Getting out of a 3 Contract- No Signal

rose28454

My daughter is 12 months into an 18 month contract with 3 with an IPhone 4. She called them yesterday about getting out of it as they took down one of the masts in our area and now the signal is terrible. Her fiance and I have both got out of ours recently. 3 let me keep my IPhone 3 and I am now on a O2 Contract which is just a 30 day one.
However when she called 3 they firstly said they would reduce her tarriff by £6.00 a month?? Then they said they would let her out of the contract but would need the phone back. When she took the contract she paid £100.00 for the phone( I think) so surely she is allowed to keep it??

lr1277

I think that is pretty reasonable of them to say she can drop the contract if she returns the phone.

A new iphone 4 used to cost when new in the region of £600.

I don't know what your daughter was paying monthly, but the £100 plus whatever she paid monthly, probably won't come to £600 + whatever she has used in calls/data.

grumbler

I think if they demand the phone back they must return £100 either.

Buzby

I don't believe they can (demand the phone back). However, they are agreeing to the cancellation of a top-range handset removing the liability for any on-going service issues*. Because it is they who have changed their network (where previously good service has deteriorated) most networks will agree to a waiver, and it is then up to the powers of negotiation whether you accept or carry on as before (based on the money you would still be liable for).

I good tactic is to thank them for being so understanding, but add that if she returns the handset the £100 credit for her iPhone purchase wont buy her a replacement, so can she just hang on to it....?

Rather than argue, they may simply agree.

*As no consumer contracts provide SLA (Service Level Agreements on coverage) they could say sorry, the BTS had to be moved for a variety of reasons, but the contract permits them to modify their services and the consumer is required to comply.