Can Vodafone Do This to Me?

[Deactivated] on 21/01/2015 - 17:27
Last edited 23/01/2015 - 10:31 by 1 other user

It's probably obvious that I'm in the wrong but ill try and cut the story short.

When the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge was announced for preorders (back in October). Vodafone was the first telecommunications company to offer them as preorders online, so I preordered a black one as the white one was unavailable at the time.

A few weeks afterwards, Optus has a preorder of the Edge as well and they had the white one available so I also ordered from the, online.

Because I'm already currently with Telstra, they said they weren't going to be stocking it and therefore why I would order from the others instead.

3 days before the launch of the Note Edge, Telstra announced they will be getting it so I quickly ordered one from them online - also because you get a bonus $100 eftpos giftcard for ordering one.

Because of this, I live chat with an Optus customer service about the situation how I don't want the phone anymore and they said thats fine, as long as I refuse to sign for the courier when the handset arrives and it gets sent back to their warehouse, I won't get charged.

Then I did the exact same to Telstra live chat customer service and explained the same situation and they told me the exact same thing as the Optus rep - refuse to sign for it.

Because of my impatience, I got it from the Telstra store in person on the day of launch instead.

About three days after the launch, I started receiving parcel cards stating for me to pick them up from the Post Office. Of course, I didn't do it and waited till all the parcels were sent back to their respective warehouse.

Fast forward to a month, I receive an online bill from Vodafone and they slugged me $90 for a phone I do not have in possession. I emailed them and they said I can't just cancel it and I still have to pay for the full bill even though I don't have anything from them.

I can't even get credited for the month I didn't get the phone and they're persisting to re deliver the phone to me.

Can they do this or do I have the rights and speak to an Ombudsman?

Update: The issue has now been resolved

A Vodafone rep has emailed me stating a conversation between him and his manager have both agreed they will waiver the whole plan and will be credited any payments that have been made

Mobile

closed Comments

  • PLA74 on 21/01/2015 - 17:33

    If you want prmpt response from Telco's in Australia, log a complaint with TIO. TIO have been great for me and have always helped me out in troubled situations.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2015 - 17:34

      What is your opinion on this PLA74? Do you think I have the rights to dispute? Because apparently, once the order has been made, I've been binded into a contract - as stated by the rep who is responding to my emails

      • PLA74 on 21/01/2015 - 17:39

        Did you sign the mobile phone plan contract?

        • PLA74 on 21/01/2015 - 17:40

          Sorry just read through this properly. You placed the order online correct?

        • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2015 - 17:41

          There wasnt anything to sign. Only that they said once i put in an order when I preordered it, that's signing the contract

        • PLA74 on 21/01/2015 - 17:47
          +4

          @taQ: Ah ok I see. Well in that case, you can take advantage of the 30 day network guarantee thing Vodafone have going on…if everything is still under 30 days. Just tell them you are not happy with the network coverage and what not. You will have to return the handset to them and pay for any calls and stuff you made in the 30 day period.

          More information on it here:
          http://support.vodafone.com.au/articles/FAQ/the-Vodafone-Net…

        • what on 21/01/2015 - 17:50

          Good work PLA74.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2015 - 17:52

          @PLA74: unfortunately, this was back in november so I can't use that

        • what on 21/01/2015 - 17:57
          +1

          Surely the 30 days commences on the day the phone is activated. You should get 30 days to use it and check if the coverage suites your needs.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2015 - 18:05

          @what: oh really? Thought it was whenever the contract starts

        • what on 21/01/2015 - 18:17

          I am not sure but it seems unfair to start the 30 days from the date of the contract. What if it takes 30 days for you to receive the phone. Their guarantee would be worthless. I would have thought that you should have the opportunity to use the phone to ensure that the coverage in your area is suitable.

        • PLA74 on 21/01/2015 - 18:30

          @what: it's 30 days from when you receive the handset.

        • what on 21/01/2015 - 18:35

          That makes sense. Hasn't the phone been sent back to the warehouse which would mean that the handset has not been received yet.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2015 - 22:12

          @what: well it would be proof that the consignment doesn't mention it has been delivered to the recipient

  • what on 21/01/2015 - 17:38

    Without putting in a formal complaint. Why don't you ask the ombudsman where you stand. They should be able to tell you where you stand with the Vodafone contract. Then, if the advice is what you want to hear, you can let Vodafone know what you have been told. Good luck.

  • mskeggs on 21/01/2015 - 18:08
    +41

    To be fair to Voda, you did get them to ship a phone, which they might have sold to another person, and you did sign up to their deal.
    So I don't think it is unreasonable that they ask you to pay maybe your first month's access or similar.
    If they are trying to enforce the full plan on you, that seems a bit tough.
    But really, why on earth did you sign up for 3 different phones then go and buy the same item in a shop? That is absurd.

    • PVA on 21/01/2015 - 20:56
      +1

      Its a bit like people phoning for 3 different taxis and take the first that arrives. OP ordered 3 and was going with the first that arrived, but even that wasnt fast enough and bought instore.
      agree, absurd!

  • akd on 21/01/2015 - 20:03
    +1

    taQ, Did you have chat with Vodafone customer service team (similar to Telstra and Optus)? If the customer service advised not to accept the parcel and contract will not start, then you can mention it to Vodafone.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2015 - 22:07
      -2

      I did mention the optus and telstra bit to them. See,s like they don't give a rats ass about it

      • timmypete on 22/01/2015 - 11:46

        But did you mention it before the delivery or after?

