billed outside the contract period by 3

stibdog

Hi i signed up for a contract (18months) with 3 in december 06 which was due to run until june 2008. I assumed that as the contract period had ended i could just stop using the phone and i wouldn't be charged any longer. They like many other companies scam you into believing this when actually there is some rule about a 30 day disconnection period. This is basically another way to get another bill out of you before you leave. My question is, can i do anything to get out of paying these bills 3-4 months after the 18 month period? Are there any loopholes i can exploit? I asked for a copy of the contract and they said they wouldn't give me one.

Cheers.

Anon

In a word - no, there is no way out without notice. It was an 18 month minimum term contract (not an 18 month contract) - if you want to cancel, you have to give them 30 days notice (whihc you could have done 30 dayus before the 18 month was up, in month 17). This is all clearly detailed in the contract (which you should always read - in their case, it is in a document called The Small Print - there is a thread on here about 3 recently mchanging the T&Cs and within there some people have put links to different versions of the contract. That said, you th 30 day notice period is standard on all mobile contracts so phone today to cancel (they are likely to offer you a deal to stay - another thread on here details some of the latest offers you can expect and see if any of them suit you).

Good luck

Anon

Alias_Omega

Ring up, cancel..

and the conversation will go as follows..

Them - 'why are you cancelling?'

You - 'well, your prices are too high, your coverage is poor'

Them - 'i can reduce the price to £5 p/m with no handset'

You - 'thats great, but i only want a 12month contract'

Them - 'ok, thats £7.50 p/m'

You - 'ok, deal me in..'

stibdog

ok cheers, in the future for reference is there any way i can get them to change the contract so it actually ends at 18 months and doesn't continue?

Anon

stibdog wrote: »

ok cheers, in the future for reference is there any way i can get them to change the contract so it actually ends at 18 months and doesn't continue?

Yes - give them 30 days notice on the billing date in month 17.

Anon

SharkyGeorge

There's no need to be so harsh - whilst it isn't exactly a scam a lot of people don't realise that you a) do actually need to cancel the contract b) need to do this with 30 days notice and c) usually need to do it in writing. (And not just for phones either - my friend had this problem with her gym!)

My advice would be to keep negotiating with them by letter. Also, not allowing you to see a copy of the contract is really out of order - check with Oftel whether this is allowed.

Good luck!

SG

nomoneytoday

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Ring up, cancel..

and the conversation will go as follows..

Them - 'why are you cancelling?'

You - 'well, your prices are too high, your coverage is poor'

Them - 'i can reduce the price to £5 p/m with no handset'

You - 'thats great, but i only want a 12month contract'

Them - 'ok, thats £7.50 p/m'

You - 'ok, deal me in..'

Why not pay the £5 deal? It's the same price for 12 or 18 months (£90) and that way you get 6 months line rental included for the same price

You aren't getting a handset either way, and the £5 option means you have to buy something else in month 13 or renegotiate..