Tesco mobile, jobs & leaving the UK

jjjenny

Hello,

I’m leaving the UK in two months time for one year on the search for a job and wish to cancel my 24 month contract with Tesco Mobile. When I leave the UK I will have 10 months left on my contract. Part of the reason for leaving the UK is I will be loosing my job. I rang them and asked…

· Do they have a “payment holiday” where they can suspend the contract for a number of months like other networks?…. No. (Orange has given my Husband a 6 month payment holiday which is nice)

· Do they have any packages whilst abroad like other networks? …. No.

· May I cancel the contract and if so at what rate… it will be the full £45 a month

· Is there anything Tesco can do to help me? No. "I don't make the rules" was what I got from the abrupt assistant on the phone.

I just wondered whether anyone else has had a similar experience. I understand I signed up to a 24 month contract and am quite happy to send back my phone (if they want it back). A hell of a lot has changed in the last year, let alone last month, and my circumstances are now somewhat different to a week ago let alone Feb 2011 when I took out the contract.

Any advice would be appreciated; if I have to pay the £450 a month so be it, but I’d rather not.

Thanks,

Jjjenny

grumbler

I am afraid you'll have to pay £450. Some networks waive VAT on the termination fee, but I think it is not the case for Tesco.
Judging by £45 it was an iPhone or some other expensive handset. Sell it and this will cover a big part of £450.

Guys_Dad

When you sign for a contract, it's a legally binding agreement. I have seen countless threads like yours where people's circumstances have changed and they want out.

The problem is that you were seduced by the lure of a shiny new handset that you couldn't or wouldn't buy outright. And after all, it's just a dollar down and a dollar a week, isn't it? The problem is the baggage that comes with it. It's called an airtime contract.

And you are committed to £450 on it still. Expensive plaything, the shiny handset which has magically transformed into a millstone round your neck.

The abrupt CS advisor was quite correct in what they said. You should not have committed yourself to a financial debt of over £1000 if you were relying on steady employment to settle the debt.

Hopefully maybe one MSE member may read your thread and stop to think "Could I be in a similar position in future?" and then trim their desires re handsets and go sim-only.

I know that this may not help you, but reading your post, I guess you knew what the answers would be, particularly if you searched the forum for similar situations.

robbies_gal

sell the phone and pay for the remainder you should nearly cover the cost

thegoodman

Guys_Dad wrote: »

You should not have committed yourself to a financial debt of over £1000 if you were relying on steady employment to settle the debt.

Hopefully maybe one MSE member may read your thread and stop to think "Could I be in a similar position in future?" and then trim their desires re handsets and go sim-only.

I know that this may not help you, but reading your post, I guess you knew what the answers would be, particularly if you searched the forum for similar situations.

100% agree with you. Some people don't understand that mobile phones can be very expensive to run. A lot of people think its only 10 pounds more a month for new phone. All fine until things change in life.
All go for expensive handset if you can afford it sim free. You don't have to get it sim free but make sure you have the money. The sim only plan and sim free always work out cheaper

macman

Death or bankruptcy are the only ways to void your contract. Leaving the country or losing your job are not.