Orange Contract Trouble

Missb12

Hi

Just wandering if anyone has any advice with the following......

I cancelled my contract in April 2010 paid everything owing off! And now in April 2011 just had a letter/call from Debt recovery company asking for £550 from Orange with that contract number! I moved house just after April 2010 so never got any letters (including one to say the contract had ended). I know the phone has not been used since the time I cancelled.

I have paid the Debt recovery as they said unless I had a letter stating the contract had been cancelled I could not follow a dispute with Orange. However really narked off that this has happened, is there anything I can do, was thinking Orange must have records somewhere of my last payment etc and that the phone hasn't been used. Not expecting it all back (even though it would be nice) but something would be good.....

Any advice please........

Guys_Dad

You should not have paid the debt company without disputing the debt. There is a correct procedure that puts things on hold pending investigation and the MSE Debt forum has all the details.

Now you have a problem. If the debt company have bought the debt from Orange and you paid them, then it makes recovery more difficult. If they are acting as Orange's debt collection service, then it's a bit easier.

You need to go back to Orange and get them to go through their records.

How did you cancel? In the shop, on the phone or what? Or did you just ask for a PAC code and never use it, in which case you didn't cancel the contract.

Give us a bit more detail and we can be more specific, but do look at the debt forum and get on to Orange to search their records if you are sure you did cancel.

grumbler

I think it was a mistake to pay that fast because it will be almost impossible to recover the money if it was Orange's mistake.

I cancelled my contract in April 2010 paid everything owing off!

The main question is how you have cancelled the contract.
Was it just a telephone call close to the end of the contact?
Was it an early termination with some lump sum payment?

donnap83

Eek!!!

I've just cancelled my Orange contract early (two months remaining) I also got the PAC code and have transfered my number to my new network. The last payment will be paid by DD at the start of June. What should I do to ensure that they don't do the same as the OP and go after me for more money later on??

Thanks

drbesty

There's something more to this I feel, no company will pass a debt onto a debt collector without good reason

grumbler

donnap83 wrote: »

Eek!!!

I've just cancelled my Orange contract early (two months remaining) I also got the PAC code and have transfered my number to my new network. The last payment will be paid by DD at the start of June. What should I do to ensure that they don't do the same as the OP and go after me for more money later on??

Thanks

I think if your DD is fine you have nothing to worry about. However I'd expect the final payment to be taken earlier and for all the remaining months (if more than one). Make sure the DD isn't bounced because of the lack of funds.

grumbler

drbesty wrote: »

There's something more to this I feel, no company will pass a debt onto a debt collector without good reason

Is a cancelled DD and the customer moved to an unknown address a good enough reason ?

Dozens of stories here about either networks making mistakes with termination or customers unknowingly cancelling contracts incorrectly.

simax

donnap83 wrote: »

Eek!!!

I've just cancelled my Orange contract early (two months remaining) I also got the PAC code and have transfered my number to my new network. The last payment will be paid by DD at the start of June. What should I do to ensure that they don't do the same as the OP and go after me for more money later on??

Thanks

Don't panic! Relax. If you've completed porting your number then the old account is closed automatically.

Guys_Dad

donnap83 wrote: »

Eek!!!

I've just cancelled my Orange contract early (two months remaining) I also got the PAC code and have transfered my number to my new network. The last payment will be paid by DD at the start of June. What should I do to ensure that they don't do the same as the OP and go after me for more money later on??

Thanks

I would keep the DD mandate in place for a couple of months after the contract ends. There may be some call charges to come and it is much easier to deal with any deductions you feel they may have taken the month after than an accumulation further down the line should anything have gone amiss with the cancellation.

Missb12

Hi Thanks for the info so far..... Not looking good!
The contract was well pasts its end date, and I cancelled over the phone and paid the outstanding balance, if I did get a pac code or reference I didn't keep it, as stupidly it wasn't something I thought I'd need a year later! The debt was brought off Orange and when speaking to Orange they say they do not have access to the contract records, surely this can not be right. Is it worth writing through to there complaints proceedure????????????

grumbler

Missb12 wrote: »

... if I did get a pac code or reference I didn't keep it, as stupidly it wasn't something I thought I'd need a year later!

PAC Codes and Oranges Way to Stop You Cancelling.

The debt was brought off Orange and when speaking to Orange they say they do not have access to the contract records, surely this can not be right. Is it worth writing through to there complaints proceedure????????????

If they don't have access this doesn't mean that the records don't exist. Without records they cannot prove anything.
However, they have sold the debt to the debt collectors and you should have requested the proofs from the collectors before paying them.