Why won't Vodafone understand my situation and let me give more than 30 days notice??

[jonnibravo]

Hi Everyone,

I currently have a Voda contract which is due to end in April.  I have recieved word that during the month of April I may be in hospital and I am worried I will not be able to cancel my contract.  After all the bad press about paying for contracts after you have fulfilled the cost of the handset I thought it sensible to give notice.

I contacted Voda and they refused point balnk to accept my notice to quit despite explaining I may not be in a fit position to cancel the contract on or around the date they want me to call.  Is it really true that you have to call on the exact day to ensure cancellation? I am not aware in the terms and conditions it states this.

Any one offer some help here?

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @jonnibravo

I hope all goes well with your upcoming visit to hospital. 

A person can cancel at anytime they want in several ways i.e 30 days notice, Pac, change to Payg but if its before the contract end date then an Early Termination Fee would be applied. 

Usually if a person does not want to keep their number to take to another network then you give 30 days notice which to avoid the Early Termination Fee is near to the contract end date as possible.

Not any early upgrade date. 

Or if your moving to another network and wanting to take your mobile number then asking for a Pac and giving that to the new network within 30 days of receiving it from Vodafone to the new network near to your end of contract date will auto cancel the Vodafone contract straight away. So no 30 days notice is needed. 

Or change the account from Contract to Vodafone Payg which takes 30 days. 

What your unable to do is give prior warning of notice to cancel. 

I.e. Tell Vodafone your wanting to cancel in April and to auto initiate the process then. 

The reason is that is you as the account holder needs to ring them to pass security protocols and this stops their systems from glitching for any reason I guess. Imagine it not cancelling and your not aware. 

After cancellation is given Vodafone send the final bill in 2 weeks and the bill is taken by Direct Debit and any relevant refunds are given that way too. 

Do not cancel your Direct Debit. 

Then when a Sorry your Leaving letter and a £0 bill has arrived confirms account closure. 

Keep this documentation. 

Some further advice in How-do-I-cancel-my-Pay-monthly-contract.

In relation to the T&C's Vodafone Terms-and-conditions.

[AnnS · Accepted solution]

Hi @jonnibravo

Under the terms of your contract, cancellation is subject to 30 days notice, that means you give exactly 30 days notice, you can't give notice now to cancel April.  If you cancel now, this is going to mean paying up what remains of the contract as early termination charges payable immediately.

If you are going to be in hospital during April, there is nothing stopping you from giving notice when you know the date you are no longer going to need the service around March.

However, contracts don't just end and will continue rolling over until you contact Vodafone and make the request, you may need the phone when you are in hospital and can cancel at any time when you are discharged from hospital.

[63johnw]

Hi @jonnibravo not sure if this would work but you could ask, if you nominate a family member and ask Vodafone to add them to your account, could they then give the notice when required?

[AnnS]

@63johnw

I don't think having authority over the account would work, it would only be for enquiries associated with the account when contacting Customer Services, the only thing having authority won't be able to do is to change the account in any way, and that would mean cancellation, upgrading etc.

[63johnw]

Thanks for clarifying @AnnS I wasnt sure how far the authority would go.

@jonnibravo just before yo go into hospital you could request and use your PAC, that would then close the account and if its nearly at the end of your contract the early termination charge wouldnt be too much.

[jonnibravo]

Thank you very much for your help guys i appreciate it.  I'm not sure how things will work out but i hope i will be well enough to deal with the cancellation.  I guess it's not a big deal I'm looking at a worst case scenario but it would be more convienient of o could deal with it before i go in.  One less thing to worry about.