Vodacom after death contract issues

[Ecco]

As you might know, with a contract Vodacom subsidises the handset over the 24-month period. When a contract is terminated prematurely, the outstanding value of the handset is calculated and that portion can be claimed from the estate as the phone as an asset obviously stays in the estate.

But the monthly service fees are wavered.

What happends if the estate does not wish to keep the phone and returns the handset?

 

[vodacom3g]

Typical response from a otherwise pathetic excuse for a company.

Thanks, love you too.....

If you've read the FAQ you'll know that Vodacom, the Network company, do not carry the contract with you, your SP does.

So, you need to ask your SP that question, dead or alive. I really have no clue.

 

[vodacom3g]

What happends if the estate does not wish to keep the phone and returns the handset?

I guess if it's within that initial 'cool-off' period, it could be OK, but remember Vodacom does not have a trade-in or pre-owned product line.

To take the analogy posted by others; if there is a car with an outstanding balance in the estate, you don't give the car back. Nor would you the phone.

Probably you'd sell the asset (car or phone) and settle the balance?

 

[Just_Ice]

Thanks, love you too.....

Ooo! V3G has a crush!!!

 

[semaphore]

Thanks, love you too.....

If you've read the FAQ you'll know that Vodacom, the Network company, do not carry the contract with you, your SP does.

So, you need to ask your SP that question, dead or alive. I really have no clue.

So Vodacom Direct isnt Vodacom?

 

[Syndyre]

In Vodacoms defense, if you cancel your contract any other way you don't get out free, why should you by dying? Would it be unethical for a bank to claim the loan I took from my estate also? When you sign the contract you do it knowing that you are bound for the full contract period... otherwise it wouldn't be a contract. Plus, I'm pretty sure all the other networks also operate thus.

Its standard business practice, not really surprising tbh, I'd be surprised if it was any other way.

 

[Syndyre]

So Vodacom Direct isnt Vodacom?

Its owned by Vodacom but its a separate company.

 

[Dolby]

Today I found out the following: If you take out a contract and you die one week later, they will claim the contract fees for the whole 24 months from your estate!!

Didn't happen to my dad, I think. I wasn't into the Estate and money and someone else handled it.

But they blacklisted my cellphone

 

[vodacom3g]

So Vodacom Direct isnt Vodacom?

Again, I'm not sure.

Basically there is a Network Company (Vodacom Pty. Ltd.) that builds and operates the network and put the various products together.

These are then sold by various SP's including VSP and others.

The 'broadband' angle would thus fall with the network company and that's where my involvement here on the 'mybroadband' forum comes in. Ask me about bits and bytes and I can normally help. But as soon as you ask me about pricing and contracts (especially on the voice side), you probably know more than me!

So any commercial question must go back to your SP.

 

[Peerie]

Would the service provider not give the next of kin the option of continuing the contract after the contract holder's death?

 

[semaphore]

Again, I'm not sure.

Basically there is a Network Company (Vodacom Pty. Ltd.) that builds and operates the network and put the various products together.

These are then sold by various SP's including VSP and others.

The 'broadband' angle would thus fall with the network company and that's where my involvement here on the 'mybroadband' forum comes in. Ask me about bits and bytes and I can normally help. But as soon as you ask me about pricing and contracts (especially on the voice side), you probably know more than me!

So any commercial question must go back to your SP.

Ok this the broadband is your area, can you tell the users and myself why last night vodacom's HSDPA was none existent with international? I mean it would take something silly like 5mins to open a simple page, and WOW's lag was in the 10's of thousands, problem with international links, do you know if this problem still exists, or have they fixed it?

 

[vodacom3g]

Ok this the broadband is your area, can you tell the users and myself why last night vodacom's HSDPA was none existent with international? I mean it would take something silly like 5mins to open a simple page, and WOW's lag was in the 10's of thousands, problem with international links, do you know if this problem still exists, or have they fixed it?

You probably want to pop over to the relevant thread to discuss this, but it seems everyone who use Telkom to get out on international had the same problem, even the ADSL guys.

