Just discovered my ISP has not been debiting my bank since Oct 2008

dvs

I had a similar problem with TalkTalk who refused to accept that I was their customer. I called and wrote to them many times but they kept saying I must be with another provider. I had the service from them but they never billed me. I couldn't even change provider because I had an unknown provider!

When Talk Talk eventually realised I was a customer, a year later, they told me that they were only allowed to bill calls and line rental for the previous three months. As a gesture of goodwill, they said they would only billed me the calls. However, I argued my case saying that because I didn't know who my provider was (officially), I was unable to use the service to it's full potential (i.e. I didn't know what tariff I was on nd therefore didn't know if I got free calls or would be charged etc). In the end I paid nothing.

This case is a little different as the OP was able to use the service without worrying about what extra usage charges would come through. However, the principles are the same. Be had a duty to take payment as agreed (or at the very least, bill you and ask for payment). They didn't and that's not your fault. I would go back to Be. Perhaps offer a sum to resolve the matter (whether it be one month as listed above or 3 months that my provider seemed to think was the maximum they could bill me for). Or ask to terminate your contract without charge on the basis that they did not keep to the contract. Then sign up again with Be, O2 or another provider.

syko29793

macman wrote: »

Where did you get this from please?

Its part of terms of contract. You have an obligation to pay the bill and they (the company) have the obligation to bill you for service) If either fails the its a breach of contract.
I know this because BT retail have had situations where they have not billed customers for years and have and can only bill back to last billing period

MrsTinks

I'd question that too - I work for one of the largest ISPs and that is certainly news to me! Ultimately I bet there IS an invoice (probably electronic?) - so that is covered - or the customer could have opted out of recieving their invoices etc etc etc - so the service has been invoiced - it just hasn't been paid. Not technically the OPs fault but the onus would be on them to ensure the payment to the service provider was made.
Be are obviously being pretty reasonable as they are allowing repayment over 10 months without adding interest as they didn't spot sooner that the bill wasn't being paid for some reason.
Before I became an MSE addict it could so easily have been me I never actually checked my DDs either but you only need ONE incident like this to learn to check them regularly Think of it this way... it might save you a fortune in future having had this scare because I bet you will always check your DDs from now on (You might even become obsessive compulsive like me about it! )

DocHants

Honesty is the best policy!!!

After calling them up, they originally told me that my account had been cancelled last October!!! which was weird, as I had an upgrade in December!!

They told me I would have to pay my arrears, and I said I could not do this in one lump sum. They told me to pay double my service charge for 9 months to cover the 9 months they had not charged me.. this would be £43 per month - I told them I couldnt really affor that, and afterall, this was their error, and as my accound had been cancelled, would they have ever even known about it!!??

After a few emails back and forth, they finally decided to permanently lower my package cost from £21.50 per month, to £15, and charge me 9 months @£15 extra for back service... I have to commit for 12 motnhs, which isnt an issue, and over this period I will only be paying back about £65 rather than just over £200, and I have a reduced service costs too...

So overall, Im qutie happy I told them about it!!!