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Cellular Phone Forum / Country Specific / UK Group / May 2008Will Vodafone PAYG expire?
I've just bought a Vodafone SIM and fully registered it on PAYG and topped it up with £10. I will be leaving the Nokia 3310 in my glove box as an emergency phone but am concerned they may disconnect the phone if not used as it mentions something about this in the booklet that came with the sim, but its not clear. I've put my old Orange Sim with it I know it does not disconnect, but does anyone have experience of leaving a Vodafone PAYG unused for a year or two with paid for credit left on it? Surely they can't disconnect it if I have credit left on it? Graham > I've just bought a Vodafone SIM and fully registered it on PAYG and topped > it up with £10. I will be leaving the Nokia 3310 in my glove box as an [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > can't disconnect it if I have credit left on it? > Graham Orange can cut off a sim after 6 months of disuse Vodafone are the worse for cutting off an unused Sim. as little as 3 months is enough. Make sure you make a chargeable call at least every 3 months Or go for a Virgin Sim, although like most networks they can cut a Sim off after 6 months of disuse, i've never known them to do so. Best of all is to get an Orange OVP Virgin by transfer. There is No expiry on them, and a free IB every month. Steve Terry >> I've just bought a Vodafone SIM and fully registered it on PAYG and >> topped [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Steve Terry Thanks for advise. Outrageous if any firm cut it off with paid for credit still on phone. Close to theft, but suppose the terms and conditions cover them in this morally questionable practice. My Orange PAYG Sim has been active since 1997 and hardly ever used it, (probably no more than 5 calls in all that time). I have another Orange PAYG Sim that does get regular use. Perhaps their system is aware of that and doesn't cut the unused Sim for that reason, but doubt they are that clever. Are they? Only reason I have setup the Vodafone sim is coverage around here is poor on Orange. Its unlikely I will make a call on this sim within 6 months minimum, so we will see what happens. The only reason I topped it up with their minimum (£10) was to try to keep it active. If they still cut it through non use, I will never, ever use Vodafone again. I suppose I'm not going to put much money there way, but ten quid is ten quid. If they don't cut it, who knows, I might even use them for my main phone in time and I get through about £100 a year on that. Not a high user, but surely worth my custom? I'm new to this group, so could you clarify what Orange OVP and IB mean. Thanks. Graham. > Thanks for advise. Outrageous if any firm cut it off with paid for credit > still on phone. Close to theft, but suppose the terms and conditions cover > them in this morally questionable practice. The reason for it is that otherwise the available number space would slowly be used up on SIMs that had been lost or discarded before their final balance had been used up. What they ought to do is give you the number back on a new SIM if you ask, assuming it hasn't already been reallocated.  SignatureDave mail da ve@llondel.org (without the space) http://www.llondel.org So many gadgets, so little time >> Thanks for advise. Outrageous if any firm cut it off with paid for credit >> still on phone. Close to theft, but suppose the terms and conditions [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > back > on a new SIM if you ask, assuming it hasn't already been reallocated. Yes but for Voda to reduce it from the usual 6 months to 3 is simply greed Steve Terry > > The reason for it is that otherwise the available number space would > > slowly [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > > Yes but for Voda to reduce it from the usual 6 months to 3 is simply greed Good job they didn't then (or if they did they restored it to 6 months). -- Andy <snip> > Only reason I have setup the Vodafone sim is coverage around here is poor > on Orange. Its unlikely I will make a call on this sim within 6 months [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Thanks. > Graham. I had a Voda PAYT they cut it off after 3 months and I lost about 15quid of credit. Voda simply pointed out their new T&Cs to me. I won't use Voda PAYT again. Also from next month Voda are charging 15p minimum call charge! Orange OVP Virgin is now a defunct tariff that can now only be got by transferring from a existing owner. It's a never ending zero monthly rent contract, with free Itemised Billing (IB) mirroring Virgins charge rates. Sometimes one comes up for sale on uk.adverts.telecom.mobile or eBay I have one and sometimes don't use it for months, I can count on it never ending. The main use I have for it it's free Voicemail means I can use it to check voicemail for free on my other Orange phones, and deposit free Voicemail into other Orange phones also for free Steve Terry >>> I've just bought a Vodafone SIM and fully registered it on PAYG and >>> topped [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > Thanks for advise. Outrageous if any firm cut it off with paid for credit > still on phone. No it isn't, it is in the terms and conditions you agreed to. >Close to theft, No it isn't. Go and look at the definition of theft, then read the terms and conditions you agreed to! >but suppose the terms