Help help

dixxy30

My daughter has contacted my mobile phone company (T-Mobile) and used my password ( I don't know how she got it) to to start a new contract in my name, she has already gone way over the monthly bill, when I found out 2 months later I contacted T-mobile to ask how can a 16 girl ring up and start a new contract in her fathers name without them being suspicious and contacting me to check that I was ok with the new payments. They just said that as she had my password for my account it was tough basically, and I had to pay £20.00 for the next 2 years,
is there anyway to cancel the contract that I didn't know about,with out penalty?
any advise would be appreciated

Guys_Dad

What she has done is commit a crime - fraud through Identity Theft If it was a stranger, then you would involve the police and there is no way that the network could enforce your contract. Not exactly sure where the law stands on a 16-year old doing an identity theft and entering a contract, though. The police and network can, of course, pursue her and that could lead to a criminal conviction.

You should, of course, ask for a recording of the conversation that she had with the mobile network as without it - assuming that it was done over the phone - they can not prove any contract.

You need to weigh up whether to "keep this in the family" or involve the authorities. I assume she has no funds to pay the contract?

But a stark warning to you for the future re her honesty.

Tomdarkness

When I originally set up my contract with T-Mobile I was told by their customer service that I would be able to give my password to anyone I wanted to act on my behalf when talking to them over the phone so I think you'll struggle to get it refunded.

Wintermute

To be honest I think the only way you're going to get out of your contract without termination fees is by involving the police which I doubt you want. As Guys Dad has posted what she's done constitutes fraud and if you want T-Mobile to treat it as such you'll have to be prepared for the police to get involved.

There will be notes on your account and recordings of the calls which can be requested under the data protection act (usually at a small admin cost), you could request them and see if you find anything in the calls that can be used to void the contract. I'm pretty sure most network operators have a policy that only the account holder can make changes that can impact their credit score, such as setting up payment plans, changing payment details and creating new contracts. You might find that the guy in sales didn't confirm if your daughter was the account holder which would mean T-mobile are also at fault and could also be in breach of the data protection act or you might find that she phoned up and said she was you in which case it would be your daughter who would be liable (I am not a lawyer! Check T-mobiles policies and read a little about the DPA).

Good luck! I'd be inclined to force your daughter into paying £20 for the length of the contract even if you can get out of it without fees, it'll teach her a valuable lesson about contracts!

MrRincewind

i`d get straight back onto them, as far as i`m aware password holders can not renew contracts.

i`d call them up and ask them what there policy is for renewing contracts, if they say password holders can renew contracts, i`d ask for this in writing and take legal advice. i`d also ask for a copy of the call(usually costs £10) just to see what was discussed.