Upgraded and still need to pay off old device !

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RynoC

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Hi

I would like to know if Vodacom has always worked this way or is this some new hidden cost that I stumbled across.

Went to upgrade today as it was month 21, filled out all the papers and everything only to see them charge me for the next 3 months for my old device !!!

Why tell my that I can "upgrade" if I still need to pay off my old device, have they not made enough money out of me that I can upgrade and forget about the old phone.

Seriously disappointed with Vodacom.
 
RynoC said:
Hi

I would like to know if Vodacom has always worked this way or is this some new hidden cost that I stumbled across.

Went to upgrade today as it was month 21, filled out all the papers and everything only to see them charge me for the next 3 months for my old device !!!

Why tell my that I can "upgrade" if I still need to pay off my old device, have they not made enough money out of me that I can upgrade and forget about the old phone.

Seriously disappointed with Vodacom.
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Disappointed? Because you didn't understand the contract you signed?

Device repayment is 24 months.
 
Yes I did read it. This is how I found out about the cost, but unfortunately I already drove all the way to the shop to upgrade and as is human nature accepted these costs to get my new phone.

I just want to know if this is a new thing from Vodacom as all my previous upgrades had no such extra payments, unless I was oblivious to them.
 
I've upgraded early a few times and I'm pretty sure I didn't have to pay extra.
 
biometrics said:
I've upgraded early a few times and I'm pretty sure I didn't have to pay extra.
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Its not about paying extra. On your bill the device payment and contract costs are separate. When you upgrade in month 21,you still have 3 months left of the 24 month device payment cost.
Chevron said:
Never had that with MTN.

This should only happen with premature upgrade.
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Not sure how MTN does it, but that's how Vodacom works.
 
faniedry said:
Its not about paying extra. On your bill the device payment and contract costs are separate. When you upgrade in month 21,you still have 3 months left of the 24 month device payment cost.
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I was with Nashua a long time and I don't recall the device and contract itemised separately. Now with Vodacom it is.

I'm pretty sure I would have noticed if my debit order was a few R100 more than expected.

Not 100% sure though, will need to go look at old emails.
 
it makes sense.. you're not paying extra. you're just paying off what you still owe them. why would you think they'd scrap that? i know i wouldn't. you should be disappointed in yourself for believing otherwise.
 
biometrics said:
I was with Nashua a long time and I don't recall the device and contract itemised separately. Now with Vodacom it is.

I'm pretty sure I would have noticed if my debit order was a few R100 more than expected.

Not 100% sure though, will need to go look at old emails.
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Remember they only started doing it this way probably about 3 or 4 years ago. Before that it was all one thing, with payments upfront and wot not if you wanted a top range phone with a mediocre contract.
 
Doesn't sound unreasonable to me. Original contract was for 24 months. Therefore, you still owe 3 months worth of payments. The early upgrade is just that, an early upgrade. It doesn't negate the fact that you still owe them 3 months. Its why I upgrade on the 24th month. Just easier that way. However this time round, when I upgrade it will be on the 25th month.
 
faniedry said:
Remember they only started doing it this way probably about 3 or 4 years ago. Before that it was all one thing, with payments upfront and wot not if you wanted a top range phone with a mediocre contract.
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Ah yes, I remember those upfront payments. Ok so nowadays with an early renewal you continue paying for the device for a few months. Good to know. I didn't.
 
Tander said:
Doesn't sound unreasonable to me. Original contract was for 24 months. Therefore, you still owe 3 months worth of payments. The early upgrade is just that, an early upgrade. It doesn't negate the fact that you still owe them 3 months. Its why I upgrade on the 24th month. Just easier that way. However this time round, when I upgrade it will be on the 25th month.
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Not really. The early upgrade is incentive to stay with them for another two years, so normally they actually work the device to paid out over 22 months. One of the reasons why the cell networks seem more expensive when you work out the phone cost over 24 months.

If they've changed it to be what Fanie says then there's no incentive to early upgrade. Might as well wait for the 24months to be up and change networks.

So something doesn't right.
 
faniedry said:
Its not about paying extra. On your bill the device payment and contract costs are separate. When you upgrade in month 21,you still have 3 months left of the 24 month device payment cost.

Not sure how MTN does it, but that's how Vodacom works.
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It is not how Vodacom worked a while back when I did contracts... so please correct your statement to say "It's standard procedure now"... :p
 
Chevron said:
Not really. The early upgrade is incentive to stay with them for another two years, so normally they actually work the device to paid out over 22 months. One of the reasons why the cell networks seem more expensive when you work out the phone cost over 24 months.

If they've changed it to be what Fanie says then there's no incentive to early upgrade. Might as well wait for the 24months to be up and change networks.

So something doesn't right.
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Oh okay that makes sense then.
 
faniedry said:
Its not about paying extra. On your bill the device payment and contract costs are separate. When you upgrade in month 21,you still have 3 months left of the 24 month device payment cost.

Not sure how MTN does it, but that's how Vodacom works.
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I understand that the contract is for 24 Months but I have never had to pay for my old device when I upgraded before. Will definitely take note from Tander and upgrade or change over after 24 Months from now on.
 
RynoC said:
I understand that the contract is for 24 Months but I have never had to pay for my old device when I upgraded before. Will definitely take note from Tander and upgrade or change over after 24 Months from now on.
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No, rather just ask in store.

Could be the franchise is ripping you off, or you upgraded 1 month early. Normally upgrade is in month 22.
 
It has has happened to me a couple of times (MTN). The first time it was explained that the devices are often subsidised and if you upgrade before month 24, you need to pay the outstanding subsidised amount.
 
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