3 overcharging me for stolen laptop?

jaybrav0

Hi guys and girls, really sorry if this is in the wrong place please move it should it be.

Here's my question

Took out a 24 month contract with 3 last year, took it out in the store. It was for a dongle which was supposed to cost £25 flat for the 24 months.

Have't used it for about three months, looking at bank statement and start seeing a lot of CHG's :<

Check bank statements thoroughly, apparently 3 have been taking ~£50 a month via direct debit (I say £50 as it seems to fluctuate around that even though I'm not using my dongle).

Phone call to 3, ask them why I'm being charged so much. "For your dongle and laptop deal", I don't have a laptop "Well it appears to have been delivered to an address in south London". I don't live in south London, when was this contract taken out? "In the shop when you got your dongle, I'll call you back in the morning once we've reached a resolution we will refund you" etc etc

Phone call never came.

Angry email to 3 explaining I don't want their products anymore, automatic reply saying it will be responded to within 10 days.

No reply.

Cancelled *all* direct debits to 3.

Second phone call, guy on the other end assures me he can sort it however has nothing on my file about my previous complaint(s). Says he has to go and speak to the customer services department, will call back.

No call back.

Now, so far between them overcharging me and the bank charging me for going overdrawn with them (As it's at the *end* of every month, I usually provision to have just enough in there to pay the £25) it's cost me almost £200 (It went on for three months before I noticed it and I deducted the cost of the dongle which I agreed to pay for).

I want to cancel everything I have with three, I don't want them making another penny out of me. I'm absolutely fuming, their customer service is a disgrace, they owe me money as far as I'm concerned as I've never received a laptop and over all they don't seem to give a flying monkey.

Now, I need some advice as I'm not sure what footing I'm on legally if I refuse to pay for any more of their services? I am absolutely adamant come sleet, snow or high water I will not pay them anything more. It did cross my mind to make a claim against them through the courts, if somebody could advise me I'd be most greatful!

Oh, and hi. I'm J and this is my first post :j

shellsuit

Hi J, welcome to MSE!

Can you ask them to show you a copy of the contract for the dongle and laptop deal?

jaybrav0

For sure however if they will or not is anybodies guess. I will call them tomorrow and ask however there must be regulations to protect consumers in this country from this type of rubbish contract or no contract?

grumbler

There is regulation to protect you from the money being taken wrongly from your account. It is called 'Direct Debit Guarantee'. I am sure you have heard about this.

Unless you want your credir rating ruined, reinstate the DD and ask your bank to refund all the money that you think was takend incorrectly.

jenniewb

If it is fraud on your account (eg someone pretending to be you and using your account to obtain money) go straight to the police with all the details you have. Then you have more of an arguement against them if they try to get any further money from you.

jaybrav0

I have now however I want to stop paying them entirely and this will only get me as far as a refund, if I'd not had this problem I wouldn't have minded as I'd agreed to pay beforehand however this has cost me in time and pressure on my Brain. If somebody was to come up in the street and try and rob me of what they've stolen from me I'd start detaching parts of their bodies.

Oh and something I forgot to mention, in the second phone call the guy told me the laptop hadn't been taken out at the beginning of the contract as the first guy had told me, it was taken out at a much later date over the phone. Can't even tell me where I live but they're quick enough to steal from me

I had thought about going to the police and obtaining a crime reference however it seems to be a whole load more hassle I don't have the time or patience to deal with at the moment, I just want smooth sailing!

grumbler

Well, well...

dispute with orange and now can't get a mortgage

jaybrav0

Ah, I'm not worried about that at the moment however I do see the point you're trying to make.

Any idea how to get hold of somebody more senior at three? I'd like someone with English as a primary language and a bit of power to actually help me to shout at and abuse!

Snakeeyes21

jaybrav0 wrote: »

Ah, I'm not worried about that at the moment however I do see the point you're trying to make.

Any idea how to get hold of somebody more senior at three? I'd like someone with English as a primary language and a bit of power to actually help me to shout at and abuse!

executive.office@three.co.uk very good at sorting stuff out.

However i really cant see how somebody could have taken just the laptop as a deal at a later date, they would have needed to have it as part of a dongle / broadband package, and it would have been delivered to the address on your account..

Or at least to the address they made the second credit check on.. which would have been yours because they sure as hell arent going to let some random person phone up, pass your security questions then give their own details for a second contract..