We've asked for details, still awaiting an answer.

 

[kaspaas]

You should first check your coverage on the map before you even sign up.

We did just this before getting a 3G contract for an employee. It turned out the maps were wrong - no 3G where 3G was indicated.

VC did make a plan.

 

[vodacom3g]

Would the service provider not give the next of kin the option of continuing the contract after the contract holder's death?

They can do that, yes and do a transfer. This typically happens as you normally want to keep the number.

 

[LottaFun]

In Vodacoms defense, if you cancel your contract any other way you don't get out free, why should you by dying? Would it be unethical for a bank to claim the loan I took from my estate also? When you sign the contract you do it knowing that you are bound for the full contract period... otherwise it wouldn't be a contract. Plus, I'm pretty sure all the other networks also operate thus.

A loan is a different case. You have received funds. You have spend the funds. Thus the bank is entitled to be paid back. In this case, you have not made a single cell call. You have not used one single component of the infrastructure. You have just signed a piece of paper.

 

[onebrickshort]

This typically happens as you normally want to keep the number.

Why? it's not like dearly departed is going to be walking through the front door asking for his phone back is it

 

[LottaFun]

LottaFun, you're completely wrong here.

Won't you please post (or PM me) where you heard this story?

As pointed out above by others, contractually Vodacom could claim the full contract amount in such a case, but this is not done.

As you might know, with a contract Vodacom subsidises the handset over the 24-month period. When a contract is terminated prematurely, the outstanding value of the handset is calculated and that portion can be claimed from the estate as the phone as an asset obviously stays in the estate.

But the monthly service fees are wavered.

I physically went into the customer centre in Canal walk and was told this to my face by the consultant sitting behind the desk. If this is not true, then why would the consultant be so ill informed?

 

[Syndyre]

A loan is a different case. You have received funds. You have spend the funds. Thus the bank is entitled to be paid back. In this case, you have not made a single cell call. You have not used one single component of the infrastructure. You have just signed a piece of paper.

And been given a free cellphone.

 

[LottaFun]

To all the other comments that was placed about contracts:
Guys, we are not talking about a car, a loan or any item that has been used to buy stuff, driven, flown, drunk or anything like that. Nothing was used. It is not an upgrade. No fancy cellphones are involved. In this case, the phone used was a Nokia 8310 that came with a prehistoric contract.

I know all the pro's and con's of contracts, BUT, why would a billion rand company want to take a deceased's last cent although they know that he will never ever use their network? What makes it worse is that I asked, as this is a business contract with a high monthly fee, if we can downgrade it to a more affordable package. Once again the answer was NO. Only if we paid the full 24 month settlement fee could we downgrade. So the bottom line - you can upgrade anytime, but when things go wrong, the contract is pushed in your face!! It won't cost them a cent to downgrade. They won't lose any money, nothing, nada. Common decency is all that is required. A little cooperation. is all that is required and once again, these are not thumbsucks. It was told to me to my face.

 

[Syndyre]

To all the other comments that was placed about contracts:
Guys, we are not talking about a car, a loan or any item that has been used to buy stuff, driven, flown, drunk or anything like that. Nothing was used. It is not an upgrade. No fancy cellphones are involved. In this case, the phone used was a Nokia 8310 that came with a prehistoric contract.

I know all the pro's and con's of contracts, BUT, why would a billion rand company want to take a deceased's last cent although they know that he will never ever use their network? What makes it worse is that I asked, as this is a business contract with a high monthly fee, if we can downgrade it to a more affordable package. Once again the answer was NO. Only if we paid the full 24 month settlement fee could we downgrade. So the bottom line - you can upgrade anytime, but when things go wrong, the contract is pushed in your face!! It won't cost them a cent to downgrade. They won't lose any money, nothing, nada. Common decency is all that is required. A little cooperation. is all that is required and once again, these are not thumbsucks. It was told to me to my face.

If there was no free cellphone etc. then why sign a 24 month contract to begin with?