cancelling contractions to losing job

worried-me

Hi have tried to cancel 3 mobile contracts because I am shortly to lose my job and have been told flat now I will have to pay the massive termination charges and they will not take into account the circumstances.

Is there are organisation I can appeal to ?

zagfles

Did you get "free" phones with these contracts?

jbainbridge

Sell the handsets to cover some of the cost.

worried-me

I have already sold the hansets but they come nowhere to covering the termination fees

grumbler

No, you cannot appeal anywhere. They have no obligations to take your circumstances into account.
The only valid reasons for contract termination are bankruptcy and death.

MattLFC

It's stated in their terms and conditions that you are not able to cancel the contract, except within the terms of their "acceptance" period. So it is actually best you pay the remainder of the contract and use it, but try to downgrade your tariff asap to save money. Iirc, Three only give you a 3% discount if you buy a new tariff from them and cancel, and a 10% discount if you are an upgrading customer. It's the same with all networks.

You could write a letter to their customer service department to appeal to their better nature, but the likelyhood is they will hold you to the terms of the contract you signed up to, and expect you to continue to pay/pay to terminate. They are even less likely to when you have received a free (subsidised by them) handset with the contract. A SIM-only tariff allows them more flexibility as they don't stand to lose so much.

macman

This question is asked several times every week and the answer does not change. Loss of employment or a negative change in your income or circumstances does not allow you to void your contract without penalty.
Post 5 sums it up very well.

spiro

Unless you are pregnant you may want to change the title of your thread. :rotfl:

Guys_Dad

I agree with previous posts. The position is that you contracted to take a service for a period and you are bound by that contract.

You might try asking the network for a cheaper contract, payment holiday, or any goodwill gesture they might want to make, but don't hold your breath.

Once again, this shows the potential danger of entering a pretty big financial commitment that is dependent upon continued income from employment. The lure of the shiny new handset seems to fry the brain when it comes to personal risk management.

You may find that this thread may be lacking in apparent sympathy for your predicament, but there is little point in giving you any false hope or soothing words. All in all, you will need to look at your outgoings and prioritise them and, if there is insufficient funds to cover them, then either get a debt management programme or some other scheme in place.

There isn't a Good Fairy Organisation to appeal to or help, I am afraid.

macman

Is this one mobile contract with 3, or three mobile contracts with someone else? I ask because you refer to '3 mobile contracts' (plural).

grumbler

It's definitely more than one contract with '3' or someone else. What difference does it make how many contacts and with whom?