and conditions cover them in this morally >questionable practice. It isn't a questionable practice just because you don't like it. You had a choice to buy something else but didn't, so you agreed to the terms and conditions. It's not that difficult to understand. >My Orange PAYG Sim has been active since 1997 and hardly ever used it, >(probably no more than 5 calls in all that time). I have another Orange >PAYG Sim that does get regular use. Perhaps their system is aware of that >and doesn't cut the unused Sim for that reason, but doubt they are that >clever. Are they? They don't link PAYG accounts in such a way, each purchase is covered by the terms and conditions you choose not to recognise or agree with after purchase. > Only reason I have setup the Vodafone sim is coverage around here is poor > on Orange. Its unlikely I will make a call on this sim within 6 months > minimum, so we will see what happens. How pointless, you already know what will happen. >The only reason I topped it up with their minimum (£10) was to try to keep >it active. If they still cut it through non use, I will never, ever use >Vodafone again. Do you really think £10 means anything to them? Your tiny spend is nothing compared to a lot of people. I doubt they would miss you. >I suppose I'm not going to put much money there way, but ten quid is ten >quid. If they don't cut it, who knows, I might even use them for my main >phone in time and I get through about £100 a year on that. Not a high user, >but surely worth my custom? Not really because the accounts are not linked in such a way. They don't care if you have hundreds of phones, if you don't stick to the terms and conditions then they will take action. > I'm new to this group, so could you clarify what Orange OVP and IB mean. > Thanks. I take it you have a working web browser and can use sites such as Google? > Graham. <snip> >> Thanks for advise. Outrageous if any firm cut it off with paid for credit >> still on phone. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > and conditions > you agreed to! Voda counted on the fact that most didn't read the new T&Cs they've created to rip off their customers. A calculated means to take money immorally, is close to theft Voda PAYT won't be taking any more of my money Steve Terry > Voda PAYT won't be taking any more of my money I can't see why anyone would choose Voda PAYT instead of Asda. > > Voda PAYT won't be taking any more of my money > > I can't see why anyone would choose Voda PAYT instead of Asda. Anyone who's a mainly off-peak user, or a roaming user. 20 min off-peak call to any network - 30p. 10 min roaming call off-peak to any UK landline/mobile - £1.75. Which PAYT can beat those? What do Asda charge? -- Andy Hi, Just to give the Vodafone slant on this to clear up about disconnections for pay as you talk. With a pay as you talk number, excluding those that are part of a Vodafone family group, if you don't top up your number or make a chargeable call for 180 consecutive days, your number will be placed into quarantine for 90 days. In the 90 days you'd need to top up by at least £15.00 which would then automatically re activate your number again. If after 180 consecutive days of none use and then 90 consecutive days of quarantine, you don't take any action, your number would be disconnected. This is to make way for new numbers and so that after so many months the number can be recycled for a new user. Any credit balance would be forfeited. With customers that are part of a family group, due to how family works and that you don't actually need to top up or use credit on the number, you wouldn't be subject to disconnection rules. I hope this clears it up for you, this info is part of the pay as you talk terms. The 90 day quarantine period is there to give you the chance to take action by way of topping up to reactivate the number again. Thanks for listening. Hopefullyuseful Vodafone UK Hi, Just to give the Vodafone slant on this to clear up about disconnections for pay as you talk. With a pay as you talk number, excluding those that are part of a Vodafone family group, if you don't top up your number or make a chargeable call for 180 consecutive days, your number will be placed into quarantine for 90 days. In the 90 days you'd need to top up by at least £15.00 which would then automatically re activate your number again. If after 180 consecutive days of none use and then 90 consecutive days of quarantine, you don't take any action, your number would be disconnected. This is to make way for new numbers and so that after so many months the number can be recycled for a new user. Any credit balance would be forfeited. With customers that are part of a family group, due to how family works and that you don't actually need to top up or use credit on the number, you wouldn't be subject to disconnection rules. I hope this clears it up for you, this info is part of the pay as you talk terms. The 90 day quarantine period is there to give you the chance to take action by way of topping up to reactivate the number again. Thanks for listening. Hopefullyuseful Vodafone UK And do we get a warning before all this happens? >Hi, >Just to give the Vodafone slant on this to clear up about [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >of quarantine, you don't take any action, your number would be >disconnected. You mean stolen > This is to make way for new numbers and so that after >so many months the number can be