how do i get out of my mobile phone contract when emigrating

Jon_01

karatedragon wrote: »

That is totally different.

You do not owe anything for future airtime on a Mobile contract as it is still in the future and unused. The future hasn't happened because, umm er. It's in the future.

If you have borrowed from a bank then it has to be repaid if you wish to leave. You have not borrrowed any future airtime on a mobile contract as you cant skip forward and use it in a time machine. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

While I agree that 'future airtime' hasn't happened yet, I think you'd agree that where the phone is 'free' it is factored into the monthly payments?

So, maybe the contracts should have a section outlining that £x each month pays for the phone and that if you cancel early the network would require you to pay this £x times the number of months left ?
Would that seem fair ?

That would perhaps stop people thinking that phones are really free? (and I've spoken to people who really think that phone are free and there's no cost to anyone anywhere down the line !).

gjchester

karatedragon wrote: »

That is totally different.

You do not owe anything for future airtime on a Mobile contract as it is still in the future and unused. The future hasn't happened because, umm er. It's in the future.

Yes you do. It's called "loss of bargain" by breaking the contract you are liable to compensate the person you broke it wil for any loss they make. the mobile company won't make as much as they would have, do they can sue you for the loss.

This is highly implausable but what if your account made the mobile company hit a set number and needed to install another mast. Although it's not exclusivly yours they could say that your actions made the mast needed, if you left before the end of the contract could they claim the total cost from you, as your use made it required.
Sounds farfetched but in a smaller scale, say a company buying supplies to build you an extension, or rewire your house, bought the goods then you changed your mind. If would not be fair to say ," Well you have not opened to use them on my house so your problem" in that case then the law does permit them to reclaim the costs from you.

At the start of the contract you agree to aa months of rental at £bb, do the mobile co know the have xx x yy in pounds income. If you break it you have to pay the difference, standard contract law.

lucylucky

karatedragon wrote: »

You seem to be mistaken that I am being ripped off by a Mobile Company. This is not the case. Have you not read the Opening Poster's question. I am not the Opening Poster

oops - I do apologise, silly me.

I merely began to debate the "fairness" of any cancellation fees insomuch as you are fleeced for *UNUSED* airtime together with the cost of any subsidised handset. I just feel this is unfair and perhaps ought to be investigated. Am I not allowed an opinion or to have feelings on something? Surely anything to make something fairer is a good thing? Or do you not agree with that? Making things fairer is always good.

But of course we live in "Sheep Britain" where average people sign up to anything no matter how unfair it and no one else gives a damn, they simply accept the fact they are being ripped off and say nothing because it's not worth the hassle. Well that is what companies rely on. Not being ripped off at all, if you sign a contract you know what you are getting into so one goes in with one's eyes open

And no I don't see any difference in a Bank's contract or a Mobiles Phone. At least with the Bank if you stay within your limits you don't get charged. You don't get charged for leaving them unlike a Mobile Company. Well I havn't been charged by a bank for leaving them anyway.

You banking analogy still eludes me. You agree terms with your bank just as you agree terms with a mobile phone operator

Spikey_2

Just seen something - back in a tick.

easy

I'm sorry if this makes me sound like a miserable old git, but this thread is another example of people not accepting their responsibilities.

You sign (or otherwise agree to) a contract, you become responsible for carrying it out to the completion of the contract.

These days lots of folk get soooooo het-up about their "rights", but they forget about their responsibilities.

karatedragon

Jon_01 wrote: »

While I agree that 'future airtime' hasn't happened yet, I think you'd agree that where the phone is 'free' it is factored into the monthly payments?

So, maybe the contracts should have a section outlining that £x each month pays for the phone and that if you cancel early the network would require you to pay this £x times the number of months left ?
Would that seem fair ?

That would perhaps stop people thinking that phones are really free? (and I've spoken to people who really think that phone are free and there's no cost to anyone anywhere down the line !).

Firstly then advertising a phone as "Free" (as is done by Mobile Companies) should be outlawed as this is certainly not the case. Something is either free (costing £0.00) or it isn't. If a handset is in the cost of an agreement then it is NOT free and costing (£0.00). This then should be clearly advertised. I am surprised this hasn't been looked at either. But as I said earlier I think the Mobile Phone industry needs an investiagtion and a shake up...

