Mobile Phone Charege Limits?

silke2005

I volunteer at a Disability Advice charity (which is under the cosh for cuts from our local (very right wing) Tory council). I have had several clients who have had letters from various debt collection agencies re alleged debts. They vary from people who have cancelled their contracts (after they expire) and who are told (by phone) they owe nothing. Two (or even more) years later they get letters from various companies who allege they owe hundreds (or even thousands) of pounds.

My question is, having requested details of an alleged debt (in one case on 26 October last year) none of these compainies has come back with an itemised list of why our clients owe this money. Indeed, I faxed one company on 2 February, with a copy of my letter of 26 October 2010 and asked for a reply no later than 15 February. Lo and behold, I received a reply dated 16 February, date stamped 21 February saying that they had requested this, but it might take some time! How much time do they need?

What I want to know, please, do mobile phone companies have a limit on the charges clients can accrue before they cut them off? My latest client has three debts - over £1000 with one company, over £900 with another and just under £40 with yet another. This client has MS at the stage where his cognitive functions are impaired. He was in hospital for several weeks and is currently in a home for MS sufferers, so the bailiffs can't get at his home!

Can anyone tell me if there is a code of practice to deal with mobile phone companies and the limits on debts taken by their clients. I've tried the OFCOM website, but it's confusing, and does not address the problems experienced by my clients.

Any help would be most appreciated.

robt_2

There is no defined limit at where someone is cut off, no. For example, if someone did not pay a £50 a month, 24 month contract at the start of the contract, they would be chased for £1200 (50x24) plus any usage - which could be a £1000 or more if they have been recklessly using data abroad etc.

And debt collectors are not bailiffs - they have zero powers.

Jon_01

As robt says there's no set limit. there's a kind of soft limit depending how how well or not you've paid in the past. But as a rule if there's no payment over 6 weeks (ie 2 missed payments) the acc will get barred for none payment.

One thing I would suggest, is that you check that your clients have called and canceled their contracts. There's a common misconception that term is a maximum rather than a minimum and people get the the 18/24 month point and cancel their DD's without telling the network. This may not be an issue with the people you work with, but it is something that comes up on here time after time.