ending orange contract early

blonde_redhead1

My dad was 'persuaded' to take out an orange contract on behalf of my sister who was unable to pass credit checks. Phone in his name, contract linked to his account, phone definately NOT in his possession. At the time he lived with her and paid 'rent' each week and on the weeks when the bill went out of his account he gave her less money. He has since moved away from the house and lives independently and she was meant to be setting up a standing order to reimburse him the money. This hasnt happened and I have spoken to her today and she states she will not be paying the bill. Where does he stand with this? he obviously consented to sign contract in the shop, but we are talking about a very disabled man who can barely sign his name let alone operate a mobile. He has no paperwork, she has it all. Does anyone know if orange may be compassionate and consider cancelling the contract with no charge to him as he really isnt in a possition to pay this bill. he doesnt even know what phone she has or the length of contract. We live at the other end of the country to where contract was signed so isnt possible to go back to origional shop, in fact, he does not even remember what town they signed it in as he was recovering from a stroke at the time. Any advise would be appreciated. thanks.

OneADay

Well he could take his phone away from your sister and she can get her own contract.

And if he wants to end it early, phone orange and pay the early termination fee (remaining contract line rental minus tat).

grumbler

blonde_redhead1 wrote: »

...He has no paperwork, she has it all. ...he doesnt even know what phone she has or the length of contract. We live at the other end of the country to where contract was signed so isnt possible to go back to origional shop, in fact, he does not even remember what town they signed it in ....

He has his daughter that knows everything. He only needs to know the phone number to call Orange and to suspend the number or to cancel the contract that is with Orange, not with some shop.

blonde_redhead1

grumbler wrote: »

He has his daughter that knows everything. He only needs to know the phone number to call Orange and to suspend the number or to cancel the contract that is with Orange, not with some shop.

sorry for not properly understanding, do you mean as long as he knows the number then there isnt a problem with contacting orange to discuss ending the contract? thanks

grumbler

What's the problem? He is the contract holder and he is the only person who can discuss anything with Orange. The only problem I see is that he doesn't have the phone to call 150 for free and has to call 07973 100 150 instead.
http://www.saynoto0870.com/companysearch.php shows an alternative free number 0800 801080.
If he doesn't cancel the contract (to avoid paying the early cancellation fee in a lump sum) and your sister refuses tor give him both the phone and the sim, make sure to report the sim lost or stolen and to change the address registered with Orange so that they send the replacement sim to him.
Also, he can register you as a person having access to his account so that you would be able to speak to Orange on his behalf.

chanz4

Its his contract not hers, and about the not been able to sign a contract didnt he do that when he went to the shop?

blonde_redhead1

chanz4 wrote: »

Its his contract not hers, and about the not been able to sign a contract didnt he do that when he went to the shop?

he did just manage to sign, so contract definately his, just wanted to know if he would definately have to buy himself out of the contract or if orange might be compassionate

mattyprice4004

If it was that easy to get out of a contract, everyone would be doing it.

He's going to have to pay the early termination fee or keep paying.

grumbler

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

...He's going to have to pay the early termination fee or keep paying.

...or if, because of his age, he doesn't care about his credit history, he is going not pay anything...
Normally I don't advocate doing this, but this case is different. Orange shouldn't have sold him this expensive and long contract in the first place or at least advised him not to buy it. However, their salesman typically was thinking only about his commission.

blonde_redhead1

Thankyou everyone for the comments, will see if we get anywhere with a phonecall to orange but looks doubtful, up to him then how he wants to do things, but always worth a try.
thanks again

macman

I'd tell him to have the phone reported missing and hence IMEI blocked by Orange (since it's no longer in his possession and he doesn't know where it is-perfectly legitimate).
That won't stop him having to pay out until the end of the minimum term, but it might teach your devious sister not to exploit him?
Orange will see it as a family dispute, they won't get involved in that. He signed the contract of his own free will and they will not void it. However they will be able to tell him when it reaches the end of it's minimum term, he can give notice 30 days before then.