Leaving the UK, TalkTalk want disconn fees+++

Gazza68

Hi,
I've been with TalkTalk for many many years. The current renewed contract I am on was for 18months back in Jan'13, and I'm leaving the UK permanently in mid-Nov, and want to terminate my service (BB + Phone) at the end of Oct so I can move out and stay with family for the last 2 weeks. I paid for the 12 month VLR upfront, so should essentially have 3 months 'credit' on that, and they still want to charge me another £67. I always thought there were exceptions to the disconnection charges / penalities in the contract such as death, moving oversea's (or to an area within the UK with no TalkTalk service - which happened to me in 2008). It's not as if I am moving to BT, etal - and I can provide proof by means of airline tickets, notification to the council, gas & electrical supplier, etc. Really think this is unfair, I was not expecting to leave the UK when the contract was renewed in good faith in Jan'13, and is only something that has happened in the last 3 months, and confirmed last week. I'm really annoyed....:mad: Should I just tell a 'lie' and say I moving to an area where I know there is no TalkTalk service ?
Appreciate your comments and suggestions.
Many thanks

kwikbreaks

You mention renewing a contract - if you are still in a minimum term there will be an early disconnection fee although I suppose death might possibly be an exception. Moving won't be an exception regardless of where to.

Apart from any early termination fees ceasing an ADSL connection without using a MAC will also attract an Openreach charge to physically disconnect that at the exchange - that will be mentioned in your contract somewhere and is usually about £30. If you move house but stick with the same ISP they usually absorb that along with the new ADSL connection charge.

macman

Death or bankruptcy, yes. Moving abroad or to a non-TT service area-no. The contract you agreed is for service at the current address, not any other address.
I'm sure you agreed it 'in good faith', but that won't get you out of paying the ETC for your breach of contract.
The same will apply to your mobile contract, if you have one.

MillicentBystander

Min. term contracts really should be outlawed imo.

Gazza68

MillicentBystander wrote: »

Min. term contracts really should be outlawed imo.

Thanks for the comments so far....much appreciated
I've asked Talk Talk for a breakdown of the how they get to that figure - their 'moving home' dept can't work it out, so a manager will email me that breakdown. I eventually get the email - with the lone figure again - no breakdown, no explanation......really:mad: Have emailed once again for the info and asked for a UK based Manager to speak to.
Also cam across my renewal emails in Dec'12/Jan'13 as well as a posted letter that indicates a 12month renewal and not a 18month..
I smell a rat!:(

macman

The ETC's are clearly set out on their website:
http://help2.talktalk.co.uk/my-account-bills/there-charge-terminating-my-contract-early

MillicentBystander

Of course they are in the T&Cs but that doesn't negate my particular point that min term contracts on phone/broadband should be outlawed. Then we wouldn't get threads like this all the time. If a company is confident it can provide a good service there really is no need to tie its punters in.

shaun_from_Africa

MillicentBystander wrote: »

If a company is confident it can provide a good service there really is no need to tie its punters in.

But the case in hand proves exactly why providing a good service wouldn't always negate the need for a minimum term contract as however good the service received by the OP was, they will still be cancelling their contract.
Even if every company provided exceptional service, they would still offer incentives to entice new customers (such as a discount for the first 6 months), and without min term contracts, many people would simply stay for the discount period then move to another company.
All this would do is to increase the overall cost for everyone else.

MillicentBystander

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

But the case in hand proves exactly why providing a good service wouldn't always negate the need for a minimum term contract as however good the service received by the OP was, they will still be cancelling their contract.
Even if every company provided exceptional service, they would still offer incentives to entice new customers (such as a discount for the first 6 months), and without min term contracts, many people would simply stay for the discount period then move to another company.
All this would do is to increase the overall cost for everyone else.

It still doesn't make it right. Could you imagine Tesco insisting that you shop there for 12 months and if you don't charge a penalty so you are then free to shop at Asda? It's a nonsense that some of us have to grown to accept. Still doesn't make it right. And these introductory offers are wrong in any case and probably the real reason such companies have to tie their customers in for 12/18 months. The rise of disloyalty is all the companies' fault imo.

Gazza68

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

But the case in hand proves exactly why providing a good service wouldn't always negate the need for a minimum term contract as however good the service received by the OP was, they will still be cancelling their contract.
Even if every company provided exceptional service, they would still offer incentives to entice new customers (such as a discount for the first 6 months), and without min term contracts, many people would simply stay for the discount period then move to another company.
All this would do is to increase the overall cost for everyone else.

And I'm not disagreeing with you - I would have continued to see the rest of my contract to the end as agreed, but I'm not wanting to leave because of a better deal elsewhere, I'm leaving the country, and can prove that with airline tickets etc. I did not foresee I'd be leaving the country when I entered the agreement 10 months ago. I just think there are exceptions with reasonable proof to consider. If /when I come back I'll definitely check out the termination details, and won't be recommending TalkTalk to anyone. FYI so far I've terminated my contract with British Gas with absolutely NO penalties or fee's to pay because I am leaving the country (and no proof was requested either). So shame on TalkTalk - things must be getting dire for them!

Gazza68

MillicentBystander wrote: »

It still doesn't make it right. Could you imagine Tesco insisting that you shop there for 12 months and if you don't charge a penalty so you are then free to shop at Asda? It's a nonsense that some of us have to grown to accept. Still doesn't make it right. And these introductory offers are wrong in any case and probably the real reason such companies have to tie their customers in for 12/18 months. The rise of disloyalty is all the companies' fault imo.

Couldn't agree more!