Vodafone Verbal Contract?

[AshleyB]

Just wondering if anyone is aware of the legality of verbal contracts.

My example;

I have been with Vodafone for 5 years, on contract. About 1 year ago I was offered an upgrade on my handset. I took the opportunity and received my new phone.

My circumstances in the last 6 months have changed somewhat and I couldnt pay my bill for a while. So I said I would like to CANCEL MY CONTRACT.

Voda said I could not and when accepting my new handset, had accepted an 18 month new contract, which expires April 2007.

I was unaware of this and now they are asking me for £450 (which includes an early termination fee).

When I first joined Voda, I went into a shop and physically signed a contract for 1 year.

So my question is this:
Are they legally entitled to keep me in contract, even though I have not signed anything for 4 years?

Or, what steps can I take to end my contract?

( I have recently agreed to pay them in installments for the balance minus the cancellation fee of £325.00, but they say I will still have to keep my contract til April 2007.

Thanks in advance.

[blacksheep1979]

verbal contracts are just as enforcable as written ones IF they can prove it

[TAY]

I am having the same problem with Vodafone. However i have never received my half price line rental that i should get under my contract and i have never signed anything but i am still tied with them and finding it hard to get out of. I would have thought if they have not honoured their part of the deal then the verbal contract does not stand.
I can however cancel my contract if i pay the fine.

[micia]

Originally Posted by AshleyB

Just wondering if anyone is aware of the legality of verbal contracts.

My example;

I have been with Vodafone for 5 years, on contract. About 1 year ago I was offered an upgrade on my handset. I took the opportunity and received my new phone.

My circumstances in the last 6 months have changed somewhat and I couldnt pay my bill for a while. So I said I would like to CANCEL MY CONTRACT.

Voda said I could not and when accepting my new handset, had accepted an 18 month new contract, which expires April 2007.

I was unaware of this and now they are asking me for £450 (which includes an early termination fee).

When I first joined Voda, I went into a shop and physically signed a contract for 1 year.

So my question is this:
Are they legally entitled to keep me in contract, even though I have not signed anything for 4 years?

Or, what steps can I take to end my contract?

( I have recently agreed to pay them in installments for the balance minus the cancellation fee of £325.00, but they say I will still have to keep my contract til April 2007.

Thanks in advance.

On your monthly bill there should be a line under your charge breakdown which says " 18 months term not 12 months term".

If you look back from the time you upgraded, your bills should say this which means Vodafone cannot be challenged as you effectively knew the agreement length.Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

[JMio]

There is nothing to stop you from dropping your tariff down to the absolute minimum (always used to be £15 a month when I was there), and THEN asking to pay the account off early.

As for the contract length, you're scuppered I'm afraid. If you're tied to an 18 month contract then that's what you're bound too. Sorry!

[blacksheep1979]

you won't be able to drop the tariff for the first half of the contract term.

[tom3131]

Is it in writing that your bound by a new contract? Did they ever tell you that you were bound by this new 18 month contract?

For you to be bound by the contract then you'd have to of accepted it.

If you didnt know about it, then how on earth could you have accepted it?

Otherwise, a stern letter to Customer Relations telling them that your business in future will be moved to another provider should they fail to terminate your current contract, might just be enough .

Regards,
Tom3131.

[lurchy666]

voda are gits for doing this they done it to me i got out of it cause i didnt sign anything and never recieved anything through the post about the new contract details and they couldn't do anything because they couldn't find a record of the conversation either basically when having a conversation with them always go to the manager and always ask for a name and surname and try to keep with that 1 person (it helps in the long run as you dont have to keep telling them your story over and over)

[blacksheep1979]

Just had a thought have you had a text recently saying

"With effect from 1 September pictures & video messaging will no longer be included in your extra’s pack.”

If so you can cancel your contract.

[sequenci]

when the phone was delivered, the delivery note would have stated the contract duration at the time you signed for the handset.

it's a bit of a grey area as alot of staff members didn't bother typing it on there.

i'm an ex-employee within the telesales teams so if you get stuck gimmie a shout.

ask them to prove a copy.