ISP asking for return of modem after 5 years

eyeinthesky

Hi, I just decided to move my broadband service to BT, and contacted my ISP this morning to request a MAC code. The code arrived in about 10 hours!, very fast. The problem is, they are asking for the return of the modem, filters, cable and installation CD, or I can buy them for £10! These were supplied free in 2004, and I don't even have them anymore, as I upgraded in 2006 and got a wireless router. Where do I stand with this?

Esqui

You threw away something that didn't belong to you, and in the contract you signed said it remained property of BT, I presume.

Why not buy said items for £10 to send back to them.

deanos

I bet in the contract it will say you have to pay or return the modem if you leave

Anihilator

These sort of contracts are almost always based on the property remaining the property of the ISP.

If you upgraded with BT in 2006 then I would argue they should have asked for it back then. If you upgraded without BT and threw the equipment tough

Are they not asking for the more recent equipment back.

eyeinthesky

Thanks all for your replies, I am actually moving from Supanet to BT, and when I signed up for Supanet, they advertised a free modem etc. When I upgraded in 2006, they supplied me with a free wireless router, which I only used for a week as it was "dropping" the connection. I still have this router, but they have not asked for it back. They are still advertising a free modem when you sign up with them.

The £10 is to pay for the modem kit I already recieved in 2004.

Esqui

Buy the modem kit, sell the wireless router on ebay to offset the cost, if they don't want it back!

eyeinthesky

Thanks again everyone, i guess I will have to pay the £10. I just looked up the T&Cs and it says the modem remains their property and must be returned. Not convinced it said that in 2004:rolleyes:.

I'll give the ebay idea a pass though, too many scams on there so I cancelled ebay and paypal.

olly300

If you can find and prove that the equipment they gave you is now obsolete then you may get away with it.

I suggest you google the modem you where given and still see if it's being sold either new or second hand.

However if the modem can still be used and you signed a contract agreeing to give the equipment back when you left then you need to pay the £10.

I had a contract with a company Tiscali took over that I either gave their equipment back or paid for the replacement if I cancelled the contract.

I subsequently cancelled my contract with Tiscali due to their cr!p service, and they ask to arrange a visit to collect the equipment however they would only come during the working week meaning I lost a full days pay. After having an argument with the call centre operator as they refused to allow me to post the equipment back, I made the appointment with them even though I knew they didn't use the equipment anymore. A technician had been out a few months before and told me that the equipment would be obsolete in a few months and wouldn't work with their system.

I subsequently found a phone number for the original company to phone them up to ask if I could post the equipment back to them. They categorically stated they didn't want it any more and I could do what I liked with it, so I then told them to cancel the appointment.

The router still works and I still use it. The set top box was binned ages ago.

tifrap_2

You may be able to find the original contract on the website that they had up at the time you took out the contract or at least the terms of service.

Just use this Handy tip.

google 'wayback machine' at the internet archive - put in the companies website address and hit search - it should return monthly archives of their website going back for as long as the site has been published - this way you will be able to search their website as it was back when you took out the contract.

savemoney

I got broadband with BT in 2000. 512k and costs me £150 to install you couldn't do it yourself then. Good job I still got the Alcatel modem (blueish turtle) all those years in case they ask for it back. I havent used BT since about 2001/2

eyeinthesky

tifrap wrote: »

You may be able to find the original contract on the website that they had up at the time you took out the contract or at least the terms of service.

Just use this Handy tip.

google 'wayback machine' at the internet archive - put in the companies website address and hit search - it should return monthly archives of their website going back for as long as the site has been published - this way you will be able to search their website as it was back when you took out the contract.

Thank you for this amazing tip!:beer: Unfortunately, the t&cs are not there, but thanks for this tip, I never knew this existed.