Waiving connection fee with Vodafone?

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deathlysneer

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Wannabe Geek

Topic # 112250 2-Dec-2012 14:27

Hi guys

I'm currently in the process of moving house (rental) and I'm looking for a broadband/homeline provider. Now as many of you probably know, most ISPs charge a connection fee for phone and another one for broadband. Vodafone website says that it will waive the broadband connection if you sign up for 12 months (which I can cope with, even though I generally don't like fixed contracts - especially since I only have a 6 month lease). But I had a look around and most ISPs do charge a phone connection fee (vodafone charges $52.10, orcon $99) if there is no active phone line at the new address.
What got me excited about vodafone, was I found a page on their website that offered a "movers deal" where they would waive both the broadband AND phone connection fees...for existing customers. So I thought, "hey, surely they would want new customers too". So I gave them a call. http://www.vodafone.co.nz/broadband/moving-home/

Now I've heard some great things about vodafone from family and friends, so I was kind of disappointed when the call center guy told me if that's what it said on the website, than there was nothing he could more he could do for me. I asked if there was any other person that would be able to make that decision and he just gave me a straight no.

When I moved a few years ago, ISPs seemed to be much more flexible to get you to sign you up. And why existing customers are more important than new customers is a bit beyond me.

Have any of you had any luck recently in getting more flexibility with your ISP?

Cheers

johnr

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Reply # 725772 2-Dec-2012 15:20

The title of this thread does not reflect the actual query in anyway and is way off the mark when reading your post

Chorus charges Vodafone this fee is passed onto the customer,

Moving and connecting as a new customer are 2 different things and you are saying connect me as a moving customer and let me off the connection fee correct?

John

johnr

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Reply # 725789 2-Dec-2012 15:58

I see the thread title has now been edited by someone :)

sbiddle

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Reply # 725790 2-Dec-2012 15:59

ISP's all have to pay the same costs to Chorus when connecting a new customer.

deathlysneer

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Reply # 725800 2-Dec-2012 16:31

Yes, but what I'm saying is that they will waive the both the fee for existing vodafone customers when they move, but won't do the same for brand new customers. Why are new customers less important?

sbiddle

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Reply # 725805 2-Dec-2012 16:47

I think you're actually confused by the fees.

I don'ty understand exactly what you're trying to actually do. I'm guessing you're not a Vodafone customer right now, in which case moving fees won't apply.

As for new customers being less important, it's not something I would agree with. If you sign up as a new customer you get a free install.

deathlysneer

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 725808 2-Dec-2012 16:57

Maybe, I'm not being clear. On the vodafone website there's this:
Movers Deal - Home phone and broadband connection only (with a new 12 or 24 month contract)

The $153.30 fee is waived ($52.10 phone fee, and the $101.20 broadband connection fee) - for Home phone and Broadband connection only, this applies if there is not an active home phone line in the new house.

I don't see why this fee is different to a new customer moving into a house that doesn't have an active home phone. Isn't the cost to vodafone is the same no matter whether the customer is new or existing. Or is there some deal with chorus to transfer an active connection to another house with an inactive phone connection?

Cheers

sbiddle

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Reply # 725812 2-Dec-2012 17:11

I'm still confused. If you're not a Vodafone customer already you're not actually moving - you're a new customer. Vodafone don't charge connection fees for new customers if you sign a term contact.

deathlysneer

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Reply # 725814 2-Dec-2012 17:16

Yes they do, that's the whole point. There is no broadband connection fee but they still charge a $52.10 phone connection fee.

nitrotech

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Reply # 725837 2-Dec-2012 18:29

Yep I got stung with this when I put in new phone lines at work the so called free connection was charged for - they eventually reversed the charge but I agree this kind of stuff often isn't well documented.

hamish225

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Reply # 725843 2-Dec-2012 19:01

why do they need to charge this, with the cabinets i was told it could all be done remotely and all they had to do was press a button, so no going to the cabinets and physically connecting wires.

sbiddle

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Reply # 725844 2-Dec-2012 19:05

hamish225: why do they need to charge this, with the cabinets i was told it could all be done remotely and all they had to do was press a button, so no going to the cabinets and physically connecting wires.

In 99% of cases voice has nothing to do with cabinets (unless it's a cabient with a ISAM-V card in it using baseband IP or the VMUX solution) it's all from the NEAX exchanges.

chevrolux

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Reply # 725866 2-Dec-2012 20:20

hamish225: why do they need to charge this, with the cabinets i was told it could all be done remotely and all they had to do was press a button, so no going to the cabinets and physically connecting wires.

You were told wrong.

And regardless of any physical working needing to be done there is still provisioning work to be done, or as you put it, 'press a button'.

Jaxar

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Reply # 726603 4-Dec-2012 09:00

nitrotech: Yep I got stung with this when I put in new phone lines at work the so called free connection was charged for - they eventually reversed the charge but I agree this kind of stuff often isn't well documented.

Except in this case the OP has read the information documenting this and hasn't been surprised. He is however leaving a rather significant part out, the free modem for new customers.

The sign up deal is free BB connection ($99) and a free modem ($149). Phone connection fee is charged if you are installing a phone.

The movers deal recognizes that an existing customer with an existing VF modem probably doesn't want another and instead offers to cover the phone connection charge. I suggest calling sales and asking if you could opt out of the free modem and instead get a free phone install if this option suits you better than a free modem. You may also decide that essentially paying the ~$50 phone connection fee is worth it to get a new modem as backup or you may choose to on sell it. If you do choose to sell it however give support a call and get them to turn off auto-provisioning feature on your account.

Please note: I have a professional bias towards Vodafone.

deathlysneer

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Reply # 726613 4-Dec-2012 09:17

Jaxar: You may also decide that essentially paying the ~$50 phone connection fee is worth it to get a new modem as backup or you may choose to on sell it. If you do choose to sell it however give support a call and get them to turn off auto-provisioning feature on your account.

Yeah, I decided that it was worth it to get the free modem. So I've now signed up.

What is auto-provisioning? And why should it be turned off with other modems?

Cheers

Jaxar

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Reply # 726651 4-Dec-2012 10:44

deathlysneer:
Jaxar: You may also decide that essentially paying the ~$50 phone connection fee is worth it to get a new modem as backup or you may choose to on sell it. If you do choose to sell it however give support a call and get them to turn off auto-provisioning feature on your account.

Yeah, I decided that it was worth it to get the free modem. So I've now signed up.

What is auto-provisioning? And why should it be turned off with other modems?

Cheers

Auto provisioning means when you plug the vodafone supplied modem in our system will recognise the modem and automatically try to configure it to your current username and password. It also does this when you change your password. This is a convenient feature however if you sell the modem or give it away it is a good idea to get Vodafone to turn this feature off.

Please note: I have a professional bias towards Vodafone.