How to dodge the 30 day cancellation notice with Orange contracts

blueperil

arielcohen wrote: »

Asking for a PAC code which you should get almost immediately will allow you to terminate your contract as soon as you use it..

Not sure how Orange will bill you though! (I think they will charge you till the end of the contract date)

That is correct, it's when you use it that can cause problems. Do it within the minimum term and you only have to pay up until the end, do it after and they will add on 30 days notice from when you use it.

grumbler

blueperil wrote: »

Thanks for correcting me. What else besides referring to the minimum term as the 'natural end' is wrong?

That you don't have to give a notice. If there is no 'natural end' you do have to give it, although it doesn't have to be 30 days at Orange during the minimum term. Your expectation about not legal standing was wrong too.

Anon

blueperil wrote: »

That is correct, it's when you use it that can cause problems. Do it within the minimum term and you only have to pay up until the end, do it after and they will add on 30 days notice from when you use it.

Not quite right, I don't think - it is 30 days from when you request it. If you request your PAC after your minimum term has ended, you have 30 days to use it - whatever day you use it within the 30 days you get charged until the end of that 30 day notice period (so if you use it on day 15, you will still be charged until day 30, or I have in my experience). Requesting the PAC is seen as the same as giving 30 days notice (but note if you give 30 days notice, then request your PAC at a later date, the 30 days starts again, as you cannot go through the cancellation process and have a PAC at the same time - basically if you want your number, request a PAC).

Also to the comment about the natural end - only the minimum term ends, not the contract. Fortunately for us as customers, in some respects, as there would be chaos if all our phones were switched off at the end of the contract without us requesting it!

Anon

blueperil

Anon wrote: »

Not quite right, I don't think - it is 30 days from when you request it. Anon

Indeed you are correct, it depends when you request it, not when you use it..

blueperil

grumbler wrote: »

That you don't have to give a notice. If there is no 'natural end' you do have to give it, although it doesn't have to be 30 days at Orange during the minimum term. Your expectation about not legal standing was wrong too.

It doesn't have to be any days at orange during the minimum term, you don't have to give any notice. Unless you class giving notice as ringing them up and telling them you're terminating the contract. Only when outside of the minimum term do you have to give notice.

Are you sure about the legal standing, is that a professional opinion?

grumbler

blueperil wrote: »

It doesn't have to be any days at orange during the minimum term, you don't have to give any notice. Unless you class giving notice as ringing them up and telling them you're terminating the contract.

Yes, that's what I mean (in contrast to a 'natural end'). And it doesn't have to be an immediate termination, so it's definitely a notice, but without 30 days restriction.

Are you sure about the legal standing, is that a professional opinion?

It's just common sense really. An open-ended contract with a minimum term and 1 month notice to cancel. How can this be illegal/unlawful?
What we see at Orange is an illogical and senseless anomaly/loophole caused by a flaw in their T&C.

blueperil

grumbler wrote: »

It's just common sense really. An open-ended contract with a minimum term and 1 month notice to cancel. How can this be illegal/unlawful?

I did not say it was illegal. Only that it may have no legal standing and that is the point regarding having to give notice to end a contract on or before the end of the minimum term regardless of whether it's in their t&c's.

Slight digression but as a landlord I have tenants who start on 6 months contracts, I ask in their agreement that they give me notice if they wish to leave at the end of the 6 months, truth is they don't have to, they can just walk out the door without saying a word, as they have fulfilled their obligations. Legally I can't do anything. It doesn't matter what is written in the contract with regards to giving notice.

Anyway, this is getting away from the point that you can leave orange before the end of the minimum period without giving notice, at least we agree on that. (or I thought we did until you edited your post)

Silk

blueperil wrote: »

Slight digression but as a landlord I have tenants who start on 6 months contracts, I ask in their agreement that they give me notice if they wish to leave at the end of the 6 months, truth is they don't have to, they can just walk out the door without saying a word, as they have fulfilled their obligations. Legally I can't do anything. It doesn't matter what is written in the contract with regards to giving notice.

Thats because the contract you give does not transfer to a rolling contract with a 30 day minimum term.
If you did they would have to give you 30 days notice but then you would lose the security of a 6 month minimum term

blueperil

Silk wrote: »

Thats because the contract you give does not transfer to a rolling contract with a 30 day minimum term.
If you did they would have to give you 30 days notice but then you would lose the security of a 6 month minimum term

Yes it does transfer to a rolling monthly contract and notice is only required after the initial 6 months. This doesn't alter the fact no notice is needed during the initial 6 months.

Silk

blueperil wrote: »

Yes it does transfer to a rolling monthly contract and notice is only required after the initial 6 months. This doesn't alter the fact no notice is needed during the initial 6 months.

The contract I glanced through with my Daughter a few years back in London had a clause where 30 days notice had to be given to vacate the premises in any event.