Orange & debt collection

biker_guy

I had a contract with Orange which I terminated verbally (having exceeded the minimum contract period) giving one month's notice. At the end of the conversation where I made it explicit I wished to terminate, I was asked if I wanted a free PAYG SIM card to keep the number. OK I said. No mention of any obligation to register the SIM to terminate the contract nor is it a contract term.
Some months later due to chaos of house move plus changing job etc, I had never registered it, and they hadn't ended the contract. I phoned them to enquire, they said you must register the SIM. I told them to cancel and I no longer had it, and subsequently cancelled the direct debit. I had stopped using the phone, as I only intended to use the balance during the notice period.
Now I have moved again, abroad now, and cannot phone from here, so I have written two complaint letters, the second requesting they raise a formal complaint and write to me at my address abroad.
Neither was acknowledged, and they have now passed the debt to NCO debt collectors. I am raising a complaint with Otelo, but what is the position with the baliffs if I don't pay?
(I reckon Orange owe me money in actual fact)

RadoJo

Was any of this put in writing, either your initial request to terminate the contract or the clause about registering the sim card? If not, it may be hard to prove that you requested a termination of the contract, so I would see if you can find anything which would support your case.

I would have thought that if you are disputing the monies owed, then your case should not be with debt collectors at least until the dispute is resolved. Have they responded to either of your letters since the confusion with the contractual terms?