MSE News: Orange won't face price hike investigation but door open for complaints

Former_MSE_Guy

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Ofcom says the phone giant does not have a case to answer after it announced plans to hit millions with hikes ..."

Read the full story:
Orange won't face price hike investigation but door open for complaints

robbies_gal

so even though ofcom say they can do it we can still complain-whats the point then

jasonwatkins

The Ofcom spokeswoman adds: "Whether or not individual consumers suffer material detriment will depend on the individual circumstances in each case, and customers can still contact Orange if they think they have or will suffer material detriment."

This kind of applies to me - as i've recently been placed on the appeal-rate ESA benefit, which represents around a 40% cut in my income, my outgoings are now more than my income.

So any price rise, even a few quid, will most definitely represent a material detriment - and I have the paperwork to prove it. I haven't yet received the text about the increase and, as i'm within the 30 day notice period, i'm kind of hoping I don't because it gives me a free way out of the contract.

robbies_gal

well i hope you get somewhere jason there will be alot of people claiming material detriment but you seem to have a strong case

jasonwatkins

Thanks. Luckily my Sky minimum period is also up in Feburary so come the 26th of January, I may well also be able to haggle the price of that down by telling them I want to cancel. If I can do that, and get somewhere with Orange, then I might actually be able to even the balance and just about cover my outgoings without having to constantly juggle everything around.

stringman20

If Orange customers cancel direct debit payments it will be up to Orange to prove the lagality of the price hike. Quite how they would be able to do this with the number of individual cases involved is anyones guess.

Guys_Dad

stringman20 wrote: »

If Orange customers cancel direct debit payments it will be up to Orange to prove the lagality of the price hike. Quite how they would be able to do this with the number of individual cases involved is anyones guess.

Utter tripe. Orange would not have to prove a thing.

If anyone does cancel their DD, then they will struggle to get new contracts in the future as Orange will quite rightly post that they are defaulters on the credit agency databases. And it will affect all sorts of potential credit applications, so a very bad idea. Please don't follow this route

hermante

jasonwatkins wrote: »

I haven't yet received the text about the increase and, as i'm within the 30 day notice period

but can you prove that you haven't deleted it from your phone?

stringman20

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Utter tripe. Orange would not have to prove a thing.

If anyone does cancell their DD, then they will struggle to get new contracts in the future as Orange will quite rightly post that they are defaulters on the credit agency databases. And it will affect all sorts of potential credit applications, so a very bad idea. Please don't follow this route

You have completely missed the point. To help do your thinking for you; how do you think orange would react if all of their contract customers suddenly pulled the plug?

jasonwatkins

hermante wrote: »

but can you prove that you haven't deleted it from your phone?

Considering my current financial status, I would be very aware of such a text should it arrive. I also generally don't get that many texts as it is so it would also stand out somewhat as well.

So from that respect, I can most definitely say that I have not received it yet.

I'd also imagine Orange, if need be, would probably have some kind of record as to whether or not my number had received such a system text.

robbies_gal

its not necessarily within the 30 day period yet though as my text said my bill would increase from feb