Pay monthly services

[ladlee]

I'm only 5 month into my 24month contract. However, my HTC Wildfire S is a phone which I find unusable due to its insufficient 150MB internal storage. (That's not a joke, Google around and you'll see everyone says the same).

Anyway, I've asked Vodafone online & over the phone if they can help me to change handset/contract so I can become a happy customer.

I've basically been told to just either put up with the phone I have or buy a PAYG phone.

I don't expect to just be told I can cancel without a penalty & start fresh... But I would like some alternative option, even if it means paying an admin fee to change my contact to a fresh 24month one and a new handset.

Vodafone as a network is not a problem, it's this inadequate handset,

I know I had the option to change my mind over the phone within 7 days, but it took a couple of month for me to realise how bad this phone is, because of the 150MB internal storage - Note to any potential buyer - it actually states 512MB on the advertisement for the phone, you get to use a fraction of 150MB.

[SynthFG · Accepted solution]

What you have been told is correct,

You signed the contract and accepted the handset,

you had the option to back out within7 days, now 5 months in you are locked in until your upgrade date (50 days before your 24 month minimum term expires)

The handset that you don't like still has to be paid for

Your options with 19 months to go are either

1) Cancel the contract paying the early termination fee (No months remaining * monthly fee [not inc VAT] with a 2% rebate)

or

2) Source another handset either PAYG, or SIm Free and use your contract sim in that,

[grolschuk]

I'll back SynthFG's post above, and add one more suggestion.

Take out a second (cheaper) contract with a new handset and use it with your dearer monthly fee...
Not the best of moves, but may work out cheaper than paying off your current commitment.

A sim free/payg handset is looking to be the better move at the moment... and get some money back from a recycling comany for your wildfire.

[ladlee]

I understand and accept. However, due to this policy Vodafone has, I am an unhappy customer and it is very likely that this will be the last contract I have with them.

[SynthFG]

The policy is there to protect vodafone,

the handset you dislike is still a very expensive bit of kit that you normally pay for through the life of your contract, look how much cheeper you can get the equivalent plan sim only.

5 months in you still have alot of handset to pay off,

[ladlee]

It's not that I dislike the handset. It's designed so badly that it can't be used as it is designed to, as concluded in my other post. I'd happily send it back to Vodafone, start a fresh 24month contract & pay a restocking/admin fee. But no. However, a mentor from the other post thinks I have valid grounds to complain & have the phone changed.

[SynthFG]

If your handset has a hardware or software fault that is causing your issues you are entitled to have it repaired under the warenty

If repair is imposible you are entitled to have it replaced with the same or an equivalent model, tho this replacement may be a refurbished handset

A case for misselling is much harder and the burden of proof is on you

Messing around with the contracts in the way you suggest is not possible