Warning when trying to downgrade tariff

Ihatemobilephones

Be aware when contacting your phone company (Singlepoint in my case) to downgrade to a cheaper tariff. I successfully managed to swap tariffs and get a new handset after about 6 months into the 12 month deal as was going abroad and didnt need all the free minutes and texts.
All fine and grand. But then when i was coming to what i thought was the end of my current twelve contract (about a further six months later when I was told even though i had changed tariff i could still end it) i was told that because i had received a new handset a new twelve month contract had started.

This was not made clear by singlepoint at the point of sale and i never received a new contract by post to read over, i was conned! Be aware!

Don't worry though, after a snotty letter and a few threats of "I'm going to tell OFCOM" i mangaged to get six months worth of line rental back in the form of a nice cheque, and I kept the phone and sold it on e-bay!

JasonW_2

Well, my motto in life is 'trust nobody' but that is only cos I have been stung before. These phone monkeys get comission from selling you another contract when you call to downgrade/cancel and you pay the price.

The company could argue you never asked enough questions regarding starting a new contract or not, and Im not sure where the law stands with this. Can imagine it would come down to your word against theirs, but it also shows what some carefully worded letters with certain buzz words can achieve.

I had this just last week when I called to cancel. The muppet on the other end started to offer me a nice shiny new phone to stay with them, and the first thing I asked was 'will that mean another 12 month contract?' but of course i already knew the answer. No deal.

Woby_Tide

so phone companies won't give out a brand new phone to people unless they sign up to a new 12 month deal, well strike me down, how unfair is that.....

djrobmac

Woby_Tide wrote:

so phone companies won't give out a brand new phone to people unless they sign up to a new 12 month deal, well strike me down, how unfair is that.....

I agree mate, what the 'ell did they expect! A bit dumb not to ask.