Phones4U mobile contract cooling off period

gillkin_2

My 18 year old daughter went into our local Phones4u shop today and came out with an 18 month mobile phone contract. According to the contract I have just looked at, there is no cooling off period. Is this legal does anybody know as I have told her she should have looked around for a better deal first and could kill her for being talked into this?:mad:

MountainMan101

The usual "cooling off period" that companies offer is only the statutory rules for distance selling. In the case of high street shops this doesn't count.

With financial products there is a 40 day (I think) period. Not sure if this applies to phones which are essential a form of finance - the extra cost on the tariff works the same as a high purchase agreement.

Still at least she's learnt her lesson at 18 rather than later in life. Perhaps it will make her a bit more financially savvy.

robt_2

MountainMan101 wrote: »

The usual "cooling off period" that companies offer is only the statutory rules for distance selling. In the case of high street shops this doesn't count.

With financial products there is a 40 day (I think) period. Not sure if this applies to phones which are essential a form of finance - the extra cost on the tariff works the same as a high purchase agreement.

Still at least she's learnt her lesson at 18 rather than later in life. Perhaps it will make her a bit more financially savvy.

There is no cooling off period for store-bought mobile phone contracts (unless the retailer offers one, and this one doesn't).

baxgttdi

as above, no cooling off peiod when bought from a store sorry

Jon_01

Distance selling regs only apply when buying over the phone or internet.
If you buy in a shop you have the chance to try what you're getting and decide if you want it.

ShyanneDianne

I've just been going through my 18yr old Daughters bank details,and since 7/12/09 to date she has made the total payments of £368.98!! that's without this month-grand total with the £70 they want is £438.98!!! I too cannot believe my Daughter has fell for this!! and god only knows how to get her out of it? She thinks it's a great deal!! yes it's an all dancing,singing phone but gees I can't get over the cost of it,oh this is without insurance as I've seen payments being made seperate for that!! not sure if she'd be able to get her money back ? Kids!! just when you think it's going to get easier as they get older.

mobilejunkie

Maybe she has to learn the hard way. 18 is an age when she should know what the value of money is and that if she enters a contract she is bound by it. To spend that much she is presumably using the phone well outside of its bundle and therefore has to pay for that service. Presumably if she now sticks to the bundle (whatever it is) she won't incur such huge additional charges. There is no compulsion in a contract to actually use a phone to use extra additional charges. All she has to do is establish what the bundle is and not exceed it unless she is willing to pay the extra.

robt_2

ShyanneDianne wrote: »

I've just been going through my 18yr old Daughters bank details

I assume she knows you are doing this??

,and since 7/12/09 to date she has made the total payments of £368.98!! that's without this month-grand total with the £70 they want is £438.98!!! I too cannot believe my Daughter has fell for this!!

Fell for what exactly?

and god only knows how to get her out of it?

She can't.

She thinks it's a great deal!! yes it's an all dancing,singing phone but gees I can't get over the cost of it

It might be a great deal to her.

,oh this is without insurance as I've seen payments being made seperate for that!!

Possibly sensible if the phone is as 'all singing and all dancing' as you make out.

not sure if she'd be able to get her money back ?

No, she can't. Why should she be able to?

Kids!! just when you think it's going to get easier as they get older.

She isn't a kid, like it not she is an adult.

gjchester

ShyanneDianne wrote: »

I've just been going through my 18yr old Daughters bank details,and since 7/12/09 to date she has made the total payments of £368.98!! that's without this month-grand total with the £70 they want is £438.98!!!

I don't wish to sound rude but she's 18, and adult, She can make her own decisions and stand on her own feet.

You may not like it but it's not your place to do anything. If she thinks it's a good deal and can afford the payments, then you should let her learn for herself the value of shopping around.