Hit with double costs when broadband contract ends?

[TheDoc74]

Hi all,

So I've had Superfast 2 for the last 2 years, and I noticed when checking my bills today that the contract expired at the end of June. I was paying £21.08 pm at the point when the contract ended - £26.58 for the service, with a contract discount (apparently - it's on the bill as Broadband discount 3.00 GBP off 24 months ending 28 Jun 2023) and £3 Vodafone together discount. For my most recent bill, I was charged £23.58 as the contract discount had come to an end, but the basic service rate was still £26.58 as I still have my VodafoneTogether discount - all fine and as expected.

When I check my plan for this month, the price of the basic service is now £29.58! When I rang to query it, they said it was because I'm now on a rolling contract. So not only has the "Contract Discount" been removed, but apparently the cost of the basic service also goes up by the same amount so I'm paying a total of £6 more a month. I'm really struggling to get my head round this, and wondered if anyone else had a similar experience? I wouldn't mind so much except I haven't received any reminders about the contract coming to an end!

[Jayach]

When a contract ends, it is usual for the monthly rate to increase, The amount of the increase should be in the contract details. My current contract shows "Your monthly charge will increase by £3.00 after the contract minimum period."

My first 2 year contract finished last year, but I was aware of the end date, so I contracted them and recontracted during the last moth, and got an even better deal than the first.

I've checked my emails, and also don't seem to have notification of expiry, but I did recontract before I actually got there. They adjusted the price to account for the overlap.

[TheDoc74]

Hi Jayach - thanks for replying. I know that the price is likely to increase at the end of a contract, but it just seems a little unusual that the initial (low) rate seemed to be treated as a monthly discount of £3, which is then removed AND the basic rate increased by the same amount for a total of £6. That’s what I’m struggling with, particularly since the discount was removed for the last bill but it’s only with the NEXT bill that the rate will increase. It all just seems to be deliberately mystifying. 

[TheDoc74]

I’ve attached a couple of photos so you can see what I mean, My most recent bill covers the period after the contract expired, and SF2 is charged at £26.58. In my NEXT bill (2nd screenshot) it’s gone up to £29.58, meaning I’m paying a total of £6 pm more  

 

[Jayach · Accepted solution]

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@TheDoc74 wrote:

Hi Jayach - thanks for replying. I know that the price is likely to increase at the end of a contract, but it just seems a little unusual that the initial (low) rate seemed to be treated as a monthly discount of £3, which is then removed AND the basic rate increased by the same amount for a total of £6. 

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We will have to wait for your pictures to be moderated, but those figures you show there are quite normal.

You lose the discount because your not in contract, plus you get an increase because your not in contract.

The fact they were both £3 is just coincidental.

My current discount (offered on what new starters were paying at the time) is £2. but just don't take the first offer. Call back a few times (and have figures on what other ISP's are charging) and they may sweeten it.

The last agent I got seemed to be more senior than the first ones I spoke to and was able to offer something they couldn't. (or wouldn't)

[TheDoc74]

Thanks again, Jayach - that does indeed seem to make sense (of sorts - Vodafone's pricing structures and billing policies never cease to confuse me, even after having been with them for some 25 years now...!)

I have signed up for the upgrade to Full Fibre 100 now, as it will cost significantly less than the current price for Superfast 2 (which itself no longer seems to exist as a product). I didn't really want to change anything as the broadband has been really reliable over the last couple of years, but I didn't really have a choice if I didn't want to continue paying well over the odds. Here's hoping that the Full Fibre 100 will continue to be fast and reliable once I change over next month...

[Jayach]

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@TheDoc74 wrote:

Here's hoping that the Full Fibre 100 will continue to be fast and reliable once I change over next month...

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I'm sure it will be. FTTP should be more reliable than the copper product.

You are just going to have to get used to the phone being provided by VoIP, rather than the PSTN.

Any queries. just ask here.

[HappyNomad]

My Fibre 2 contract is about to enter its last 30 days before expiry and out of contract price increases... 

I have been with VF on Fibre 2 (FTTC) for around 6 years with no complaints.  Until recently, the only choice has been FTTC but recently,  a well known lady of impeccable virtue who has her own media company has cabled our immediate area and is offering an 1month FTTP contract for 132mbps at around £3/month less than I currently pay for under half that speed.

Vodafone is also offering new Fibre 2 (FTTC) contracts at under what I currently pay.   No doubt I will be offered some concession to stay put but should I be looking at the £22.95/mo FTTP offer or just persevere with VF in the hope that Openreach/cityfibre/whoever get our area cabled in the not too distant future?

All decisions eh?