Cancelling a Contract with 3

LilyH

Hi All,
This is my first post but I am regular reader of the website, so please bear with me.
My partner and I split at the end of June when he moved to Thailand. Luckily, we're still in regular contact and are still friends, though I'm not sure for how much longer if this continues!
At the beginning of June, he called 3 and requested that they cancel his mobile contract as he was leaving the country. Despite repeated requests and further bills, they still have not done this.
The handset in question is at my place. Until the last few days, they were repeatedly calling and texting him saying that his complaint was being dealt with. However, I am still receiving bills in his name at my address. They refuse to send correspondence to his Thai address.
So far they are still providing a service to a phone which is not in use and charging him over £25 per month.
So, does anyone out there know of what else I/we can do? Is there a UK address where I can write a formal letter of complaint, for instance?
Has anyone encountered a similar problem?
My contract is currently with 3 and I'd really love to change ASAP after this despicable treatment...
Thanks.

Cycrow

firstly, is the minimum term of the contract up ?

LilyH

Hi Cycrow,
Thanks for the reply
I'm not sure, to be honest. Would this make a difference? Or, would they just ask you for the penalty payment upfront?

Any

If the minimum contract is not up, they would not let him cancel the contract without "buying himself out".
He signed a contract for XY months. They have right to get paid for the XY months.
No matter where he decided to move, even if it was Mars.

(unless they broke the T&C of the contract obviously)

19lottie82

Cycrow is correct. If he is in a minimum term contract, he can't just cancel. He must either phone to request a cancellation price, (generally = tariff X remaining months), or continue to pay until 1 month before the minimum term is up (check the contract for this).

The most common minimum term is 24 months, if this helps you work out if he might still be in it.

If he is, three haven't done anything wrong and he must see out the rest of his contract.

macman

As above, the cost of buying it out will be the same as the value left on the contract, so there's little point in doing so, if it's still in minimum term. If it isn't, he needs to contact them and gives 30 days notice. The contract doesn't end after 24m-it continues on 30 days notice.
Your ex-partner needs to deal with this-3 won't discuss it with you because you are not the account holder.

LilyH

Thanks All.
I'll be speaking to him this weekend so I'll ask him for more details.