Vodafone red network - Unfairly charged? Help

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hrpats

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#44291 26-Oct-2009 19:09

Hi guys,

I wanted help from you and wanted to know what can be done. In the past i had telecom landline account and offer came of vodafone red network. I signed up for $90 per/month where i was told i don't need to pay anything to transfer and as it is already wired i don't need to pay anything on wiring and maintance. Than 6 months i had a issue where i was not able to receive call or make calls for 3 week and it was fixed without hassel by vodafone, now similar thing happen a two months ago. i logged a service request to fix it. The person whom i speak said that you would be charged $200 if you haven't check some preliminary test, i did as what he said and confirm it has been done and asked if i would be charged . cutting short i was told not if i have done what he has asked. Chorus guy came and fixed it up. He said issue was with line and after few test he put the socket. On asking if i would be charge on this, he said no, you dont' need to worry it would be charged to vodafone. Now they have charged me . Callling them they say that i have to pay for it because i don't have monthly charges paying towards wiring and maintainence.

That's fine i know now.. but the actual questions is should i be charged if i was told no and shouldn't they tell me if they are going to charge me, because if they were i could have asked my landlord to take care of it.

I don't know what can be done.. only thing i thinking at moment is breaking contract with vodafone which will cost $199, but i am fed up and feel that i am being put down because i am on contract..

Please let me know if vodafone is right or should i take ahead this issue? please guide me..

rscole86

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#266992 26-Oct-2009 19:11

Breaking the contract will not fix it. That will just get the debt collectors onto you.

Where was the problem exactly? In your home?

The Chorus tech will not know what agreement you have with Vodafone, so their word is worthless.

hrpats

11 posts

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#266995 26-Oct-2009 19:14

chorus guy couldn't find the problem after few test.. so he went out of home and put another line and socket in home.. thanks..

rscole86

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#267005 26-Oct-2009 19:37

Ok, so they replaced something inside your house?

Wiring maintenance would have covered that.

Now, I AM NOT A LAWYER, but there may be some arguement about the landlord having to provide a working phoneline. Now, I am not saying they pay for your line rental, just that if they provided a phone line that was already installed, they may be liable for maintenance on that line.
That would depend on why it was not working though, ie if it stopped working due to something you did, then you would have to pay for it.

hrpats

11 posts

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#267006 26-Oct-2009 19:43

I have a wireless network setup.. other than rebooting wireless network and adsl adaptor.. haven't done anything at all to phone line.. Now i will also contact landlord about it.. thanks..

richms

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#267007 26-Oct-2009 19:46

The thing is without a proper demar point you cant test for that sort of stuff,

They have them in the UK, they have them in the USA, it should have come to NZ as soon as they allowed for the owner to work on internal wiring back in the 80's or whenever that was.

I had a big argument with telecom over mums place (which has no wiring maintanance because its a rort) - line got a loud hum and no incoming calls.

Faults said it was outside the house and that there would be no charge. Sweet I thought and had them send a tech.

Turns out it was inside the house and I would have found it easily if they hadnt given me misinformation. Got a refund on the charge anyway.

If there was a proper demarc instead of a stupid white square box with a cable going in one side and out the other then there would be no problem testing it before arranging a callout.

Richard rich.ms

hrpats

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#267017 26-Oct-2009 19:59

you are right..

now i did a test as they asked.. i tried and they found nothing. so the tech guy from vodafone on phone while i was logging request said that if you have done what he has asked i need not worry as it won't be charge.. i confirmed twice and at moment i can recall saying him if it's going to be charge leave it .. because at moment i wasn't in condition to pay the charges for it..

also i just now gave a call to landlord and as per them they are not liable to provide phone line as part of rental agreement and so they are not liable for any maintainence cost (even though line was there when i rented this place)

hellonearthisman

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#267021 26-Oct-2009 20:15

You might be able to request a recording of that telephone call as they are recorded.

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alvstar2001

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#267153 27-Oct-2009 10:43

call vodafone - again
tell them exactly everything you told us, about how the csr said you wouldn't get charged, and ask them to check their records if he has stated that their is a charge for internal wiring, or talk about wire maintainance. if they say yes, ask for a screen shot or print out (they shouldn't be able to edit it if the job is closed).. and if your'e lucky and they didn't take note of the possible charges, than easy money back! cheers

alvstar2001

simon14

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#267221 27-Oct-2009 13:01

I believe the landlord does have to provide you with a working phone line.

It's the same as plumbing, electricals etc.... you would get the landlord to cover the cost of repairing.

richms

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#267260 27-Oct-2009 14:14

You can believe all you like, but its not true. There is no requirement to provide for, or allow for the installation of an analog phoneline.

Richard rich.ms

simon14

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#267264 27-Oct-2009 14:18

That's crap!

The phone line is just the same as the plumbing or the power lines.... why should the tenant pay to fix the landlords internal phone lines?

If the tenant does pay to fix the landlords phone lines, then can they break them again when they go to leave?

Bung

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#267278 27-Oct-2009 14:47

The question you should be asking is why it cost a minimum $200 to get the fault fixed. Even a Telecom line has a minimum diagnostic fee of $81 plus ongoing labour and parts. Compare that with service fees for household appliances.

alvstar2001

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#267285 27-Oct-2009 15:00

for Telecom its $81 if proven to the customer's equipment, i.e ph's, adsl cpe, etc.. or if does not pay the mwire maintaince than its still $81.. if proven to wire maintainance, than customer has choice for tech to fix the fault for the extra charge of something like $70/hr, plus material.. ontop of the $81.. but with the landlord, if its in some contract than your screwed, but im 80% sure they are responsible for your internal wiring faults, so the voda rep should have reffered you to tell the landlord of the possible charges if proven to internal wiring.. etc etc.. at the end, i believe you can get a rebate for this.. i believe the error is with the csr

alvstar2001

rscole86

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#267286 27-Oct-2009 15:03

richms: You can believe all you like, but its not true. There is no requirement to provide for, or allow for the installation of an analog phoneline.

While you are correct, that they do not have to provide a phone line, IF they did provide one, then they would be responsible for its reasonable up keep.

quickymart

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#267374 27-Oct-2009 18:23

simon14: That's crap!

The phone line is just the same as the plumbing or the power lines.... why should the tenant pay to fix the landlords internal phone lines?

If the tenant does pay to fix the landlords phone lines, then can they break them again when they go to leave?

I think you would find any damage caused would come out of your bond when you left.

And no, there is absolutely no legal requirement for a landlord to provide a working telephone line.