Fone Forum

Dear all,

I have been using Vodafone's One Net Express service for the last 6-7 weeks and now that I've received my first bill, I thought it would be worthwhile to give a summary of my experience and what the service offers. Before going any further I will point out that I got the connection via Mikael and part of the reason for making this post is to confirm some details of the service, should anybody on the forum be interested in the product but unsure about going ahead.

The V-ONE (SIM ONLY via a dealer) service costs £42.50 + VAT per month and offers the following, on a 24 month contract.

- 1 mobile telephone number
- 1 geographic telephone number in the area code of your choice (no incoming call charges for calls terminated to your mobile)
- Conference calling
- Unlimited calls to 01/02/03 landlines (NO FUP according to Vodafone CS, no mention in documentation, contract or T&C's either)
- Unlimited calls to the "big 5" mobile networks (O2, Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile, Three) and also Manx Telecom (As above for FUP)
- Inclusive and unlimited calls to 0800, 0845, 0870, 0844, 0871 (As above for FUP)
- Unlimited text messages (including networks in the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey) (3000 sms per month FUP according to Vodafone CS)

What is currently NOT offered

- Inclusive calls to other mobile prefixes
- Inclusive calls to 0843, 0872 or 0873
- On-line access to the current months billing records/current balance

This particular variant of the tariff is only available via dealers, not from Vodafone directly and does not include any data allowance.

You can find more information about Vodafone One Net Express in general at the following URL http://www.vodafone.co.uk/business/business-solutions/unified-communications/vodafone-one-net-express/ (http://www.vodafone.co.uk/business/business-solutions/unified-communications/vodafone-one-net-express/).

davegr

Is this plan available to bussines customers only?

That's an interesting question. I tried to sign up using my trading name and the application was refused by Vodafone and it was then suggested I sign up under my personal name, which they did accept.

It is a product aimed at business customers but whether they insist on you being a business to get it is another matter which maybe Mikael can fill us in on.

I can confirm a few bits. Firstly I have now set myself up as a dealer for these connections and can provide them for less than Vodafone publish on their website and also supply a different version of the tariff without data. davegr got the version from me without data which costs £42.50 + VAT at the moment, and which is not published on the Vodafone website. Officially Vodafone claim this tariff is for business users only. However, as a dealer it seems I can get individuals signed up too. if anyone is interested in getting this connection, please PM me and I can initiate the process. The ongoing billing etc is all handled by Vodafone.

is it 1 month contract?

I believe it's a 24 months contract only.

I have just updated the initial post with some information regarding Fair Use Policies for this service and to mention that this particular tariff is not available directly from Vodafone, only via dealers and does not have a data allowance.

An additional bit of information which I have just learned, users on this tariff are able to get the Vodafone Sure Signal for free.

I have now had information from two sources that Vodafone are going to remove inclusive 08 calls from their One Net Express contrast at the end of November. This is apparently only going to affect new customers then, so if anyone wants inclusive 0871 calls, make sure you sign-up before then!

I have been cynical about this service ever since the first mention of it.  IMHO anything "too good to be true" is likely just that - *especially* if it involves Vodafone !         ::)

I think I will pass on this one, as I wouldn't put it beyond them to think up some excuse for removing the facility even from existing contracts at some point.
I know this could trigger some contracts being terminated on the grounds of a substantial change, but Vodafone could well count on a good number staying with them, just out of inertia, ( as our banks do all too often. )        ???

I was, am and always will be cynical regarding this service. I am the kind of person who takes a risk here and there though!

If they only apply the removal of 08 numbers to new customers, then that's fine. If they decide to apply it to everybody, that is a substantial change which will easily warrant termination of the contract without any penalty. I actually wouldn't be surprised if Vodafone uses excessive 08 calls as a reason to terminate the contract themselves!

Actually I did have to call VF recently to ask why I'm being charged for 0800 calls, according to the "unbilled" tab on my account. They told me it's an error and will be credited when the bill is produced. They also confirmed at the time (about 2 weeks ago) that there are no planned changes regarding inclusive 08 calls.

I have just spoken to the One Net team and they have told me that there are no changes to be made to the way 08 numbers are billed. You know what customer service teams are like though, always the last to know!

BAD NEWS, VERY BAD NEWS

It seems that the One Net Express offer has changed. If you go to http://www.vodafone.co.uk/business/business-solutions/unified-communications/vodafone-one-net-express/index.htm there is now totally different content to previously. If you then click on "Single User Plans" it takes you to a new page, where if you scroll down, you can see a whole load of totally new One Net Express offers, which unfortunately do not seem to offer either unlimited minutes, nor inclusive 08 numbers.

Typical bloody Vodafone! ::)

Vodafone will have to pry my existing contract from my cold dead hands! They finally realised that they made a very stupid offer I guess....

Mobaholic will be long soon to say "I told you so" regarding Vodafone making sudden changes I'm sure :D

Mikael, do you have any input regarding the continued availability of the SIM only One Net Express deal you are selling?

Well I have not been informed that I cannot sell it any longer, but rumors suggest that it will stop at the end of November. Quotes I issue are supposed to remain valid for 30 days, so if anyone wants one, I can still try and get them for a little while, but time is running out.

No davegr, I shall be far more restrained than that !        ;)

I am sorry if anyone has hassles, or needs to cancel their contracts if inclusive 08 calls are removed.        :'(

My cynicism about this deal was based on my experience of dirty tactics practiced by the 'rats' - who think they are 'gods'.       ;)

I know where you can SIM get this contract. Has to be with a phone as they dont do SIM only.

I get good rates on NGN also, let me know PM if int.

sorry for delay, one net still sold here: http://www.onenetexpress.co.uk/

Mikael- Is your offer for this sim still available?

I believe Mikael is on holiday but as one of his customers I can answer that it's no longer available.

Thanks Davegr, so it's only available from foneman123's link above at the more expensive price of £55 + vat per month?

That is not a sim only deal and I have no idea whether the offer on that site is still valid.

Thanks davegr.

I can confirm that the Vodafone One Net Express tariff is still available but not in SIM only form. The offer on the www.onenetexpress.co.uk site is still valid, however Vodafone now states a 3000 minute fair use policy.

Do you any link to the vodafone FUP limit? If it's 3000 minutes, this expensive contract (£55 + VAT) may not be worth I think!!

At that price each minute costs £0.022 which isn't too bad.

I don't know anywhere that FUP is published but it was very clearly stated during the verification call with Vodafone.

2.2p per minute is still a lot if you can't use it much for revenue sharing purpose. Interestingly, I was told no FUP during verification call.

Perhaps it's something they've only just started to do, or perhaps the person I spoke to was mistaken. Either way, I don't think anybody should expect to get away with more than 3000 minutes.

Not on a normal tariff, but you could go beyond 3000 minutes if genuinely used for a business purpose.

This helps me to go through the t&c and all small prints seriously when I get the contract. If there is any mention of FUP, I might well cancel it and wait for the t-mobile contracts with 08 minutes. I am guessing they will be sim only and much cheaper.

To the best of my recollection what was actually said during the verification call was "You have unlimited minutes calling to fixed lines and mobiles, with a 3000 minute fair use policy for each of those... [other stuff]... you can also call 08 numbers free of charge."

This suggests you can get away with 3000 minutes to fixed lines, another 3000 to mobiles and I don't know how the 08 numbers would fit in. Vodafone have been very unclear all along.