Direct Debit to Credit Card?

[ItziBitzi]

Hey guys,

does anybody know if there are any other payment methods than direct debit on Vodafone UK pay monthly?

Problem is that I am about head home to Germany for the Holidays and noticed that there is not enough funds on my account for the direct debit which is due on the 24th. I'd love to settle the amount by credit card, which would be available to me.

I consider calling them up to see if I can make a "one off payment" by credit card and pick up the direct debit again next month... Or continue paying by credit card. Is either of that possible?

Thanks,
Itzi

[edwardpeter]

Hi ItziBitzi,

Other than paying by Direct Debit, you can always call Vodafone and make one off payments over the phone with a credit or debit card.

There is also an option known as Continuous Credit Card Mandate which is similar to a Direct Debit but goes from a credit card instead.
You can even pay by sending a cheque in each month, but any of these options other than Direct Debit do incur a monthly payment administration fee of £3.
There's also the risk of forgetting to pay or being somewhere you're unable to contact us, so generally we recommend Direct Debit as the best option.

Hope this helps,

edwardpeter
Vodafone UK

[ItziBitzi]

Thanks Edward! That was very helpful. Called your colleagues up for before leaving and the whole process was very fast. Hope it all worked out. Is there way for me to check if payment went through online in my Vodafone account?

I also was asked to cancel my Direct Debit manually, which I did as advised. According to the lady this was done to make sure that I am not going to get billed again with the same amount. That kinda worries me, as I am afraid that I'll suddenly end up with a locked telephone or so if Vodafone tries to withdraw and gets a declined message. Hope they'll definitely check for "one offs" then. But yeah, I hope it's all turning out good...

[techgirl]

Hi ItziBitzi,

You can check your payments online.

If you've already registered for Vodafone's Online Billing service you simply need to login (http://http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Page_AccReg_LoginService&pageID=MV_0000&SERVICE=MyVodafone&CONTEXT=MyVodafone&SUB_CONTEXT=MyVodafone&serviceRequested=MyVodafone) to your account and the payment will be displayed.

If you haven't registered you will need to do that first, if you click here (http://http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=template04&pageID=MV_0004&redirectedByRedirectsImplServletFlag=true) and select whether you're a Pay As You Talk or Contract customer you will then just need to fill in the required fields.

In regards to my colleague suggesting to cancel your direct debit, this is just a precaution. Your balance will now be showing as being paid so no money will be taken and your phone won’t be barred.

I hope this helps,

Techgirl
Vodafone UK

[ItziBitzi]

Thanks techgirl. I am registered there but I only see that the amount is suposed to be taken by Direct Debit on 24th, although it's been settled by a one off payment.

By the way, I also got a "Urgent message ... call us on ... about continued use of this handset before 8 today" text. Called them up. Obviously, the instruction cancel the Direct Debit caused the billing system to "complain", so the lady had to set it up again otherwise my account would have been suspended? I really like Vodafone and their mobile services so far, but the billing department or the handling seems like a total mess to me. My only intention was to make sure the payment goes through right as I am a new customer and did not to have a bad start into this "relationship", and now it just looks like I have caused problems by trying this. *sighs* Hope things will go right from here on...

[edwardpeter]

Hi ItziBitzi,

Unfortunately the Online Billing service won't show payments received until your next bill, it's not in real time as such (sorry for the misinfo about this before.)

As for the Direct Debit, sorry, I hadn't realised you were a new customer before. Vodafone ask that you pay by Direct Debit for at least the first three months of your contract, but it'll be fine to pay by the alternative methods after that.

Hope this answers your questions,

edwardpeter
Vodafone UK

[ItziBitzi]

thats fine, thanks anyway edward. I think it's all sorted now. :-)

3 months seems to be a "critical mark" at Vodafone. 3 months minimum for Direct Debit, 3 months before you get roaming activated, ... And I am sure there is more.

On a side note, should you check in here, Edward. I have a quick question not really worth a new thread. If I go to abroad before the 3 months, would I be able to "sign in" on any other network, or would I be locked out of any other network outside of the UK? I understand I can't make calls, but would it be possible to receive / send texts?

Thanks!

[edwardpeter]

Hi again ItziBitzi. It's normally only "International Calling" that would be disabled at the start of your contract, standard Roaming is normally active. This means you can call from another country back to the UK, as well as within that country, but you wouldn't be able to call to any other country when you're abroad or in the UK.

So if you're going abroad soon you should be able to make full use of your phone, depending on what the network in the country you're in supports (some won't work with MMS or internet for example.)

On the subject of travelling, you can find the Vodafone roaming charges here (http://www.abroad.vodafone.co.uk/).

I hope this helps,

edwardpeter
Vodafone UK