Mobile phone company error results in £1500 debt!

asandwhen

If you paid them an extra £30 per month by mistake for 3 years would you think it was acceptable for them to pay you back £5 per month for 18 years?

robt_2

Are you sure that he didn't know full well that he wasn't paying his phone bill and thought he was getting away with it so kept quiet?

bubblesmoney

It is easy to lose track of directdebits and standing orders once setup. I don't check them often and would not notice if things were a little different. Infact I didn't notice that my outgoing were 360pounds a month on a particular transaction setup years ago instead of lower amount of about 70pounds a month. Initially for few years it was the higher amount then was to be lower but the company kept taking the higher amounts monthly which I didn't notice for about a year after the higher amounts were being taken instead of the lower amount. Did later get the refund after asking for it and now getting debitted the lower amounts monthly. Not everyone keeps track of all their incoming or outgoing regularly. I guess the op could arrange a sensible payment plan with the company that is agreeable to both.

Jess10_2

asandwhen wrote: »

If you paid them an extra £30 per month by mistake for 3 years would you think it was acceptable for them to pay you back £5 per month for 18 years?

If it was my mistake, then yes!
They committed a huge error when they put someone elses account details onto my boyfriend's account. They have repaid the other guy all his money in one lump sum; as it was their error. Should my boyfriend not receive the same respect?

KingElvis

Wow Jess, I hope this all works out for you. I am obsessive about checking my monthly bills and I just can't get it through my head that your bf didn't notice for three years, that's ages

I would call them and say that it's ridiculous to expect to be paid all in one go and then offer them something which you can afford, as you say, it was their mistake.

Maybe after you've dealt with this you could tell the bf to at least check his monthly statement so this kind of thing doesn't happen again.

Good Luck :beer:

I_luv_cats

All money advisers say to check your bank statement regularly so this would have been spotted if you did so.

With the Co-Op you have a Direct Debit grid that shows the last payment for each of the ones set-up.

Getting 20% off is generous, shame you can't find the money.

Ring Consumer Direct for advice if they won't accept a longer payment plan

Fifer

bubblesmoney wrote: »

It is easy to lose track of directdebits and standing orders once setup.

It is if you don't manage your finances.

bubblesmoney

Fifer wrote: »

It is if you don't manage your finances.

not being able to keep up on these things might be because of other reasons than laziness. we had then had a baby (our first) a month early, few admissions for wife for various reasons, and a few for baby and being new parents for the first time, bought a house etc etc etc so smaller issues went un noticed.

anyway giving a direct debit etc isnt a blanket permission to do what they please as as per the terms of the direct debit guarantee we are entitled for a refund for errors. no where in the guarantee did i read there was a time limit etc or that i was supposed to cgeck the error with in a time frame. the direct debit guarantee does not impose any duties on me (other than i guess having adequate funds in my account to pay my bills which never was an issue).

anyway previously (a while ago) AOL had debitted my account even after i left AOL, i chased them for a bit then gave up for the one months or so refund as after few attemts running after them and being on hold etc for ages i gave up as my time was worth more money. i guess some companies like AOL bank on not having to do refunds because people get tired of chasing them. I will never buy an AOL product again bl00dy swindlers, suits them right that they dont have much of a market share now (atleast as much as they used to).

Fifer

bubblesmoney wrote: »

not being able to keep up on these things might be because of other reasons than laziness. we had then had a baby (our first) a month early, few admissions for wife for various reasons, and a few for baby and being new parents for the first time, bought a house etc etc etc so smaller issues went un noticed.

The OP's partner didn't notice £30 a month for 3 years?

bubblesmoney wrote: »

anyway previously (a while ago) AOL had debitted my account even after i left AOL, i chased them for a bit then gave up for the one months or so refund as after few attemts running after them and being on hold etc for ages i gave up as my time was worth more money. i guess some companies like AOL bank on not having to do refunds because people get tired of chasing them. I will never buy an AOL product again bl00dy swindlers, suits them right that they dont have much of a market share now (atleast as much as they used to).

You don't have to chase the likes of AOL. The DD Guarantee means your bank has to return the funds within 24hrs then they have to do the chasing for you. It's easy (but you have to be firm with your bank).