Posted: 20th Dec, 2010 By: MarkJ
Mobile operator Vodafone UK has informed its
Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Mobile Broadband customers that, from
1st February 2011, they will only have a
2GB usage allowance top-up option but still pay the same price as before. The move effectively amounts to a price hike by stealth.
Customers, several of whom have vented their frustration in emails to us over the weekend, were informed about the change by a
newsletter on Saturday. Apparently the reason for cutting customers from a 3GB to 2GB top-up option is because 90% use less than 2GB.
Vodafone Newsletter
We’re changing how much UK data you get when you top up your pay as you go mobile broadband by £15. This change will begin on 1 February 2011 — and we’re making it because 90% of our customers use less than 2GB of data each month.
From 1 February 2011, a £15 TopUp will give you 2GB of UK data for 30 days. There’s every chance you won’t notice the change — but if you’re in the 10% of pay as you browse customers who use 3GB of UK data a month, you’ll simply need to top up a bit more regularly to keep benefiting from our award-winning mobile broadband.
Customers have already begun questioning Vodafone's decision and asking why, if their usage allowance is to be reduced by a third, the top-up price has not been cut to £10 instead of £15. Alternatively Vodafone could have simply introduced a 2GB option. Neither has happened.