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10-10-2016 11:53 AM
At the beginning of September I had a month left of my contract with Vodafone for a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. I was quite happy with this phone and wanted to keep it for the time being, but the charger cover wouldn't close any more and the SD card wouldn't stay in (common fault). I handed the phone in for repair and got given a replacement phone which was supposed to be "pretty good".
The replacement was abysmal. It would frequently freeze, couldn't handle e-mail, and was anything but "pretty good". After two weeks of putting up with this rubbish I got hold of Vodafone to see where my phone was. Oh, it couldn't be repaired because it was out of warranty, because I'd replaced a cracked screen on it. Not sure how that would impact the SD card holder but might as well argue with a brick, but they tried to contact me apparently. Uhm, no, check the call log, nothing from Vodafone. So they agree to send the phone back to the shop at least. This takes another week. I couldn't go in myself so my partner went, with the replacement phone, all the paperwork, my driver's license, to pick up a broken phone. She was put through an hour of waiting and in the end they had to call me.
I'm now pretty fed up with Vodafone, so I call the loyalty department. Rather than leave, I get talked into hanging on until the Xperia XZ is out, and they'll do me a "special" deal on this. So I agree, stupidly.
The phone is due to launch October 5th, and if you preorder you can get a free pair of £150 headphones. Cool, so I call Vodafone a couple of days before. No, sorry, we don't list it... Even though I'd been into Carphone Warehouse, held the phone, and could have ordered it, ON VODAFONE, then and there, AND got the headphones. Right, so on the 5th I ring again, no, sorry, not on the system. I then ring on the 7th, go through everything AGAIN, only for the guy to almost order me an Xperia XA. Big difference...
I call up again today. I now get quoted a higher price for it, no mention of a "special" deal, just the standard 30% off. So there is no "special deal", just the same terms everyone gets who's renewing their contract. Good news though, they can order the phone, but only in blue... Seriously, the phone comes in three colours, Carphone Warehouse has it in black, EE has it in black, but not Vodafone.
Right now I don't care how much extra I pay. I want to get away from these clowns and stop spending hours on the phone to them, repeating everything I've just said every. Single. Time. Even though there should be notes on my account saying exactly what has happened. And I'm still not able to order a phone. How the heck do you run a business this badly?
10-10-2016 12:03 PM - edited 10-10-2016 12:05 PM
Hi
I can appreciate your frustrated with this.
Just to give my opinion on a few of your points.
If any repair work is carried out by an unauthorised engineer then this typically voids the manufacturers warranty.
Carfone Warehouse simply marry up sim cards with unlocked phones. The iPhone being the exception as it locks to the first sim card inserted. This way they can offer more choice.
They also have their own tariffs they can offer which can indeed differ from the Vodafone Network directly.They pass on some of the discount to the customer they get from the network for opening up a contract. They can also sometimes offer a phone in more colours as you've seen.
Sometimes offers from the network are time limited.
You could upgrade via Carfone Warehouse if you wish but ensure they upgrade you and not open a second line. Also some offers in regards to certain discounts are not available such as employers VEA.
You can if you wish also ask for a PAC code and take your number to a new network. Their would be an early termination fee if you did this before your contract end date.
Current Phone >
Samsung Galaxy s²⁴ Ultra 512gb.
10-10-2016 12:30 PM
NikToo wrote:............The phone is due to launch October 5th, and if you preorder you can get a free pair of £150 headphones. Cool, so I call Vodafone a couple of days before. No, sorry, we don't list it... Even though I'd been into Carphone Warehouse, held the phone, and could have ordered it, ON VODAFONE, then and there, AND got the headphones. Right, so on the 5th I ring again, no, sorry, not on the system. I then ring on the 7th, go through everything AGAIN, only for the guy to almost order me an Xperia XA. Big difference...
@NikToo All networks and resellers make their own decision on which models / colours to stock .
Reseller such as CPW can put you on a network contract with any phone that they carry irrespective whether the network itself is selling the phone, the two are completely different.
A lot of people prefer to buy from CPW as with the exception of the iPhone their phones are unlocked to all networks.
02-11-2016 05:47 PM
04-11-2016 12:58 PM
Hello @NikToo
I'm sorry to hear about this experience with Vodafone, I understand your frustration at the miscommunication. I am going to send you a Private Message with further help on this.
Hello @tjHolbrook
With regards to your billing problem, have you spoken to our team about this? If so, what have we advised?
Our Live Chat service can access your account and look into this for you.
Louise
04-11-2016 02:02 PM
04-11-2016 02:23 PM
04-11-2016 09:43 PM
06-11-2016 01:33 PM
Hello @NikToo
I understand your frustration.
We can can investigate this further please reply to our teams latest email.
Hello @tjHolbrook
I'm sorry to hear about this experience.
I am going to send you a Private Message with further help.
Louise