recycled for a new user. As if you need new numbers > Any credit balance would be forfeited. > > As i said stolen > > Thanks for listening. Thanks for proving you don't >Hopefullyuseful >Vodafone UK Yes very useful in confirming with an attitude and policy like that to never use Voda PAYT ever again Steve Terry > > This is to make way for new numbers and so that after > >so many months the number can be recycled for a new user. > > > As if you need new numbers Recycling the numbers must be done at some stage - with many people upgrading their phone every year or 2 and often getting a new SIM with the new phone, if they didn't recycle the numbers we'd soon run out. I read somewhere that the average person has something like 4 SIMs - that's not far off the 300 million limit on the 077/078/079 range. They're already having to add 075 to the mobile range. Although I think 9 months is a little soon - maybe a couple of years. > > Any credit balance would be forfeited. > > > As i said stolen If you think unused credit being forfeited after 9 months is being "stolen", then what about all those rip-off contracts where you pay for a number of minutes per month, and if you don't use them by the end of the month they are "stolen"?? After just *one* month, not 9!! -- Andy >> > This is to make way for new numbers and so that after >> >so many months the number can be recycled for a new user. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > end of the month they are "stolen"?? After just *one* month, not 9!! > Andy Most contracts cover the real cost of the phone, with mins and maybe text chucked in. Even if you never make any use of the contract you've got the phone, and if you are on a high mins contract you aren't using, you're on the wrong tariff Steve Terry > >> > Any credit balance would be forfeited. > >> > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Most contracts cover the real cost of the phone, with mins and maybe text > chucked in. Part of the cost is the minutes. Hence there is a price differential between a contract with more minutes but identical phone. > Even if you never make any use of the contract you've got the phone, > and if you are on a high mins contract you aren't using, you're on the wrong > tariff But if you use 80 mins a month you are unlikely to be able to get a 80 min contract, you have to get a 100 min contract and so waste 20 mins every single month. This is far bigger rip-off than losing your PAYG credit if you don't use the phone for 9 months. Some contracts are even worse I believe, and don't even allow you to roll forwards unused minutes. So if you average 100 mins per month but sometimes use 50 and sometimes 150, you lose 50 mins in the low usage months and have to *pay extra* for the additional 50 in the heavy use months! Makes a 9 month limit on PAYG credit sound positively generous! -- Andy >>>> I've just bought a Vodafone SIM and fully registered it on PAYG and >>>> topped [quoted text clipped - 83 lines] > > I take it you have a working web browser and can use sites such as Google? I hate your attitude fella. Sound like a right jobsworth to me. Why stick up for a giant firm? Who reads the Terms beyond the first couple of lines at most? If you do, show me the line that shows me they will steel my credit if I don't use the phone. I bet its not in there clearly written without ambiguity. Don't lecture to me about what I SHOULD HAVE READ. Who do you think you are sticking up for this highly dubious practice if it proves to be true. So they write in the T&C's that they can murder my children if I don't make a call within a few months. Still illegal aint it. Theft is illegal as its murder. Putting a caveat in the terms does not make it ok to break the law. This needs to be taken to court to get a precident set. Its simply wrong to close the account. At the very least they could inform me if a call is not made what they will do. They have all my details from the registration. Graham >>>>> I've just bought a Vodafone SIM and fully registered it on PAYG and >>>>> topped [quoted text clipped - 99 lines] > >Graham I think he does have a point about it being in the terms and conditions, however I agree with everyone else too that it is misleading, and I don't believe this is a good practice by Vodafone or other networks. I think Vodafone customer service is magnificent, no one else comes close, however their prices are expensive and it looks like some of their practises like this disconnection business after only a few months non-use is a bit ridiculous. I'd like to stay with Vodafone but switching from contract to PAYG/T, however may go to another network due to the costs, and also slightly because of this as well, I wouldn't ever want to be disconnected or lose my number. John > I think he does have a point about it being in the terms and > conditions, however I agree with everyone else too that it is [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > because of this as well, I wouldn't ever want to be disconnected or > lose my number. Before you switch because of the cut-off issue I'd suggest you read their actual T&C's rather than rely on what people claim about them. Link below. Vodafone PAYG is expensive peak but pretty good value off peak (eg an hour for 30p to any network - you need to sign up to stop the clock but it's free). http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true& _pageLabel=template12&pageID=PTC_0006 -- Andy <SNIP> >> Thanks