Sticky Situation With Carphonewarehouse/Orange

Chrissybh0y

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Long time since I bought a contract in store, but don't they charges 1p or something to your card when you buy? Wonder why? ;)

They said that was a credit check but it was for £0.00

Guys_Dad

If they have taken nothing and the service hasn't started (check with Orange) then the contract hasn't been completed. so you need to see your copy of the contract .

No paperwork? Then again, I believe from info on either the Ofcom, or Consumer Law sites, they must provide you with written contract details before any contract kicks off. Sorry I can't remember the URLs.

gjchester

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Long time since I bought a contract in store, but don't they charges 1p or something to your card when you buy? Wonder why? ;)

Conspracy theorists aside, it's because without a credit card charge they have no reason to credit check you. Take in two forms of ID and they don't generally need to do this.

Chrissybh0y

Just got a phone call from someone at the complaints department at CPW nothing I can do about it , oh well

Thank you to everyone for your replies

Earthworm

There are some options, unfortunately the solution I am about to give will ultimately be paying for nothing but limits the damage.

Via CPW if you took a £41 tariff over 2 years your total rental charges from start to finish is £984. Take off VAT and this leaves £820 as a maximum termination charge. The handset value is £529.00 but with the long delivery times if you are quick you can potentially sell the phone for full value on the basis of quick delivery. This leaves just under £300 remaining... Write a letter to Orange explaining your situation summarizing your incomings and outgoings and offer a realistic monthly payment to Orange as a method to clear the balance. Don't pay more than you can afford as this is not a priority bill.

It is always better to arrange a payment plan early on and fully keep Orange in the loop.

Of course I am making assumptions around the tariff it just seems like the most probable Orange plan.

Best of luck.

Guys_Dad

Regrettably, I am sure that this would be recorded on the OP's credit record as balance outstanding till it was paid off, deferment plan agreed or not.

Earthworm

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Regrettably, I am sure that this would be recorded on the OP's credit record as balance outstanding till it was paid off, deferment plan agreed or not.

Definately, whichever way this is looked at this seems inevitable. Potential redundancy pay could cover the excess cost to limit any negative impacts but again this is low down on priority lists when it comes to monthly outgoings.

I'd rather have a mark on my file but a realistic way out of a contract than a mark on my file and bailiff action.

There is also the possibility that a friend or relative, currently out of contract, would be willing to take over the contract.

Jimx26

Can you not refuse the phone and send back the sealed sim?
Surely they cannot charge you for something you haven't got and a service you are not using?

talkshowhostess

You could sell the phone, keep the sim card, and use the allocated minutes and texts- surely you are going to need a mobile anyway, so the £500 you get for the phone sealed will cover your bills for a while anyway.. if you buy out of the contract its just hundreds of money for nothing- you have inclusive minutes, texts and internet there that you would be spending £20/£30 a month for on PAYG, so its a false economy... I used to work for Orange so just figuring the maths here.