Now that bit is over....

If you read further back (earlier in the thread) you will see that I suggested that the cancellation fee should comprise of the residual value of the handset to the end of the contract length and NOT include the cost of any *UNUSED* future airtime.

However, it seems that you and me are in a minority on thinking this is a good and fairer idea.

Spikey_2

Spikey wrote: »

Just seen something - back in a tick.

LIE!-You can't get out of a mobile phone contract

When taking out a new mobile phone deal, you have 14 days to change your mind, so if you take your new phone home and discover your signal isn't going to be sufficient, don't just tough it out - get it changed!
£10 cash back on Home Insurance
Get free guides to saving and investing
But even if you are well into your contract, and your circumstances change - say you move home or office and can no longer get a signal -!don't despair.!If you're prepared to take your network provider to court, you!may still be able to get out of the contract, even if your provider initially says no.
Take!the case of Tom Prescott, who had an 18 month contract with Orange, but couldn't get a signal at his home or at his office.
Orange initially wouldn't let him out of the contract, but he took the firm to court in February this year!and argued that, when!he was sold the 18-month contract, he!expected a reasonable level of service from Orange.!He ended up being awarded £500.
Orange told the BBC programme!Watchdog : "While we do not offer an option for customers to break their contract for moving house, in exceptional cases where a customer clearly has network coverage at a new home of residence and has been unable to make calls, we will look to resolve in their best interest."
Get free guides to saving and investing
Life cover for £1.08 a week
So, if you end up in a similar situation, it really does pay to speak to your network. Don't let them pull a fast one!
There is also some brilliant information on the Consumer Direct website on your rights once you have bought the phone, so be sure to give it a read.

karatedragon

lucylucky wrote: »

You banking analogy still eludes me. You agree terms with your bank just as you agree terms with a mobile phone operator

My Analogy is that Bank Charges became a National scandal and the populus (and this entire website) deemed they were unfair.

I am just surprised that Mobile Contract Cancellation fees are not seen just as unfair considering you are paying for something you are not getting when you cancel. I.E. The future unused airtime.

maxtweenie

Spikey wrote: »

LIE!-You can't get out of a mobile phone contract

When taking out a new mobile phone deal, you have 14 days to change your mind, so if you take your new phone home and discover your signal isn't going to be sufficient, don't just tough it out - get it changed!
£10 cash back on Home Insurance
Get free guides to saving and investing
But even if you are well into your contract, and your circumstances change - say you move home or office and can no longer get a signal -!don't despair.!If you're prepared to take your network provider to court, you!may still be able to get out of the contract, even if your provider initially says no.
Take!the case of Tom Prescott, who had an 18 month contract with Orange, but couldn't get a signal at his home or at his office.
Orange initially wouldn't let him out of the contract, but he took the firm to court in February this year!and argued that, when!he was sold the 18-month contract, he!expected a reasonable level of service from Orange.!He ended up being awarded £500.
Orange told the BBC programme!Watchdog : "While we do not offer an option for customers to break their contract for moving house, in exceptional cases where a customer clearly has network coverage at a new home of residence and has been unable to make calls, we will look to resolve in their best interest."
Get free guides to saving and investing
Life cover for £1.08 a week
So, if you end up in a similar situation, it really does pay to speak to your network. Don't let them pull a fast one!
There is also some brilliant information on the Consumer Direct website on your rights once you have bought the phone, so be sure to give it a read.

What's with the subliminal messages hidden in your post?

easy

karatedragon wrote: »

I am just surprised that Mobile Contract Cancellation fees are not seen just as unfair considering you are paying for something you are not getting when you cancel. I.E. The future unused airtime.

But the WHOLE point is that you KNOW, when you enter into the contract, that you have the phone and so many minutes per month available to you.

If the phone co. changed the contract terms part way thru, that would be unfair (and with the banks, many of us had accounts for YEARS, but now and then received a leaflet that said "our Ts & Cs have changed").

And a proportion of that future payment is something you have already received the benefit of i.e. the handset itself.