How to fight against extortionate change on contract phone

Elegantstorm

Hello all

I bought my teenage sons mob. phones as birthday presents. My elder one had a Blackberry for about £25/month since Oct last year. There were limited txts and minutes included but a few times i was charges over £100. I argued with t-mobile and stated my son is under 16 and usually BBMs his friends, txts and rings occasionally. He also downloads music off the i-net. First time they said he'd exceeded his txts with about 700??? (i thought BBM was free). They refunded some of the charge but now i have £260.23 charge and am looking for a line(s) of plausible argument.

Are they able to 'cap' my son't usage so that i don't get overdrawn from the charge?? Can i use the 'social responsibility' argument? If i say i will cancel my DD what is the worst that can happen?? Would my credit rating get black-marked?

Many thanks for your advice!

E.

OneADay

Texts are not part of BBM - if he messaging using BBM directly with someone else with a blackberry, then he is ok. If he using ordinary texts, then going over the monthly allowance will cost money.

Why not just give him a pay and go and tell him to pay for it himself - once he is 18 he can get his own contract and pay for it himself.

No such thing as social responsibility - the contract is in your name and you are over 18 and phone is your responsibility - giving it your son to use is at your own risk.

robbies_gal

social responsiblity-how bout dont give your son free reign of a contract and take responsibility yourself

try payg much better for a child

grumbler

Elegantstorm wrote: »

I bought my teenage sons mob. phones as birthday presents. ...

Are they able to 'cap' my son't usage so that i don't get overdrawn from the charge??

I understand that you've bought the phones sim-free. You should have chosen one of their 'You fix' tariffs then if you did not want PAYG.
Tesco Mobile is the only other network that offers capped contracts.
Giffgaff is a popular PAYG alternative.

... i ...am looking for a line(s) of plausible argument.

I don't see any.

Can i use the 'social responsibility' argument?

They are responsible. They sell contracts to adults only. It was you who acted irresponsibly by giving a phone with unlimited credit to a teenager and not making sure that he stays within the limits.

If i say i will cancel my DD what is the worst that can happen?? Would my credit rating get black-marked?

Definitely.

buscape

Elegantstorm wrote: »

They refunded some of the charge

You should count yourself lucky they refunded any of the charges, they're not obliged to, you must have come across a very helpful person that day.

Elegantstorm wrote: »

Are they able to 'cap' my son't usage so that i don't get overdrawn from the charge??

T-Mobile do You-Fix, which is a capped contract. They might be able to switch you onto this tariff.
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/you-fix/plans/

Elegantstorm wrote: »

Can i use the 'social responsibility' argument?

They don't have any social responsibility. They have a responsibility to their shareholders.

Elegantstorm wrote: »

If i say i will cancel my DD what is the worst that can happen?? Would my credit rating get black-marked?

They could cancel the contract and charge you for the remainder which is likely to be quite expensive, especially if they then sell the debt onto a debt collection agency.

Your best bet would be to try to get them to put you onto the You-Fix tariff.

Elegantstorm

Thank you very much - i know it's my fault - i still despair for getting a contract phone and the 2 yr period will only end Oct, 2013... may be i just have to find out what exactly has brought this charge...

Thanks again

Elegantstorm

Yes, i learned the hard way about that - thanks for the reply.

Elegantstorm

Thank you very much for this informative and helpful reply! I appreciate that. Will try and switch t this you-fix tarrif.

Have a great evening. :-)

Elegantstorm

Thank you - very useful advice!

Elegantstorm

A little bit late, but I can now report VICTORY! Unbelievable for me, too but It took me from before Christmas until after Easter time to resolve this matter. I went through all the official channels, the EE resolution responce was a lame, standard letter. I took the issue up with CISAS. I won on the basis of Contract law, of which I got acquainted myself after a lot of research. The recommended that all charges were waived, incl. those of BCW (debt collectors). Letter of apology was required (not received yet..) and correction to be sent to all Credit Reference Agencies (not officially confirmed yet). My son is ever so careful now with his phone :-)

kingrulzuk

Elegantstorm wrote: »

A little bit late, but I can now report VICTORY! Unbelievable for me, too but It took me from before Christmas until after Easter time to resolve this matter. I went through all the official channels, the EE resolution responce was a lame, standard letter. I took the issue up with CISAS. I won on the basis of Contract law, of which I got acquainted myself after a lot of research. The recommended that all charges were waived, incl. those of BCW (debt collectors). Letter of apology was required (not received yet..) and correction to be sent to all Credit Reference Agencies (not officially confirmed yet). My son is ever so careful now with his phone :-)

Wel Don happy for u