Quitting Orange (not in contract) can they charge me?

macman

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

That makes sense CrabPaste (lovely name btw). I was annoyed to see it's an 0844 number and probably one where you have to listen to ten minutes of recorded tripe then spend another ten on hold, which would work out costlier than a stamp!

I was thinking of just sending the disconnection charge. I don't see why I should pay for a month's service I'm not getting. It's not costing them anything after all. How nasty can they get?

It's not 'nasty'. When you signed up you agreed their T&C's which are 30 days notice and the cease charge if no MAC used. Do you really want your credit record trashed for the sake of one month's broadband fees (even at Orange's ludicrous prices)?
Why not just switch to a decent ISP using your landline? Your dongle will not provide an equivalent to ADSL broadband (though it might still be better than Orange).

Bogof_Babe

Oh heck, I hadn't thought about my credit rating (which has always been A1). Drat, looks like I'm going to have to bite the bullet. So if I ring that number will they tell me exactly how much I have to send? I don't intend to give them authorisation to use my debit card, would rather send a cheque and have done with them.

I've only ever been with one provider, so all this is new to me. I still don't remember agreeing to these terms but I suppose I must have somewhere along the line. I was only pushed into leaving them because my laptop died and caused my modem to pack up too. Glad I have done though, before too many more years of paying such a high charge.

I'm on a '3' rolling contract now with (I was told) no tie-in. Wonder if there's stuff hidden in the small print there too. So far it is proving adequate for my needs and I like the portablility aspect. Connection is pretty good in my area too - it only dropped out once in a week's initial use.

Even at worst case scenario (£60) I will recoup the cost in five months on the new arrangement. Just a nuisance really. Better get on the phone... .

macman

30 days notice is standard on almost all telecoms contracts.
Can't quite figure out why your modem/router expiring requires you to change supplier, but if it gets you off Orange then no bad thing.

Bogof_Babe

macman wrote: »

30 days notice is standard on almost all telecoms contracts.
Can't quite figure out why your modem/router expiring requires you to change supplier, but if it gets you off Orange then no bad thing.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if it was a power surge. I was using a multi-socket adapter which didn't have power surge protection. I accept this would be my own fault . It was a plugged-in modem, I could never get wifi to work for some reason so wasted the cost of a router too .

Think I'll take up golf, it's got to be cheaper than computering as a hobby! :rotfl:

brewerdave

Don't think HORRANGE will accept a cheque - they can't "cope" with it! (but their debt collectors will, if you don't sort it out fairly quickly!!)
edit - safest thing to do is reinstate DD then cancel after they have taken required notice and disconnection payments.

Bogof_Babe

brewerdave wrote: »

Don't think HORRANGE will accept a cheque - they can't "cope" with it! (but their debt collectors will, if you don't sort it out fairly quickly!!)
edit - safest thing to do is reinstate DD then cancel after they have taken required notice and disconnection payments.

:eek: Blimey it gets worse! I can't reinstate the DD as the bank isn't open today and anyway I'm away from home at the moment so can't do it online either as I don't have my card reader with me (not that I've ever worked out how to use it).

I could give them my debit card number over the phone I suppose, if that will get them off my back. Or can't they cope with those either?

Bogof_Babe

Right I've made the call. Nice people, to be fair. Had to give bank details to re-open DD but it seems the only way they could do it.

So, job done. I'll be paying out another £54 or so which I hadn't planned on. I'll know next time.

Thanks for the help and guidance everyone.