Optimum Calls and cooling off period

peterthehack

I was persuaded to try Optimum Calls by one of their cold callers (1st mistake). She claimed I would get huge savings, all services supplied by BT would be provided (inc broadband), etc. I was reluctant but she assured me I could cancel within 7 days using the (legal) cooling off period if I wasn’t happy with the contract.
When the contract arrived I looked at it closely. Presentation of the small print (terms and conditions) is a classic illustration of something that is not meant to be read: type grey not black, and tiny – an ‘a’ for example, was no more than 1mm high!
The conditions included: five year contract; the really cheap deal only applied in the first year, and you had a matter of days to cancel it right at the end of the year before it would be automatically renewed; the penalty for stopping outside this period was £395 + VAT; there was no mention of broadband; and so it went on.
I immediately sent off the cancellation of the order to the name and address given, by recorded delivery. I also rang to repeat the message, getting a very rude Optimum person. Just as well: 12 days later the envelope I had sent to the address they gave me was returned, marked “addressee gone away”.
Optimum? Obnoxious, more like.

macman

I would make sure that you have cancelled the direct debit too.
Fairly standard terms for these pesky resellers TBH. As you now realise, the lesson is never to sign up on the basis of a cold call or doorsteping aproach. Even if the terms were good, you miss out on the cashbacks and best deals that way.