is a phone which is £9.95, with £10 creidt = 19.95. now if you buy the phone from the RETAILER and not with a NETWORK the retaler will charge you there price ie £29.95 with no credit.

hope this helps as well

Stemcsteste

[migamn]

thanks for the responce.

The phone was a Blackberry 8520 that my brother owns.

We ended up buying online for £115 and like you said the price did not change.

When we was in store the price was £109, but the issue is that i do not require a new sim as i plan to use my old sim and just use the phone to replace a broken one of the same type.

When this was explained to the shop they was not intrested and told me i would need a £10 top up regardless and sell the top up to some one we know or keep it untill we need it.

So my issue is that the £109 disply price is not the price you pay at the till, and there is no mention in store that you have to pay for a sim card or top up to go with it.

[migamn]

thank you Stemcsteste, but this was from Vodafone in Bracknell not another of the retailers you have mentioned.

Like i have said my issues is that the price displayed is not the price you pay at the till.

When mentiond that my mum have been with vodafone for 5 years with
3 lines the clerks responce was "makes no diffrence" .... nice to know that loyatly "makes no diffrence" in this day and age.

[Stemcsteste]

Hi Enigma,

its the same thing, because your asking to buy the phone form the Retailer and not on the network,

basically the price is subsidized by the network, because your buying on there network to use with there network, so they will get the money back through you topping up,

with out the credit, you could use it with someone else so why should you get the discount.

Its a cruel trick but if you look carefully on the POS or price display it should say *minimum top up required.

They only way to buy a phone with out top up is paying Extra...

Its better off just buying it with the top up, using it till its 0, then throwing away the sim.

You can still use your number in it

Stemcsteste

[migamn]

i understand that,. what i dont understand is that when you are in store with the sim in hand and phone number to prove that you are a exsting customer and using the service on a daily basis you have to pay this £10.

The main problem i had is that my brother had used savings and done odd jobs for family to save up £110 for the phone as it states in black and white £109, not £109 for the handset and £10 activation fee

Its kind of like seeing a new car for sale at £10000 but you have to fill it up with there fuel to drive it off the forcourt at a cost of £5000!

i think i will end this here as i am not going to get a valid responce from vodafone and i doubt their polcy will change due to this one question.

Slowly loosing faith in vodafone and being a "exsting customer"

[Stemcsteste]

Before you lose faith entirly,

try going to Carphone warehouse and asking for a Prepay Upgrade,

this is where you can buy a new pohne using your existing number, with out buying a top up, i mean, why do you need it youve got a phone right?

id try that first

Good luck!

[migamn]

thanks for that, but the phone has now been orderd online.