[sethpet]

Had a text message from Vodafone telling me how they promise to not put up prices mid contract unlike O2 and EE, they actually name the brands in the message.

Interesting approach, can't remember seeing Vodafone being that direct at attacking another network before


Edit: appears customers moving from EE and O2 also get £20 for doing so

.
http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2015/04/0...price-promise/

[Aye Up]

I received the same message, I can only assume that is in response to something significant?

[sethpet]

Did those two networks put up prices recently?

[Aye Up]

When OFCOM outlawed mid contract price rises relative to VAT, O2 and EE inserted a little condition in their terms allowing them to do so.

Was around Jan/Feb last year I think, Three also promised no mid contract rises as well mind you.

[Tariq_ali1]

Slick piece of marketing.

EE are increasing the prices by 1.1% on certain bills from 26th March onwards.
O2 from April bill onwards, again by 1.1%

Sure this will get media coverage, so Vodafone chose to capitalise.

[Everything Goes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aye Up

When OFCOM outlawed mid contract price rises relative to VAT, O2 and EE inserted a little condition in their terms allowing them to do so.

Was around Jan/Feb last year I think, Three also promised no mid contract rises as well mind you.

Another chocolate fireguard solution from Ofcom Oh how we all laughed on here at the time!

Yes good bit of PR for Vodafone.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Everything Goes

Another chocolate fireguard solution from Ofcom Oh how we all laughed on here at the time!

Yes good bit of PR for Vodafone.

It did rather show how pointless the Ofcom rules were, it is about time Ofcom did what they said they would do and check that people are clearly informed of mid contract price rises at the point of sale, not hidden in the small print as I suspect many customers are not told clearly at the point of sale.

[Ray266]

o2 & EE are conning people they have got round what Ofcom have said & that is Mobile company's can't put up their prices in contact you have with them if so you can leave with no penalty, o2 & EE will have told customers it's the T&C's well stuff that. I got the same text from Vodafone they have had some stick over paying very little tax but at least they are playing fair when your in contract.

[Randomguy1]

I think the fixed price idea is great at least you know that your bills will stay the same in your contract if you don't go over the allowance.

[d123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray266

o2 & EE are conning people they have got round what Ofcom have said & that is Mobile company's can't put up their prices in contact you have with them if so you can leave with no penalty, o2 & EE will have told customers it's the T&C's well stuff that. I got the same text from Vodafone they have had some stick over paying very little tax but at least they are playing fair when your in contract.

Unfortunately OFCOM didn't say that and the networks are still allowed to increase their prices mid-contract. The big emphasis by OFCOM was more on how the networks make this increase known at point of sale (which is why EE for example, have it prominently on the website and paperwork now).

This is the full guidance:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin...t/guidance.pdf

From page 4, examples of acceptable increases:

Quote:

• Example 2: agreed prices

The subscriber agrees and enters into a 24-month contract on terms that the core subscription price will be £X per month for the first 12-months (or some other period) and £X + £Y (or £X + Y%) for the second 12-months (or some other period). On the basis that the relevant price terms are sufficiently prominent and transparent that the subscriber can properly be said to have agreed on an informed basis, at the point of sale, to the relevant tiered price(s), Ofcom would not regard the application of the agreed price in the second period as a modification of the contract capable of meeting GC9.6's material detriment requirement.

• Example 3: agreed prices

The subscriber agrees and enters into a 24-month contract on terms that the agreed core subscription price will be £X per month for the first 12-months (or some other period) and £X + RPI10 for the second 12-months (or some other period). On the basis that the relevant price terms are sufficiently prominent and transparent that the subscriber can properly be said to have agreed on an informed basis, at the point of sale, to the relevant tiered price(s), Ofcom would not regard the application of the agreed price in the second period as a modification of the contract capable of meeting GC9.6's material detriment requirement.

A1.15 As set out above, the position in examples 2 and 3 depends on the relevant price terms being sufficiently prominent and transparent that the subscriber can properly be said to have agreed on an informed basis, at the point of sale, to the relevant tiered price(s). Where that is so, the application of the agreed price(s) at the relevant time(s) would not be a modification of the amount he or she has agreed and is bound to pay. Most clearly, this proviso as to prominence and transparency could be met where CPs market offers, and enter into contract terms, in a way that sets out with equal prominence that the contract price is £X in period 1 and £Y in period 2 (or some other periods).11

[Gigabit]

They make up some rubbish about it matching inflation. Strange how prices don't go down when inflation drops (like it recently has).

[prking]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigabit

They make up some rubbish about it matching inflation. Strange how prices don't go down when inflation drops (like it recently has).

That's not how inflation works. Inflation is a rate of change so even if the numerical value of inflation is less than it was it still means that prices have gone up just not by as much as they did last time.

If we had deflation (a rate of inflation less than zero) then you might expect contract prices to go down.

[Gigabit]

We are about to have deflation.

[plymouthbloke1974]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigabit

We are about to have deflation.

For CPI possibly yes, albeit by a very slim percentage (possibly no less than 0.75%). RPI won't fall below zero.