Chess Telecom - A Warning

MrsElliot

Okay this isn't a home phone but a phone for a small family business. Any help would be appreciated

We decided to move our phone and broadband for a better deal to another provider in the last couple of weeks only to find out that Chess Telecom automatically renewed our contract (ARC) back in April 2012 for 2 years ending in 2014 without our knowledge!!. Thing was they didn't inform us that the contract was coming to an end or even tell us that they renewed or try to give us a better deal until we tried to switch provider. I feel like we have been conned.

I admit checking our telephone expiry dates was the last thing on my mind as my grandad - a director of the company was very ill and between March - August we took it in turns to visit him in hospital daily until his subsequent death in August.

In September we had an independent consultant come in check/update our computers and he was shocked at the low par standard and limit of our broadband, he advised us to look for a better supplier and we found a cheaper backage for broadband and phone so we decided to merge the phone and broadband into one package from one supplier. Our current broadband provider was excellent and gave us the MAC code and info in good time and found they were excellent, our phone provider Chess on the other hand, have been a nightmare to deal with.

I got a bill from chess quoting we have to pay them £1500.00 (One thousand, five hundred pounds) to terminate our contract. Surely this is extorniate amount is against Fair trading and Ofcom standards. I have asked for a copy of the original contract and they stated it was verbally agreed to in April 2010 and they state they can't provide the recording as it has to be destroyed after 6 months due to ofcom rules and they automatically renewed the contract as per their terms and conditions.

Ofcom have banned putting home and small business customers new ARCs from 31st december 2011 and should not be putting existing customers on ARCS from 31st December 2012, as we appear to fall in the latter category we are now stuck with a contract we are desperate to get out of for the next 18 months or pay the greedy company £1500.

I have contacted ofcom and they suggested legal advice however we are a small firm with little money to spare. What can we do?:mad:

jhp

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2103025

Buzby

Basically, you are stuck, as consumer protection does not apply to your installation. Companies like these have been using ARC since they started, and it is nothing new, as long as it formed the basis of your original agreement (and it probably does), you've to bite the bullet and abide by your agreement.

Diarise the relevant dates and ensure nothing prevents you providing notice at the correct time. You then leave on your terms, with no unwarranted payments. It is jus a shame you didn't take notice of this when setting up the deal.