CPW Talkmobile DD "problem"- anyone else?

scotsblood

Like many we purchased the Galaxy Ace for our teenage twins for christmas and were attracted to the Talkmobile £10/month contract.
Both phones purchased online and delivered mid December, all seemed simple and service was live day following signup.

Kids started using them on the day and have been happy till Friday morning when both suddenly ceased to send texts or make calls with the recorded message suggesting their call allowance had been exceeded and a payment of £40 was required to recommence call service.

Have just got off phone to "customer services", couldn't call using either handset so was forced to use 0870 no from landline. Given complete nonsense excuse that owing to a "system error" no direct debits for contracts set up on that particular day in December have ever been set up and all costs to date must be paid by card today before phones will be "unblocked".
Furthermore was asked for bank details so direct debit set up could now take place as all my details from original application had been lost. Was then told that as this would not be set up in time for next payment due date she would have to call me on that day to collect another payment by card and should she use the alternative mobile contact number I gave at sign up!
Pointed out that phones were purchased on separate days so it must be more than that one day of "system error" and that if indeed all my details had been lost it was strange that the other mobile number had not been lost.

When I asked why no attempt had been made to contact me about said issue was again told this was a one day problem and they have only just discovered error.

Seems like yet another poor service problem being paid for not by those who have caused the issue but by the customers adversely affected and call centre staff just doing the 'I didn't cause the problem' cop out.

With my own contract just running up to renewal this experience doesn't attract me to CPW Talkmobile.:mad: