The mysterious changing telephone contract!

JonTa

Hello all.My now wife was sold a free evenings and weekend call package by her telephone company some years ago.Now we're married I recently found out that the same provider had removed(without notice or her consent)her free evening calls also charging her for them(without her noticing) for some time now.I'm going through their complaints process at the moment but they've informed me that they'll not give us a refund for the call charges as it was and is (in their view) our responsibility to keep an eye on our bills and inform them if we were unhappy.Rather buyer beware if you ask me.I'm no expert but surely there is some provable breach of contract on their part?I'm attempting to reclaim all call charges and have refused(amiably)their patronising "goodwill "gestures.Awaiting introduction of the ombudsman etc,but am really just interested to know in laymans terms if I have a case and any chance of winning?
many thanks Jonathan

Hintza

Talk Talk?

I voted with my feet when the sneaked in charges. Trouble was they had covered their backside with some small print with us.

Sounds to me though that you could have a case but the devil will be in the detail.

williham

Sounds like "we'll give you it free for 12 months.." and then you forgot to cancel after the 12 months?

hollydays

really sneaky,hope you win,but as said they may have it in the small print

Hintza

williham wrote: »

Sounds like "we'll give you it free for 12 months.." and then you forgot to cancel after the 12 months?

That was how they got me....:)

DrScotsman

Hintza wrote: »

I voted with my feet when the sneaked in charges. Trouble was they had covered their backside with some small print with us.

I'm interested as to what the small print said, I'm wondering what they could put in that would possibly be allowed.

If you were told on the phone or the internet unlimited evenings, and only in the tiny small print did it say X months only, that's clearly deception (although difficult to prove of course, especially if you applied on the internet)

If the small print says something like they can remove your free evenings at will, that's blatantly an unfair contract term.

OP, you are a bit daft if you haven't been checking your bills regularly, but that does not excuse your provider at all.

Hintza

DrScotsman wrote: »

I'm interested as to what the small print said, I'm wondering what they could put in that would possibly be allowed.

It was a few years ago just when they started and I can't remember the exact details. But I suddenly noticed one month we were getting chargred for calls. Called them and they said that was in the contract etc. I think I had it moved within 24hours, I remember thinking that they had just been a bit sneaky.

Mind you OP has not confirmed who the provider was.

JonTa

Thanks to all who replied.The company to no-one's surprise is Pipex btw.Tho we weren't married at the time I cant recall or find now for that matter any form of contract from them.I'm fairly sure it was all done on the 'phone.Been checking an early phonebill from '04 and it clearly shows the pm calls as free.Indeed Drscotsman re keeping an eye on the bills I have to agree with you,but hopefully now we're married that won't happen on my watch - (famous last words!);)

patman99

I was with Talktalk until sept. this year. I was on their free calls all the time package, but was unimpressed with their customer service (or rather, lack of it), so phoned BT, they did the same deal (even including 0845 & 0870 numbers), by switching to paperless billing, I am saving 98p a month over TT.