Another *&^%$# survey

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nix

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#13517 14-May-2007 17:41

I have just completed yet another Vodafone survey. This was about BestMate on account and my response to getting it. At the end it asked if I thought Bestmate was a good name for the concept for business customers. I said no. The next question was to suggest a name. I am not interested in suggesting names for them. I tried to bypass the page, without luck.

So I wrote this:

I have no idea. I am a customer who would just like you to get a move on and give me a better deal. Otherwise I am off to Telecom as soon as my contract ends.

At least I feel better. I got THE letter in the mail today. Six weeks of no customer service? Give me a break.

tonyhughes

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#70680 14-May-2007 18:12

Bestmate is not much of a name for a business service, but neither are 90% of other service names on any network!

IMO they should continue the use of the name simply because their customers already know it.

paradoxsm

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#70683 14-May-2007 18:34

At least they are doing serveys, they finally do realize they are lacking and are (slowly) patching things up, though it's gonna be hard to win back a lot of very annoyed customers, If only half knew how cheap it was to actually get out of the "You Choose" contracts.

nix

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#70692 14-May-2007 19:27

But we've been filling in surveys for months. I have probably done a half a dozen this year already. It's almost like this is a way of keeping customers on the hook.

I'm sure the BestMate decision was made a while ago.

grant_k

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#70694 14-May-2007 19:43

paradoxsm: If only half knew how cheap it was to actually get out of the "You Choose" contracts.

I had a look at this today...

I am 15 months into my 24-month You Choose 20 contract. To get out still costs $160 until the 18-month mark has passed. At that stage it drops to $30 I think it was.

I don't regard $160 as cheap when the monthly sub is only $20. How can Voda justify such a punitive exit fee regime?

alasta

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#70700 14-May-2007 21:14

Grant17: I am 15 months into my 24-month You Choose 20 contract. To get out still costs $160 until the 18-month mark has passed. At that stage it drops to $30 I think it was.

I don't regard $160 as cheap when the monthly sub is only $20. How can Voda justify such a punitive exit fee regime?

If you're on Choose 20 or Choose 60 on a 12 month contract, then your exit fee would range from $65 to $15 which is very reasonable. Unfortunately if you're on a higher plan or a 24/36 month contract, then early termination is more expensive as you rightly point out.

The lesson here is that if you're going to sign up for You Choose, it's not a smart idea to sign a contract for more than 12 months. The handset subsidies for longer terms aren't very generous, and cheap handsets are pretty capable these days anyway.

grant_k

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#70711 14-May-2007 22:01

alasta: The lesson here is that if you're going to sign up for You Choose, it's not a smart idea to sign a contract for more than 12 months. The handset subsidies for longer terms aren't very generous, and cheap handsets are pretty capable these days anyway.

Unfortunately, a 24-month contract was the only option available at the time I signed up

I already had a near-new handset, so I elected to take some extra free minutes each month (a whole TWO of them!!!) rather than a handset subsidy.

"subsidies for longer terms aren't very generous" is a HUGE understatement I think