        • timmypete on 23/01/2015 - 07:56

          The fact you answered all other questions except this, before editing the post and fleeing probably answers the question.

          I'm taking from the silence that you hadn't talked with them before refusing parcels. If so, they're completely within their rights not to give a rats about it.

  • Unorthodox on 21/01/2015 - 20:50

    Common courtesy to at least explain to Vodafone as you did to Optus?

    Did you port your number across as well?

  • PVA on 21/01/2015 - 20:57
    +14

    just pay it. you mucked around with three companies to see who would deliver first then assumed you could just cancel it all.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2015 - 22:08

      It has been paid for. Just that I'm probably stuck with a 2 year plan now

      • PVA on 21/01/2015 - 22:16

        yeah, it sucks. Maybe work out which one is cheapest to cancel (and pay cancellation fees etc) either Telstra or Vodfone.
        You haven't got a family member that wants it?

        • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2015 - 22:29

          Nope. I could be lucky and sell it for $1k but I'm still $800 out of pocket for the total cost of the plan

  • Davo1111 on 21/01/2015 - 22:12

    what does your contract say?

  • sraymond on 22/01/2015 - 00:24
    +21

    Thread title should ge changed to "Can I do this to me"

  • srhardy on 22/01/2015 - 13:15
    +1

    YOUR A SUPER DUMBASS! YOU ORDER FROM 3 NETWORKS, 3 CONTRACTS AND YOU COULDNT FOR SEE THIS HAPPENING!

    DUMBASS! (THATS70SHOW)

    TIO and get them to cancel it due to delay to deliver, lack of delivery, whatever else you can think of; you will get a call from Vodafone and they will cancel it but they wont do it unless you TIO as that costs them money. If unsuccessful appeal again via TIO, the cost of an appeal is more than your contract will be worth.

    DUMBASS!

    • [Deactivated] on 22/01/2015 - 18:15

      Geez, no need to get hostile

      • srhardy on 23/01/2015 - 08:49

        DUMBASS! But Im happy the TIO got V$ to zero yours stupidity…

  • Ughhh on 22/01/2015 - 13:38
    +6

    Do far one of the most ridiculous thread of 2015. Facepalm

  • Davo1111 on 22/01/2015 - 13:50
    +2

    I'm going to laugh if all 3 send you monthly bills for phones

  • burningrage on 22/01/2015 - 14:48

    Vodafone has this weird thing that says if you are preordering a new phone and that phone is not available, the contract still starts even though you might have to wait weeks or months for the new phone to arrive.

    This is the case happened with iphone6 and although it is somehow unrelated to your predicament I feel this is not fair and could possibly be overturned at TIO.

    So I suggest you try TIO and see how far can you get. Charging for a phone that you dont have seem to me a bit… unfair

  • cypher67 on 22/01/2015 - 15:51
    +6

    I'm on the Telco's side, you ordered 3 phones so you should pay for 3 phones. No wonder they charge everyone so much, it is people like you that mess with them driving up their costs.

    • rapoot6 on 22/01/2015 - 19:18

      I agree with you completely. However telcos also need to be flexible and be able to cancel orders before they are shipped.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/01/2015 - 18:14

    The issue has now been resolved

    • ilikeradiohead on 22/01/2015 - 18:40
      +1

      Want to add what happened in the description, then close the thread?

      • rapoot6 on 22/01/2015 - 19:16

        Just click on the revisions tab ;)

  • what on 22/01/2015 - 19:28

    Good result.

  • timmypete on 22/01/2015 - 21:01
    +5

    OP's edited the thread to remove the original story, and still hasn't answered a lot of questions.

    Original for context below:

    It's probably obvious that I'm in the wrong but ill try and cut the story short.

    When the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge was announced for preorders (back in October). Vodafone was the first telecommunications company to offer them as preorders online, so I preordered a black one as the white one was unavailable at the time.

    A few weeks afterwards, Optus has a preorder of the Edge as well and they had the white one available so I also ordered from the, online.

    Because I'm already currently with Telstra, they said they weren't going to be stocking it and therefore why I would order from the others instead.

    3 days before the launch of the Note Edge, Telstra announced they will be getting it so I quickly ordered one from them online - also because you get a bonus $100 eftpos giftcard for ordering one.

    Because of this, I live chat with an Optus customer service about the situation how I don't want the phone anymore and they said thats fine, as long as I refuse to sign for the courier when the handset arrives and it gets sent back to their warehouse, I won't get charged.

    Then I did the exact same to Telstra live chat customer service and explained the same situation and they told me the exact same thing as the Optus rep - refuse to sign for it.

    Because of my impatience, I got it from the Telstra store in person on the day of launch instead.

    About three days after the launch, I started receiving parcel cards stating for me to pick them up from the Post Office. Of course, I didn't do it and waited till all the parcels were sent back to their respective warehouse.

    Fast forward to a month, I receive an online bill from Vodafone and they slugged me $90 for a phone I do not have in possession. I emailed them and they said I can't just cancel it and I still have to pay for the full bill even though I don't have anything from them.

    I can't even get credited for the month I didn't get the phone and they're persisting to re deliver the phone to me.

    Can they do this or do I have the rights and speak to an Ombudsman?

    • [Deactivated] on 22/01/2015 - 23:27
      +1

      Wow. Just wow. I can't even

  • Seiko on 23/01/2015 - 08:04
    +14

    Never has the word douchebag been so apt in this case.

  • Moderatormoocher on 23/01/2015 - 10:34

    Commenting will be closed as issue has been resolved. OP - your original post has been reverted but an update added to show the issue has been resolved.

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