Carphone warehouse driving me up the wall.

mercmanricky

A month or 2 before my renewal came around a sales rep called me and offered me a renewal. He was very insistent and despite me telling him i'd go look at some posible phones he said he'd send me a phone and if i didn't like it i could return it within 7 days no problem.

Well, the phone in question came, i didn't like it and called the returns number and the lady told me the best way would be to take it into a store and check out the other phones while i was there.

I did this the same day and the 2 guys in my local carphone warehouse *seemed* very knowledgable about the phones and the packages available.

I am with orange because of my girlfriend living 100 miles away and magic numbers giving unlimited free calls is very handy.

A few months before i was given a work phone which meant i was only using my orange phone in the evenings to call my girlfriend.

The salesmen in carphone warehouse suggested i keep my existing phone as i didn't like any of the newer phones and they could reduce my contract down from £35 a month to £15 a month and it would be on a 1 month rolling contract, having to give a months notice to terminate it.

I thought everything was brilliant and left the store feeling like they had really catered for my needs instead of forcing some expensive phone/contract onto me.

As it turns out, my 18 month contract has been renewed, paying £35 a month and i have no upgrade phone to show for it. I have been back into the shop half a dozen times since (dealt with the manager every time) and everytime he tells me it has been sorted and if the next bill comes through and it's still not been ammended then i should come and see them. It is now 6 months down the line from my first visit and this morning i discovered that yet again i have been charged £35 and still haven't received a penny back! I've basically paid £120 more than i should have over the last 6 months.

I checked the paperwork i signed in store and it clearly shows a 1 month contract for £15.

I have also gone to orange directly to see what they can do and everytime i'm met with an instant, robot-like repsonse "carphone warehouse are responsible"

What should i do!?!

I've since found out that i can just get a PAYG orange sim and my girlfriend can call me free with her magic number.

OneADay

I am not sure if this is the right answer but personally I would be inclined to cancel the direct debit on the account. And then contact trading standards. Or the other way around. http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

DarkConvict

Classic mis-sold contract, trading standards should help you on this.

I was mis-sold "unlimited mobile internet" and dial-a-phone with a nudge from trading standards refunded all my costs, and adjusted there website stating the full download limit terms.
You generally have a right to get either
A) What you signed up to and your costs refunded. (i.e. 35 - 15 = £20 per month)
Contract cancelled, and your costs refunded. (i.e. 35 - 15 = £20 per month)

Get your signed contract, read it thoroughly, and make a copy and get in touch with your local trading standards office.

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/extra/contact.cfm?frmAlias=/contact/

I am not sure if this is the right answer but personally I would be inclined to cancel the direct debit on the account. And then contact trading standards. Or the other way around. http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

I would agree with this too, but be aware that the operator will threaten to terminate your contract and charge you the full 18 months in one go. According to a solicitor i saw you should if you can afford to do so, "limit your liability" and pay the costs so far. As if you can afford it but force additional costs (such as a termination fee) by not paying them you maybe liable. Stupid i know, but it can be easier to reclaim your money as the dispute is with carphone warehouse not your operator.

woody01

OneADay wrote: »

I am not sure if this is the right answer but personally I would be inclined to cancel the direct debit on the account. And then contact trading standards. Or the other way around. http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

Cancelling the DD would be a very stupid thing to do.
Regardless of whether they have the contract incorrect, they will still file a default on your credit report if you do this.

DarkConvict

If they do it would be removed when it has been resolved. And if it hasn't you can tell them to do it. Happened to a relative with a water bill. If its not your fault its not much of a problem. I stopped vodafone payments and my credit file is clean with them.

mercmanricky

This finally got sorted, and after e-baying my mobile phone, i'm getting paid £4.83 per month to keep the contract. (taking into account the additional £100 rebate carphone warehouse sent me for the overcharging.

Just kept telling them i was leaving for o2 and the deals got better and better until i really couldn't refuse!