Ending a contract - confused!!!

[cam1210]

I am in the last month of a 12-month sim-only contract. Looking at my bills over the past year, line rental is paid in advance...so my contract is due to end on 20 November and I have just paid my October bill which clearly states I have paid my phone line 20 Oct-19 Nov. I was looking at porting out early and have been texting INFO to 85075. It says should I leave today, I would be charged £14.39 termination fee. I chatted to an advisor who said this is correct because I am leaving early. What I can't fathom is that I have paid my line rental until my contract ends (and have also given a months notice back on 20 Oct) that I am leaving. How can I be charged a fee on top of this if I have paid everything that was required on my original 12-month contract? Can anyone help me undertand this?!

I'm also confused with my online account. If I don't port out, I have given one-month notice to terminate the contract and move my sim to become PAYG. My online account is showing that I will be charged another months fee. The adviser says that vodafone takes this and credits it back afterwards. Again, I am confused as to why I have a projected bill for line rental after my contract ends.

[AnnS]

Hi @cam1210 

Bills are prepared one month in advance, if you texted INFO it would be the charges if you left immediately, as you would be in the last month of contract any line rental paid in advance would be credited back.

When you are out of contract and text for a PAC the contract will immediately end without any further charges.  Just keep the direct debit open for any extra charges until you receive a 0.00 bill, there may also be a credit due back to you repair into the account, Vodafone will then cancel the direct debit.  Further information here: Cancel Account 

[cam1210]

Thanks for that information - I think I undertsand it now that it is not extra charges on top, it is just the amount outstanding until my contract ends, so in effect this has already been paid by the charges in the final months bill.

I suspect I will stay with vodafone anyway until the contract end date.

[AnnS]

Yes @cam1210 

If you text for a PAC when your contract ends and submit the code to the new network there will be nothing further to pay, plus you should be due a credit for line rental paid in advance, providing you have not cancelled the direct debit this will be paid directly to the bank. 

You will have access to the bills for 6 months after closure, Vodafone recommend setting up an alternative number for your online account to receive the security code.