I have been a customer of vodafone for over 5 years, I use my phone a lot and would say that, in this industry I'm a pretty valuable customer (or at least you'd have thought). My issue is with the way that there upgrades work. I called them the other day to enquire about a new phone - i am after a email service and would need to get a new phone for this to work.

They told me that I would have to wait for 6 months until my current contract ends to then upgrade. I could take a new contract and get the phone I wanted for free, but would have to have a new number (and keep another contract running)

I could not believe that they'll not let a long-term customer upgrade their service, not even with a further tie-in! So, I asked them if i could downgrade my existing contract to their cheapest monthly payments, see out the contract (would cost me £90 over the 6 months) then go to another phone company, get a free 'new customer deal' (Orange do the phone i want) and then transfer my Vodafone number over.... They said yes!!

Brilliant, lose a 5 year, £60-£70 a month customer!! I feel so valued... maybe they'll stop sending me their crap in the post now!