Being asked for my monthly income in a store for an upgrade to iphone 13

[Milliemoo]

My 2 year contract has ended so I went to a Vodafone store to look at upgrading to and iphone 13.  Once I decided on the best option for me the advisor started to process the order.  I was asked what  my monthly salary/income was.  I have ever been asked this before so was taken aback.  The Assistant Manager explained they have all had training and have a duty to ask.  I said I could give you any figure surely you would need proof of income.  I was not happy to proceed and said I would look into this.  I have been a Vodafone customer for many years, I am now shopping around.

Has anyone else been asked to provide their monthly income?

Thanks

[chistery]

It's a standard question for a new contract as they are performing a credit check on you for your loan agreement on the phone part of the plan.

[Milliemoo]

But you could give any amount, the credit checks are carried out anyway.  I don't agree with being asked in a store in front of people what do you earn a month.

[chistery]

Whilst I completely agree with you, and you could give any answer, but anything you give can be used to check if you are worthy of a credit agreement. Income is checked against various agencies including ones like National Hunter. If you give a figure that differs to what they believe you get, you may get refused. You won't know this of course as reasons are kept secret, but all this data is stored and passed around and used against you in the future.

Buy online or even better, buy direct from Apple at 0% and go SIM only.

[Milliemoo]

The reason I go to a store is because I like to see the phones and have that one to one service, I have been going to the same store for years and I am a loyal customer, I completely understand they are doing their job and they have had a lot of customers querying this.  I was so taken aback.  I am looking online and as much information as possible on other sites, I have yet to find anywhere that explains you need to provide your monthly income, I have looked at various sites and suppliers and no mention of this. All they mention is credit checks, bank details, address, date of birth.  

[WelshPaul]

I think the problem with Vodafone now is that when you apply for a new handset (Upgrade or New contract), you're actually applying for a loan and so its no different than if you went and got a loan from the bank, they will want your income information. Personally, I would never take a handset contract out on Vodafone as my credit rating  will suffer as a result of the loan on my credit report!

[Hexo]

This just happened to me today. Been with Vodafone for many years and was renewing my contract.

I thought it was really inappropriate. They said they needed to know my salary in the store to do a "soft credit check" which makes no sense. Credit checks are always done by an external company and vodafone have no business asking. Its clear they just wanted it for their database and aggressive marketing team.

I gave them some random made up answers but I thought it was outrageously presumptuous to insist on an answer to this very private and sensitive information which I'm sure can now be accessed by any of their staff.

They provide my phone, not my mortgage. 

[chistery]

Unfortunately Vodafone may run a soft credit check and it's not advisable to give false info as it could prevent you from getting the Vodafone contract, or future credit.

Any information you give will be shared to various agencies like Experian and National Hunter. They know how much you earn as your bank tells them everything already. They know how much you said you earn when you last asked for credit. If they see a difference from what your bank reports and what you report, it's a red flag and could prevent you from being accepted now or in the future.

[Hexo]

I don't believe for one minute that info ever went to a credit checker such as experian. They would need to ask your permission for that. And they only asked two questions: monthly income and monthly expenses. Not enough for a credit check. 

I'm sure they just save the data on their marketing database and use it to promote their broadband services or whatever they're aggressively pushing.  I didn't even have to give my salary to the dealer when I leased a car. It was all handled by an independent credit checker.