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Problems with 3G phones
Slipper
Posts: 3 Newbie
I was wondering if anyone has any ideas what to do about the following, sorry its a bit long, but i needs some explaining.
On the 9th July 2004 I was assaulted by a number of youths and my phone stolen, it was approximately 12.00 o’clock at night, I suffered cuts and bruises and was knocked to the floor.
On waking the next day I phoned 3G to inform them to cancel my phone, as it had been stolen, they informed me that I would be responsible for any phone charges up until the time of reporting the theft, which I accepted was my responsibility. I also called the police who visited me at my home to take a statement and witnessed my injuries.
A few days later my replacement phone arrived, I phoned 3G to connect me, but they said they could not as an outstanding amount of £300 was owed on the account, and that they would not connect me until this had been paid
A few days later I received my monthly statement from 3G, stating that I owed them approximately £300, checking through the bill I found that they had not disconnected my phone when I reported it stolen but in fact it had remained active for over 24 hours after my phone call, and the thieves had run up this amount, I worked out that I owed them roughly £30, from the time it was stolen, to my report of the theft.
This is when the fun and games started. I phoned 3G to protest at the amount, and they said not to worry, there debt recovery service would look into it, sort out the problem, they confirmed that I was not eligible for the whole amount owed after my report. However they said that in order to connect me the outstanding bill had to be paid, to which I refused, as I did not see it as my problem. I said I would pay the amount to which I was liable but no more. A stalemate ensued which lasted for months, I cancelled my direct debit as I did not want them to have access to my account and to take the full amount, Also I had no working phone although they still expected me to pay my monthly bill. After dozens of phone calls where I got fed up of telling the full story from start to finish and still not getting connected, I decided to cut my losses and took out a new contract with a new provider, I informed 3G as to my decision and said as far as I was concerned my account with them was cancelled, I received no reply.
Months later I received a letter off them saying that they had finally sorted out the mix up, and that they had cleared my debt, however I now owed them £288 for the months of monthly service charges I had not paid ( I had no working phone). I refused to pay them and said they could take me to court.
A few months later I received a letter from a debt collection agency, I told them the story, they contacted 3G who informed them that was the situation, and I owed them the said amount, again I refused.
All has been quiet for a few years until a few days ago, when I received another letter from a different debt collection agency acting on behalf of 3G, asking for the full amount owed. Again I have contacted them and said I am not prepared to pay for services I did not receive. This is obviously not going to go away. I feel really bullied by 3G, I have sent them two letters to which I have received no reply, as far as they are concerned it can take them as long as they like to sort out a problem and the customer has to just grin and bear it. Pay up and shut up.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do to sort this out? It is really frustrating and annoying. If an outside body decides I have to pay then pay I will, but it grieves me that 3G can play judge and jury without any one to answer to, and I seem to have no course of action to get rid of this problem.
Any ideas help greatly appreciated.
Regards
Mike
On the 9th July 2004 I was assaulted by a number of youths and my phone stolen, it was approximately 12.00 o’clock at night, I suffered cuts and bruises and was knocked to the floor.
On waking the next day I phoned 3G to inform them to cancel my phone, as it had been stolen, they informed me that I would be responsible for any phone charges up until the time of reporting the theft, which I accepted was my responsibility. I also called the police who visited me at my home to take a statement and witnessed my injuries.
A few days later my replacement phone arrived, I phoned 3G to connect me, but they said they could not as an outstanding amount of £300 was owed on the account, and that they would not connect me until this had been paid
A few days later I received my monthly statement from 3G, stating that I owed them approximately £300, checking through the bill I found that they had not disconnected my phone when I reported it stolen but in fact it had remained active for over 24 hours after my phone call, and the thieves had run up this amount, I worked out that I owed them roughly £30, from the time it was stolen, to my report of the theft.
This is when the fun and games started. I phoned 3G to protest at the amount, and they said not to worry, there debt recovery service would look into it, sort out the problem, they confirmed that I was not eligible for the whole amount owed after my report. However they said that in order to connect me the outstanding bill had to be paid, to which I refused, as I did not see it as my problem. I said I would pay the amount to which I was liable but no more. A stalemate ensued which lasted for months, I cancelled my direct debit as I did not want them to have access to my account and to take the full amount, Also I had no working phone although they still expected me to pay my monthly bill. After dozens of phone calls where I got fed up of telling the full story from start to finish and still not getting connected, I decided to cut my losses and took out a new contract with a new provider, I informed 3G as to my decision and said as far as I was concerned my account with them was cancelled, I received no reply.
Months later I received a letter off them saying that they had finally sorted out the mix up, and that they had cleared my debt, however I now owed them £288 for the months of monthly service charges I had not paid ( I had no working phone). I refused to pay them and said they could take me to court.
A few months later I received a letter from a debt collection agency, I told them the story, they contacted 3G who informed them that was the situation, and I owed them the said amount, again I refused.
All has been quiet for a few years until a few days ago, when I received another letter from a different debt collection agency acting on behalf of 3G, asking for the full amount owed. Again I have contacted them and said I am not prepared to pay for services I did not receive. This is obviously not going to go away. I feel really bullied by 3G, I have sent them two letters to which I have received no reply, as far as they are concerned it can take them as long as they like to sort out a problem and the customer has to just grin and bear it. Pay up and shut up.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do to sort this out? It is really frustrating and annoying. If an outside body decides I have to pay then pay I will, but it grieves me that 3G can play judge and jury without any one to answer to, and I seem to have no course of action to get rid of this problem.
Any ideas help greatly appreciated.
Regards
Mike
0
Comments
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Had a very similar problem with NTL a few years back where they charged me for phone calls from my landline that I did not make.
After almost a year and half of debating and mountains of letters, threats of court - I began to ignore the letters and mark them: Return to Sender; person has moved.
Problems have ceased... but thats possibly because I moved house.
good luck sorting your dilema.0
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