MSE News: T-Mobile to hit pay monthly users with price hikes

newbutold

Ah thanks thegoodman

Kate_Long

Love my reduced contract price that I'm enjoying at the moment since it ran out. Can't believe they're whacking the prices up. I think it's time for a new phone and contract!

02112273

So the regulator (and what great use they are by the way?!?) have said this is perfectly acceptable, so nothing we can do. However, how is this not covered under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts?

I can't massively complain, I purchased (and I have NO idea why anyone purchases direct through the mobile companies) through e2save, a T-Mobile contract for my wife. It's an 18 month contract, £25.16 (pre rise) inc VAT, but 16 months for £0.99.

So, I believe I should be able to sue (sorry, American wife's influence, I mean recover) the price increase through e2save? Thoughts?

I have very limited law knowledge (I always bark out UTCC or SoGA at low-level customer service advisors and usually get what I want!) but I presumably have a leg to stand on here?

mkw87

So what's the answer, go to O2 or 3G?

My contract ends in July (thank god)

chattychappy

Seems dodgy to me. I signed up in January 2012. So inflation hasn't been 3.7% since I opened my account and I haven't yet had a "12 month period".

Will look at the exact wording of the T+Cs when I return to the UK.

Personally don't think it's enforceable, but whether it's worth arguing about is another matter. (Amounts to £20 overall in my case.)

Keith

I'm another of the loyalty discount group, my charge was 80p on my £5 per month deal.

I point out that this was above the 3.7% increase they can make by clause 7. The woman got confused and my bill will now be £3.88!

I'm confused, she was confused.

aesherman

Terms are below, they talk about the RPI for the previous 12 months, but that would seem to be irrelevant for people who have just taken out a contract and are not even 12 months into it..

As customers haven't been in contract for that period it does seem that an increase is hard to justify morally, but it seem sit is 'legal'.

Ts and Cs which had an annual review point where price would be raised in line with RPI would be fairer but harder for the company to implement in their systems I guess.



Terms:
A Cancellation Charge won’t apply if You are within the
Minimum Term and:
7.2.3.1. Our entitlement to operate the Network ends at
any time; or
7.2.3.2. You are a Consumer and the change that We
gave You Written Notice of in point 2.11.2 or 7.1.4
above is of material detriment to You and
You give Us notice to immediately cancel this
Agreement before the change takes effect; or
7.2.3.3. The change that We gave You Written Notice of in
point 7.1.4 is an increase in Your Price Plan
Charge (as a percentage) higher than any
increase in the Retail Price Index (also calculated
as a percentage) for the 12 months before the
month in which We send You Written Notice and
You give Us notice to immediately cancel this
Agreement before the change takes effect.

NorthernOne

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Let's split this down.

First of all, as was shown with the Vodafone saga, T-Mobile can increase the price and the regulator will do nothing. The law is on their side.

Is it right that a contract should be increased mid-term? Morally "No", but the t&c say they can. From a PR standpoint, it's not a good move as those affected and upset will want to leave as soon as they can.

But what's the point if all the networks do the same thing and have similar t&c?

Common sense says when the initial period is up, look around and go with the best deal at the time, even if it's from the "filthy swine" who raised your charges mid term. If everyone decided in principle to ditch their current network for raising prices, then all the Vodafone disillusioned customers would move to, say, Orange and vice versa! No detriment to the networks, then.

But even more sensible is to separate the handset cost from the air-time contract. For a start, 12 months is a minimum handset-inclusive contract, but is the longer length for sim-only contracts. There is no way that I am ever going to sign up for a 24 month contract with all the hassle if the handset goes wrong and the additional monthly cost over sim only.

Sometimes, one has to accept that things don't seem right, but recognise that, when it comes time to renew, to reappraise completely the deal you want and remember that at that point, you are in the driving seat.

Wise words. I came to the same conclusion some years ago. I am still on the Flexi 30 tariff with £180 credit every month and it’s by far the best tariff ever issued by Tmobile and I now pay less than £20 per month. I know it annoys them as they have tried to change this many times but it fits me.

You need to get out of the mindset of needing a new handset all the time or the latest toy, yes this is hard but once you have done this then you will see the difference. I run an iPhone 4s and I paid for it sim free (£499) + Quidco but if I were to take it out on tariff it would over the 24 months cost over £1000!!

Saving up for a better phone is much more rewarding than getting it via the operator.

plumber2009

aesherman wrote: »

Terms:
A Cancellation Charge won’t apply if You are within the
Minimum Term and:
7.2.3.1. Our entitlement to operate the Network ends at
any time; or
7.2.3.2. You are a Consumer and the change that We
gave You Written Notice of in point 2.11.2 or 7.1.4
above is of material detriment to You and
You give Us notice to immediately cancel this
Agreement before the change takes effect; or
7.2.3.3. The change that We gave You Written Notice of in
point 7.1.4 is an increase in Your Price Plan
Charge (as a percentage) higher than any
increase in the Retail Price Index (also calculated
as a percentage) for the 12 months before the
month in which We send You Written Notice and
You give Us notice to immediately cancel this
Agreement before the change takes effect.

So how does the highlighted above stand as I took out my contract on 5th December 2011.

Surley this is an increase above 3.7% as RPI is based over 12 months.

thegoodman

With all products one need to think about the cost and the contract length and how good the person is in managing them. For people who are good with getting cahsback can be better off with 18 or 24 month contract, after the cashback the cost may be as lowe as £8-£15 a month.