for advise. Outrageous if any firm cut it off with paid for credit >> still on phone. > > No it isn't, it is in the terms and conditions you agreed to. I see the Tiscali idiot has morphed again. Nice to see that Tiscali have finally got shut of him off though. SignatureUnlock Your Phone's Potential www.UselessInfo.org.uk www.ThePhoneLocker.co.uk www.GSM-Solutions.co.uk > Vodafone are the worse for cutting off an unused Sim. > as little as 3 months is enough. > Make sure you make a chargeable call at least every 3 months Where *is* it you get this 3 month cut off from? I'm sure we've had this conversation before (or maybe with someone else on here), the Vodafone T&C's do NOT state they cut you off after 3 months. It's 6 months (or 180 days to be pedantic). http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true& _pageLabel=template12&pageID=PTC_0006 -- Andy >> Vodafone are the worse for cutting off an unused Sim. >> as little as 3 months is enough. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true& _pageLabel=template12&pageID=PTC_0006 > Andy They did it to me when I first went on to Smartstep from Allcalls. Looks like they have gone back to 6 months. Steve Terry On 24 Apr, 09:17, "Andy Pandy" <spam8ti...@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote: > > Vodafone are the worse for cutting off an unused Sim. > > as little as 3 months is enough. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > -- > Andy Who cares what it says? It's what they actually do that counts People are asking advice about which SIM to have as a spare with low use, and I'd put Vodafone 6th out of 6 of the main networks plus Virgin On other networks, sufficient activity to keep the SIM valid can be just an incoming call; maybe even a text is enough, but I haven't checked that. Vodafone don't tolerate that and expect chargeable events. And they may disconnect it even if there is. They disconnected mine, and after the first CS person was blunt and actually abusive and hung up the phone, I called back and succeeded in getting a manager to switch the SIM on again, after she agreed I'd used the phone. But she couldn't clarify whether I'd be back on the old tariff which no longer existed (off-peak calls 5p/min had gone to 10p); nobody else could answer this on 2 subsequent calls. At this point you must top up fairly soon (maybe 30, maybe 90 days) or they will dump it again. Well, that's what they say but mine was gone again in less than 3 weeks. I managed to get it switched on again, but on the third wrongful disconnection I gave up. For people who want the SIM to stay alive longest with low activity, I'd suggest 3 or Virgin. But most will stay alive with just incoming calls, like 2 Orange I have from ex-contract which have never been topped up and are over 3 years old. One was lost and the number transferred to a new SIM which then got disconnected after about 4 months, but was switched on again within 5 minutes when I rang up to enquire about it In news:7e009589-191a-4ce1-ac1e-53ca8cb10e9d@s50g2000hsb.googlegroups.com, andy <andy.ggrps@googlemail.com> typed, for some strange, unexplained reason: [snip] : People are asking advice about which SIM to have as a spare with low : use, and I'd put Vodafone 6th out of 6 of the main networks plus : Virgin I've got a Virgin SIM I haven't used for over a year. I keep it in the car glovebox as an emergency phone if I forget mine when I go out. Just checked it and the £7 credit is still there. Ivor > > > Vodafone are the worse for cutting off an unused Sim. > > > as little as 3 months is enough. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > else on here), the Vodafone T&C's do NOT state they cut you off after > > 3 months. It's 6 months (or 180 days to be pedantic). http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?... > Who cares what it says? > > It's what they actually do that counts Yes - they've given me 190 days, see my other post. > People are asking advice about which SIM to have as a spare with low > use, and I'd put Vodafone 6th out of 6 of the main networks plus [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > getting a manager to switch the SIM on again, after she agreed I'd > used the phone. So they screwed up - they agree that they shouldn't have cut you off. > But she couldn't clarify whether I'd be back on the > old tariff which no longer existed (off-peak calls 5p/min had gone to > 10p); Yup - but the 10p is now to any network, whereas the 5p was only landlines/Vodafones, it was something like 35p x-net. I still prefer the old tariff and my wife's main SIM is on that (15p for an hour off-peak - who can beat that?) -- Andy On 24 Apr, 09:17, "Andy Pandy" <spam8ti...@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote: > > Vodafone are the worse for cutting off an unused Sim. > > as little as 3 months is enough. