[chicken247]

Hi,

Sorry, this is quite long, but I think I need to explain everything....

I took my Samsung U700 into a Vodafone store in late January because the charger plug wouldn't fit into the point on the phone. When they took it they listed it as being in excellent condition.

I have just heard back that they will not fix it under warranty and want to charge £40 because, as they say, it is not a normal breakage and it must have been my fault by pushing something into the hole. The charger has never gone in that easily, but needed some wobbling to get in. My mother always said if you need to force something it doesn't want to be there so I am never hard with it.

I have had the phone since late July, and have taken to always carrying it around wrapped up in a sock in the phone section of my handbag. The charger point is always covered except when charging, which is done at the same place every time and I never use the phone while it is plugged in. I have never dropped the phone either. I am not normally so protective of my phones, but I find it a horrible phone that I have always thought of as very flimsy, and if it is not protected like this (such as just put in your pocket) it can unlock itself by pressing the centre button 7 times and send text messages to everyone in your inbox. I had it once in my pocket for 5 minutes in November and it send 17 texts and phoned 3 people. Covering it with a sock (although looking tacky) is the only way to stop this.

The point of all that was to say I look after it very well, and have certainly never forced anything into the charging point. In fact, the person who took it in the store tried to force the charger in harder than I ever have with banging it to get it to go in further (after first implying I was stupid for not being able to plug it in myself).

Has anyone got any advice for what I should do - pay up, protest, or just forget it and leave it with them? I do not have a spare handset at the moment so I would have to buy a new one....but I can't believe that a phone should break so easily inside in under 6 months. I am also a bit sad about the way I was treated both when I took the phone in and when they called about the repair cost - very much implying that I was inept at using a phone.

The other thing that worries my is the paper work they gave me when taking my phone said it was on an 18 month contract from October. I agreed to a 12 month contract in July and did not speak to Vodafone in October (actually I was overseas at the time that this 18 month contract was supposedly started). I don't want to fight with anyone, but I don't want to be with Vodafone for longer than I have to be if this is the way that I am treated.

Thanks for reading (if you made it through...)

Chicken

[prking]

Gosh, that sounds terrible to be teated that way. I would go to Citizens Advice or use the Consumer Direct website. They can advise what to do and also help sort out the contract.
I expect you will need to write to Vodafone explaining the situation. Mention how the person in the Vodafone store banged the plug in.
Hope you get some joy.

[tekgirl]

Hi Chicken,

I can understand that you're upset with the situation especially when you've obviously taken great care of your handset.

I would like to look into this for you along with your suspicions in relation to your contract length. Would it be possible for you to contact me via email? This can be done by completing Vodafone's online Contact form. Please ensure you fill in all the required fields to enable me to access your account, could you also include the code FIT135 so that the email is directed to my team.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Techgirl
Vodafone UK