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Carphone Warehouse odd contract
Hi everyone,
I'm after a bit of advice if poss please.
My mother in law has had a phone with carphone warehouse for a couple of years. Last summer when her contract was up she was going to cancel and have PAYG as she didn't use it much but was talked into saying yes to a contract whereby it would remain tariff free provided she didn't run up a bill of over £30 (which she's never done and has remained careful not to do) . She was told this would hold good for 12 months; it was a verbal contract and she hasn't signed anything. Two months ago she got a bill from CPW for £30 and last month she got one for £40, both of which she has refused to pay. CPW are now saying that it wasn't a 12 month deal, it was only for 10 months. They've cut her off and have repeatedly called her landline to get payment. They've now passed the debt to a collection agency who are calling a couple of times a day and have added £50 charges onto the account.
I've told her to write to the debt collectors and tell them that any communication they want to have with her must be done in writing and to block their phone number. I know she can demand all the paperwork that CPW and the debt collectors hold on her using the freedom of information act but I don't know whether it matters that she's never signed anything and has no written proof that she was told it would be a 12 month contract.
I was wondering whether there is precedent for this? Has anyone else had a similar experience with CPW and how did they deal with it?
Thanks all,
TN
I'm after a bit of advice if poss please.
My mother in law has had a phone with carphone warehouse for a couple of years. Last summer when her contract was up she was going to cancel and have PAYG as she didn't use it much but was talked into saying yes to a contract whereby it would remain tariff free provided she didn't run up a bill of over £30 (which she's never done and has remained careful not to do) . She was told this would hold good for 12 months; it was a verbal contract and she hasn't signed anything. Two months ago she got a bill from CPW for £30 and last month she got one for £40, both of which she has refused to pay. CPW are now saying that it wasn't a 12 month deal, it was only for 10 months. They've cut her off and have repeatedly called her landline to get payment. They've now passed the debt to a collection agency who are calling a couple of times a day and have added £50 charges onto the account.
I've told her to write to the debt collectors and tell them that any communication they want to have with her must be done in writing and to block their phone number. I know she can demand all the paperwork that CPW and the debt collectors hold on her using the freedom of information act but I don't know whether it matters that she's never signed anything and has no written proof that she was told it would be a 12 month contract.
I was wondering whether there is precedent for this? Has anyone else had a similar experience with CPW and how did they deal with it?
Thanks all,
TN
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