Lost my job and now on benefits. Can I exit my contract?

Protocol45

I signed up for Three, 2 year deal, about £40 a month. The only reason I went for Three was because of the unlimited fast internet. Where I worked, there was a mobile mast behind the building. I got fast speeds and because I did night shifts, the internet really helped. I have recently been dismissed and I am now on benefits trying to support my partner and young son. Before it didn't matter, but now £40 a month is a lot, especially when I don't use the internet on it much anymore, I have WiFi for that. I can also count on one hand how many people I txt and talk to.

So, is it possible for me to "please poverty" to Three in the hope of getting out early? It's getting really tight with money, and if it came down to £40 for food or £40 for the mobile bill, it will be food every time. Is this possible?

Also, if not, how am I expected to pay? I guess the only option would be to let it go into the red, destroying what little credit I have and ruining the last 10 years I spent getting debt free.

All advice is really appreciated, me and the Mrs are really worried about money at the moment, so thank you.

DevCoder

How long ago did you enter the contract?

Unfortunately you cant exit your contract on those grounds.

You can see if they will downgrade the contract although this depends on whether you got a phone as part of the deal.

Oli.s

It's hard enough to cancel a three contract at the best of times so I think your out of luck on this one.

Protocol45

I think I have until July left. I also got a phone. Nexus 4. Maybe downgrading is a good idea. I dread their customer service though.

Herongull

Why not sell the phone and use the money to pay the termination fees?

pepdavies

Sell the nexus, that'll cover 4 months or so

macman

The only way to void your contract without penalty is death or bankruptcy. To be blunt, 'pleading poverty' won't work, otherwise everyone would claim that.
As above, sell the (presumably expensive) handset to cover some of the ongoing charges. And can't you sell some other 'stuff' as well?
Really not worth trashing your credit record for 6 years by defaulting on the contract.

GwylimT

You need to phone them and explain the situation, they may be willing to down grade the contract, sell your phone asap, that will cover quite a few months of your phone bill.

DUTR

Protocol45 wrote: »

I signed up for Three, 2 year deal, about £40 a month. The only reason I went for Three was because of the unlimited fast internet. Where I worked, there was a mobile mast behind the building. I got fast speeds and because I did night shifts, the internet really helped. I have recently been dismissed and I am now on benefits trying to support my partner and young son. Before it didn't matter, but now £40 a month is a lot, especially when I don't use the internet on it much anymore, I have WiFi for that. I can also count on one hand how many people I txt and talk to.

So, is it possible for me to "please poverty" to Three in the hope of getting out early? It's getting really tight with money, and if it came down to £40 for food or £40 for the mobile bill, it will be food every time. Is this possible?

Also, if not, how am I expected to pay? I guess the only option would be to let it go into the red, destroying what little credit I have and ruining the last 10 years I spent getting debt free.

All advice is really appreciated, me and the Mrs are really worried about money at the moment, so thank you.

Are you not planning on getting future employment?
As others have said, 3 are not easy to exit a contract , I had a sim zero paying nothing a month and wished to cancel it, it still took 4 months and lots of nagging.

MataNui

You have no chance. There are so many posts similar to yours. No mobile company will let you off. They will bleed you till you default then chase you through the courts/bailiffs etc. Your best bet is as others have suggested. cancel the contract, sell the phone and use the money to pay the cancellation fee. If your contract finishes in July then at £40 per month then you are looking at £40 * 9 (months left, might be less depending on when you took your contract), so £360 then minus vat as 20% (vodafone are minus another 2% but dont know about 3) so i guess your termination fee will be about £280 ish. A used Nexus 4 isnt going to get close to that unfortunately but its probably still your best bet.

macman

MataNui wrote: »

You have no chance. There are so many posts similar to yours. No mobile company will let you off. They will bleed you till you default then chase you through the courts/bailiffs etc. Your best bet is as others have suggested. cancel the contract, sell the phone and use the money to pay the cancellation fee. If your contract finishes in July then at £40 per month then you are looking at £40 * 9 (months left, might be less depending on when you took your contract), so £360 then minus vat as 20% (vodafone are minus another 2% but dont know about 3) so i guess your termination fee will be about £280 ish. A used Nexus 4 isnt going to get close to that unfortunately but its probably still your best bet.

No point in cancelling, since the cost of voiding it early is the same as the value left on the contract., minus the VAT. Buy a cheap PAYG handset (or use an old one) with the SIM in that until the contract runs it's minimum term. It's assumed that the OP will still need a phone and some airtime on it.