Want to cancel a Vodaphone business contract

Welshbyname

The business which owns the mobile contract ceased trading on 31st January and I need to retain the number (which was my personal transferred transferred over when the contract was agreed on by the business). Any ideas on how to do this? Ive contacted Red Rose who run the contract and they wont end the contract (September 2014) without an £800 penalty, and vodaphone say they wont touch the contract because even though its done through them as a service provider, they can't change the tarrif. There are two phones on the contract, one of which never gets used. Any help would be amazing!!

DUTR

Contact Red Rose or Vodafone, have your Early Termination fee ready.
In future keep business and pleasure seperate and that includes phone numbers.
I don't think the people you have contacted have misinformed you.

easy

Now, what type of business is it? If it is a limited company and it is ceasing to trade, then Red Rose will find that the contract is ended. They can try to impose a penalty, but if there is no money left in the company, then they won't get paid. That said, I don't know how you would retain your number ... maybe before telling Red Rose that everything is over, ask Voda if they could give a new number to the business contract, and swap your number to a PAYG ???

However, if it isn't a limited company, you are on dodgy ground. Whoever signed the contract could be held liable for the completion of the contract. Mind you, if you can convince Red Rose that there isn't enough money to complete the contract, nor to pay the penalty, they MIGHT let you change to a cheaper tariff until Sept 2014, on the basis that getting a reduced amount from you is better than getting nowt at all.

It's what I would do, but not all businesses have that common sense.

grumbler

According to Ofcom the PAC must be issued regardless of any outstanding debt.

lovinituk

grumbler wrote: »

According to Ofcom the PAC must be issued regardless of any outstanding debt.

Correct.

Using the PAC with a new contract will cause the old contract to terminate but as mentioned earlier, they will then go after somebody for the remaining amount owed to end of contract (its not a 'penalty' its what was agreed to be paid when signing for the contract). If its a limited company they might struggle but if it was a sole trader then the individual will be liable.

Buzby

This was a business account? OFCOMs guidance on a PAC is only relevant to consumer contracts. Indeed, if a limited company the OP has absolutely no authority to attempt to recover the number used.

It can be viewed as an asset of the company, and only the Receiver or Liquidator can intercede with the Service Provider. Even then, they are not obliged to agree anything unless they get something out of this that makes it worth their while.

Just because the number was used by you previously is an irrelevance and sadly, you will probably find red tape will restrict your ability to recover it.

grumbler

Buzby wrote: »

This was a business account? OFCOMs guidance on a PAC is only relevant to consumer contracts.

Really?
Ofcom is "Independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries". Nothing abut consumers only.

However, the above guidance was from "Ofcom for Consumers" section of the website that covers "The communication services citizens and consumers use at home and in business, ..."

Techhead_2

grumbler wrote: »

Really?
Ofcom is "Independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries". Nothing abut consumers only.

However, the above guidance was from "Ofcom for Consumers" section of the website that covers "The communication services citizens and consumers use at home and in business, ..."

The Ofcom website covers both businesses and consumers. However the regulatory framework is different for Businesses and Individuals (which is why there is a separate section). A B2B arrangement can contract out of parts of the regulations. One of the areas that business mobile phone contracts often differ is the PAC system where there may be substantial charges associated with number changes/transfers.

The OP would be wise to check their contract to see exactly what they have signed up for.

Buzby

Yes, really.

Business does not get the protection consumers do.

Irrespective of this, he is in no position to recover 'his' telephone number. It is (a) not his property (b) not his contract, and (c) not possible for anyone other than the contract holder to request a PAC - whether or not it was refused for a debt on the account.

lovinituk

Buzby wrote: »

Yes, really.

Business does not get the protection consumers do.

Irrespective of this, he is in no position to recover 'his' telephone number. It is (a) not his property (b) not his contract, and (c) not possible for anyone other than the contract holder to request a PAC - whether or not it was refused for a debt on the account.

I made an assumption and thought the business belonged to the OP, perhaps I am wrong. He doesn't make any mention of 'company' so perhaps its not limited.

Buzby

lovinituk wrote: »

I made an assumption and thought the business belonged to the OP, perhaps I am wrong. He doesn't make any mention of 'company' so perhaps its not limited.

As it is mentioned in the third person, I don't think so - even if not limited, the number would be claimed by the account holder, nobody else!