Leaving the UK, TalkTalk want disconn fees+++

Gazza68

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

I have a rolling contract with Virgin, as I wasn't happy with them, and told them that if they don't sort the problems out, then I would be leaving them (they are sorted now). They let me make some changes to the package, but insist on a new minimum term for some additions.

All contracts should revert to rolling contracts once the minimum term is up, unless you make any big changes, or get a discount to go onto another minimum term.

Yeah, can't recall what the promotion was at the time, but I probably did opt for the 'best' deal - why not? But you don't seem to understand that I do agree I went into the contract with full intentions of seeing the contract out i.e. I will not terminate it if I get a better deal elsewhere - Is that not what these deals are for? Given that I am a long time loyal customer of approaching 5 years in total and never willing breached any of my contracts to go elsewhere, you'd think a little leeway would be in order in my case.... remember too that when I renewed there was no reconfiguration of any network elements, no wiring in DDF's or MDF's, no software changes, no new modem/router, no need for OpenReach....easy-peasy for TalkTalk. Think of all the work involved for a brand new customer....!
Like I've said elsewhere, if/when I came back to the UK I'll not consider TalkTalk again, and I'll be warning my parents to be wary as well (perhaps even cancel there service as I don't think they are on a contract anyway). And FYI as a long time loyal customer with British Gas, they have agreed to let me out of my existing contract without penalties or charges....

macman

Gazza68 wrote: »

Yeah, can't recall what the promotion was at the time, but I probably did opt for the 'best' deal - why not? But you don't seem to understand that I do agree I went into the contract with full intentions of seeing the contract out i.e. I will not terminate it if I get a better deal elsewhere - Is that not what these deals are for? Given that I am a long time loyal customer of approaching 5 years in total and never willing breached any of my contracts to go elsewhere, you'd think a little leeway would be in order in my case.... remember too that when I renewed there was no reconfiguration of any network elements, no wiring in DDF's or MDF's, no software changes, no new modem/router, no need for OpenReach....easy-peasy for TalkTalk. Think of all the work involved for a brand new customer....!
Like I've said elsewhere, if/when I came back to the UK I'll not consider TalkTalk again, and I'll be warning my parents to be wary as well (perhaps even cancel there service as I don't think they are on a contract anyway). And FYI as a long time loyal customer with British Gas, they have agreed to let me out of my existing contract without penalties or charges....

No, I don't think you understand. Your 'full intentions' are simply not relevant to TT. You agreed a minimum term contract, and now you want to break it. That puts TT in a worse position that they would have been in had you seen out the contract, so they will seek whatever compensation is specified in the T&C's. Your length of service does not matter. This question comes up several times every week, but the answer does not change.
This thread has turned into a debate on the ethics of minimum term contracts, which is a different argument altogether.

Jamie_Carter

Gazza68 wrote: »

Yeah, can't recall what the promotion was at the time, but I probably did opt for the 'best' deal - why not? But you don't seem to understand that I do agree I went into the contract with full intentions of seeing the contract out i.e. I will not terminate it if I get a better deal elsewhere - Is that not what these deals are for? Given that I am a long time loyal customer of approaching 5 years in total and never willing breached any of my contracts to go elsewhere, you'd think a little leeway would be in order in my case.... remember too that when I renewed there was no reconfiguration of any network elements, no wiring in DDF's or MDF's, no software changes, no new modem/router, no need for OpenReach....easy-peasy for TalkTalk. Think of all the work involved for a brand new customer....!
Like I've said elsewhere, if/when I came back to the UK I'll not consider TalkTalk again, and I'll be warning my parents to be wary as well (perhaps even cancel there service as I don't think they are on a contract anyway). And FYI as a long time loyal customer with British Gas, they have agreed to let me out of my existing contract without penalties or charges....

What you have to remember is that Talk Talk are a big business. And big businesses will only bend over backwards if you are going to continue to use them, and not if you are leaving them.

Gazza68

macman wrote: »

No, I don't think you understand. Your 'full intentions' are simply not relevant to TT. You agreed a minimum term contract, and now you want to break it. That puts TT in a worse position that they would have been in had you seen out the contract, so they will seek whatever compensation is specified in the T&C's. Your length of service does not matter. This question comes up several times every week, but the answer does not change.
This thread has turned into a debate on the ethics of minimum term contracts, which is a different argument altogether.

Oh my goodness 'macman' - whatever.....:p
Delighted to say I got a satisfactory solution from TalkTalk - they are a reasonable company after all and will use them again if I ever return to the UK. Signing off from this thread, so thanks to all those just- minded folks who gave positive input - thanks again.

JJ_Egan

I wonder do we all have case law now to get out of contracts.

jje

anotheruser

Why not just knob off and not tell them? Stop the DD.
If you're moving to another country, surely it won't matter?

macman

Gazza68 wrote: »

Oh my goodness 'macman' - whatever.....:p
Delighted to say I got a satisfactory solution from TalkTalk - they are a reasonable company after all and will use them again if I ever return to the UK. Signing off from this thread, so thanks to all those just- minded folks who gave positive input - thanks again.

Good. So why not share the solution with us?

kwikbreaks

He pays and they don't trash his credit record?

MillicentBystander

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Yes we all know introductory discounts are a marketing ploy to get you to sign up to a new contract, and that's nothing new. But as I said, they have to claw back their initial set up costs, which they only have to pay out for once per contract term.

You haven't really thought this one through have you?

I'm sorry, I got there first with that comment and at least mine was based on fact. I think you probably know by now that your assertion that prices would rise because there would be no introductory offers then going on to explain that these offers are eventually paid back over the life of the tie in was a bit of an own goal.

No wonder foreign companies come and buy up our utilities, we are seemingly such a resigned to status quo nation. I despair sometimes. At least I try and take a stand on these things (and practice what i preach, neither my gas and electric or phone and broadband had any min term tie ins when I took them out. And i don't think I'm paying over the odds either)

MillicentBystander

jpsartre wrote: »

Why not? Aside from the fact that it would impossible to enforce in practice I see no problem with offering such a scheme as long as the T&C of it are clearly outlined from the get-go. The problem is not minimum term contracts, it's people like the OP that are happy to enter into a contract at a reduced price and then cry about it when they aren't allowed to break the contract without consequences. We don't need laws here, we need consumers to act like responsible adults.

Are you actually serious? And my post was nothing to do with the OP's actual predicament as he knew it was a tie in when he signed up, it was more a way of generally stating that 12/18 month tie ins should be outlawed. And to be honest none of the counter arguments in this thread have been at all convincing