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > -- > Andy Who cares what it says? It's what they actually do that counts People are asking advice about which SIM to have as a spare with low use, and I'd put Vodafone 6th out of 6 of the main networks plus Virgin On other networks, sufficient activity to keep the SIM valid can be just an incoming call; maybe even a text is enough, but I haven't checked that. Vodafone don't tolerate that and expect chargeable events. And they may disconnect it even if there is. They disconnected mine, and after the first CS person was blunt and actually abusive and hung up the phone, I called back and succeeded in getting a manager to switch the SIM on again, after she agreed I'd used the phone. But she couldn't clarify whether I'd be back on the old tariff which no longer existed (off-peak calls 5p/min had gone to 10p); nobody else could answer this on 2 subsequent calls. At this point you must top up fairly soon (maybe 30, maybe 90 days) or they will dump it again. Well, that's what they say but mine was gone again in less than 3 weeks. I managed to get it switched on again, but on the third wrongful disconnection I gave up. For people who want the SIM to stay alive longest with low activity, I'd suggest 3 or Virgin. But most will stay alive with just incoming calls, like 2 Orange I have from ex-contract which have never been topped up and are over 3 years old. One was lost and the number transferred to a new SIM which then got disconnected after about 4 months, but was switched on again within 5 minutes when I rang up to enquire about it > For people who want the SIM to stay alive longest with low activity, > I'd suggest 3 or Virgin. But most will stay alive with just incoming [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > months, but was switched on again within 5 minutes when I rang up to > enquire about it Just tried out an old Vodafone PAYG that has been sitting around for a heck of a lot longer than three months. Worked no problem, so they certainly arent disconnecting everyone at the three month point. Six months sounds more plausible, although I would have thought this phone must have been close to or even over that since last used. >> For people who want the SIM to stay alive longest with low activity, >> I'd suggest 3 or Virgin. But most will stay alive with just incoming [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Just tried out an old Vodafone PAYG that has been sitting around for a > heck of a lot longer than three months. The operable word there is "old" If it's Pre Smartstep, then that's when Voda changed their T&Cs I had an old Allcalls, and if i could find it it's probably still connected. Steve Terry > > For people who want the SIM to stay alive longest with low activity, > > I'd suggest 3 or Virgin. But most will stay alive with just incoming [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > more plausible, although I would have thought this phone must have been > close to or even over that since last used. Not even at 6 months!! I've just tried a SIM that came with a phone I bought my wife for Christmas 2006. The SIM was put into her old phone and forgotten about, it has never had a top up, only the £2 credit it came with. I've tried to remember to make the occasional call from it to keep it alive. Just checked now, the last outgoing call/text was on 6 November. Credit was £1.60. Made a call, it worked, credit now £1.50. So even after about 190 days, they've not cut it off ! -- Andy > I've just bought a Vodafone SIM and fully registered it on PAYG and topped > it up with £10. I will be leaving the Nokia 3310 in my glove box as an [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > unused for a year or two with paid for credit left on it? Surely they can't > disconnect it if I have credit left on it? Vodafone (like Orange) reserve the right to dosconnect after a period of time with no activity. On Orange the period is 180 days, on Vodafone it either 90 or 180 days. It's not always enforced though, but if you do go inactive for that period you risk being cut off. SignatureRegards Jon In article <lOadnf_xl-iujJPVnZ2dnUVZ8h2dnZ2d@metronet>, graham@nospam.com says... > I've just bought a Vodafone SIM and fully registered it on PAYG and topped > it up with £10. I will be leaving the Nokia 3310 in my glove box as an [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > can't > disconnect it if I have credit left on it? Vodafone (like Orange) reserve the right to dosconnect after a period of time with no activity. On Orange the period is 180 days, on Vodafone it either 90 or 180 days. It's not always enforced though, but if you do go inactive for that period you risk being cut off. SignatureRegards Jon I believe after 90 days of no calls/texts etc your sim goes into quarantine. When in quarantine you then have a further 90 days before the number will be completely disconnected. Also vodafone are launching a flat-rate 15p/min tariff on 1st May i believe which is much better than their current offerings. Note that the orange/vodafone network infrastructure's are merging sometime this year which should solve lots of coverage issues. > In article <lOadnf_xl-iujJPVnZ2dnUVZ8h2dnZ2d@metronet>, > graham@nospam.com says... <snip> > Note that the orange/vodafone network infrastructure's are merging > sometime this year which should solve lots of coverage issues. AFAIK that's only for mobile Broadband coverage, and 3 are sharing with T Mobile Steve Terry > I've just bought a Vodafone SIM and fully registered it on PAYG and topped > it up with £10. I will be leaving the Nokia 3310 in my glove box as an [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Graham It is very misleading. I bought one yesterday. In the Getting Started book (on page 7) it says "Just to let you know. If you don't make a chargeable call or top up your mobile for a full nine months, it will be disconnected" but in the "Small Print" near the back it mentions 180 days. Mike |
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