3 charging disconnection fee?

onthecase

My son has been with the 3 phone network for over two years but decided to switch to a better deal last month (Vodafone). He rang 3 to give his notice but has been told that there is now a £30 disconnection fee!

My son said that when he signed up with them there was no disconnection fee and he wasn't going to pay for this as it was not what his contract was. He was told that he will have to pay.

My son is saying now that he will just not pay his last bill and I'm concerned because he will get into trouble because of this.

Can they just introduce these charges without any letter or notification and expect people to pay, ie, is this legal?

Any advice gratefully received.

CLAPTON

has he actually received his bill with the disconnection fee on it? although 3 customer serve is awful, i've not heard of a disconnection fee once out of contract time. maybe he should ring again and speak to a different operator.

onthecase

The person he spoke top said it was a "new policy" but my son said that he was out of contract and had not signed up to this but he was insistant that there would be a disconnection fee!

reehsetin

ring back and check, if they still insist ask them to put you through to a supervisor, if they still insist then write a letter of complaint saying you werent made aware of this you are out of contract etc
make sure you maker a note of everyone you speak to so if they are wrong theyll get told off

linzi_h

if you have a 3 store close to you i would pop in there and see what they say

pknottm

according to the 3 website, their T&Cs state there is no cancellation fee if you give 30 days notice after the minimum term has expired.

http://www.three.co.uk/personal/customer_/terms_conditions.omp?cid=1164989898132


10.1 You may end this agreement in the following ways:
On 30 days' notice, outside the Minimum Term. You can end the agreement if your Price Plan does not contain a Minimum Term, or if you want to end the agreement at the end of your Minimum Term or any time after your Minimum Term has expired, provided you give written notice to 3 Customer Services at least 30 days before the date you want to end the agreement. (A Cancellation Fee will not be charged.)

Hope this helps!

onthecase

Thank you for this info, it's really useful.

I've printed this out for my son to take into the 3 shop tomorrow!

Thanks again, appreciate the help.