Changing iPhone plans

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vocalcity

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#25592 26-Aug-2008 14:47

I recently bought an iPhone on the $40 per month plan and received a handset subsidy. I don't intend to remain on this contract for the full two years but it still made sense for me to sign up to the plan as the ETC will be about the same as the subsidy.

Anyway... I'm a bit confused as to what happens if I move to a higher plan.

When I cancel my contract after 12 months would the early termination charge be the $40 plan ETC or the $60 plan ETC. In other words, if I move to a higher plan does that have any impact on the ETC I pay?

The lady at the Vodafone store said that moving to a higher plan would mean I incurr a greater ETC, but that doesn't make sense to me. She also said that you could just move down to the lowest plan before disconnecting and reduce the fee you pay.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Cheers!

tripp

3848 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#159906 26-Aug-2008 15:06

the way it use to work was the following, but this is for a you choose account not to sure about the iphone ones

I am on a you choose 60, I can move to any plan up from you choose 60 i.e. 120 200 whatever for free, i can then move back to a you choose 60 and pay no ETC as I am still in my contract.

However

If i signed up on a you choose 60 and then changed to a you choose 20 then I would need to pay some kind of ETC as my overall payment each month have dropped.

I would call vodafone and see if they say the same thing.

If they are going to charge you a ETC in 12 months time to change to a higher plan then i would suggest you pay the ETC and move to another provider (i.e. telecom, Nzcomms if they are up and running).

JoeBloggs

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#159922 26-Aug-2008 16:12

There's been no channel coms regarding exactly what you're saying but I know for a fact you can move to a higher iPhone plan without incurring any ETC's. You'll need to maintain this term (transfer), otherwise if you resign you will obviously incur the charge.

Strangely, with the Choose plans, you're permitted to switch to a lower plan without any penalties after just 6 months and you will then pay the new low plan ETC if you choose to cancel with Vodafone. It don't think it works this way with the iPhone plan - especially since you signed onto the lowest one anyway.

What are your intentions after 12 months? Vodafone won't charge you to transfer to a higher plan, but they most certainly will if you wish to resign and get the subsidies for a new term.

Inversely, should you transfer to a higher plan and then cancel, you will be charged the higher ETC.

vocalcity

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#159929 26-Aug-2008 16:26

Cheers for the ideas...

What I'm really wanting to know is: given that I expect to cancel my contract after 6-12 months, if I was to move up to a higher plan would I be required to pay a larger ETC, or does it remain based on the original plan I signed up for.

On the one hand, since I only received a subsidy and signed a contract for the $40 plan why should Vodafone penalise me with a higher ETC if I move up to a higher plan?

Assuming the ETC is based on what plan the customer is on at the time of disconnection: Say I move up to the $60 plan and then back down to the $40 plan after a couple of months. Does that mean my ETC would then be the $40 dollar ETC? If this is the case then why not just switch to the lowest plan before cancelling -- it would be silly to pay a higher ETC. This is pretty much what the lady in the Vodafone store said to me.

Might give Vodafone a call later on and see what they say.

JoeBloggs

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#159966 26-Aug-2008 19:35

CSR's used to permit a 'temporary transfer', that is temporarily moving up to a higher plan and then moving back down when business dies down or the customer wants to cancel. This is what you need to request but they are entitled to decline. Technically you should pay the higher ETC (I know it's a little silly), but if you're SUPER nice to the CSR, they might just oblige

actioncam

37 posts

Geek

#160297 27-Aug-2008 22:33

I'm not 100% sure about iphone plans but as far as I knew with the You Choose plans you pay the ETC of your original contract. If you signed a contract for a $40 a month plan, transferred up to an $80 plan and then cancelled it would be the ETC from the $40 plan. After all that is the original contract you signed and this contract only changes if you resign (not plan transfer only).

vocalcity

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#161985 3-Sep-2008 22:08

OK, I've been to see Vodafone to get the skinny on this.

I was told that I could shift plans at any time and the only way I'd pay a fee is if I was downgrading to a lower plan during the first 6 months after signing a contract for a higher plan. In other words, moving to a higher plan after signing for a lower one and then shifting back down does not incurr any penalty fees.

Changing from the $40 plan to the $60 plan has no effect on the ETC fee I pay - it is based on the original plan I signed for.

Hope this helps anyone else looking for clarification.