Mobile provider 3 taking Money

phobya

I was going to move to 3 on a pay monthly plan so i ordered a sim card, cost 10p so i had to put in my card details. i phoned my current provider to get a PAC code to transfer my number, but they offered me a better deal so i stayed with them.

But 3 has been taking £12.90 out of my account since September, which i discovered yesterday. I did not register the sim, but they say its automatically registered a couple of days after the purchase.

They are passing my case to the complaints team to see if i can stop the payments without the 30 days notice. The sim card has never been taken out of the envelope.

What would my position be or would i just have to agree to what they say, and if i stop the DD my end will my credit rating be affected.

Any help would be appreciated.

Tony5101

It sounds to me like you signed up to a pay monthly price plan. Regardless of whether you started using it or not, the fact is that you ordered it.
I fear that unless 3 show some good will, which in this circumstance they wouldn't be obliged to do, that your best course of action would be to cancel at the earliest opportunity...and if they waive the usual 30 days notice then you've done well.
With regard to what you've already paid then...wel I think you can say goodbye to that. But seeing as you didn't know it was gone anyway it was pretty much dead money already.

DUTR

Why pay 10p for a sim card, when you can just walk into a 3 store? Cart and horse comes to mind, ask for the pac code first then when you get the 'better offer' then you can decide if you are going to stay or get a new sim card.
It doesn't help that it has taken you so long to notice monies coming from your account.
You may get lucky with a resolution (but I'm not putting money on it) .
Your credit rating will be affected if you just stop the DD and not give the 30 days notice.

phobya

Thank you for the reply Tony, That's what i feared, the money would be very handy atm, ive just brought our prem twins home and we have a 14 month old as well.
James

Tony5101

Fingers crossed for a good result, but 3 aren't known for their great customer service.
Good luck with the little'uns ;-)

phobya

DUTR wrote: »

Why pay 10p for a sim card, when you can just walk into a 3 store? Cart and horse comes to mind, ask for the pac code first then when you get the 'better offer' then you can decide if you are going to stay or get a new sim card.
It doesn't help that it has taken you so long to notice monies coming from your account.
You may get lucky with a resolution (but I'm not putting money on it) .
Your credit rating will be affected if you just stop the DD and not give the 30 days notice.

Would it have a massive affect, like the chance of getting finance on a car, mortgage etc ? Hopefully they will have some customer first moto, but i will post the outcome when i hear something.

Buzby

The SIM is free, the 10p is billed to your card to confirm validity, and is then a bill credit of the first generated bill.

Afraid you are In hock to them, as it was you who changed your mind after agreeing to their terms. You could have cancelled within 14 days (it is in their letter) but if you did not, it is confirmed for the duration.

DUTR

phobya wrote: »

Would it have a massive affect, like the chance of getting finance on a car, mortgage etc ? Hopefully they will have some customer first moto, but i will post the outcome when i hear something.

I try and dodge having credit where ever possible, other than my CC which I clear at the end of the month, but going in gung ho style with a DD stoppage can affect your credit rating and yes it can have a negative effect on you achiveing credit , as you have not really missed the £12.90 per month then slog it out until you get written confirmation from 3 that the account is closed, that said I cancelled in July last year and I don't think my £0 per month contract is yet finally closed.

phobya

Well its finally ended. They sent me a bill for the £12.90 from the last months bill. I phoned the number on the bill and she didn't know anything about my complaint. She then gave me another number to phone, and that person couldn't help me either. I eventually got through to someone that said that they would pass it on to the manager, he called me the next day, which i explained to him, activating a sim card before it is sent through the post is not very secure and anyone could have got hold of it and created a massive bill, he understood my comments and said that he would stop the £12.90 bill and end the contract. Better than nothing i suppose. But a total pain in the backside getting passed from one person to another in call center's in India, i'm sure they do it on purpose so, people just give up. Thank you to all the people that have commented.

Buzby

Might be useful checking your credit report too, as networks are pretty prolific in letting their IT run riot, whilst you think everything is nicely settled!