Do I have to return my phone if I have terminated my contract?

dyzzylyzzy

I've had a load of signal problems with Orange over the past 6 months, and their customer service was less than exemplary with me. I got a signal booster sent to me and that didn't help at all. After a runaround and more shocking customer service, I finally exploded and demanded to be let out of my contract as they were not providing me with an acceptable level of service.

I was willing to pay the £188 to get out of the last 6 months of my contract (I'm 18 months into a 24 month contract and have been with Orange continuously since 2006) as they were asking for several weeks to investigate the problem that they admitted was there - I spoke to apple who said it was 50% the phone's fault and 50% the network's problem. They offered a solution (which I think was a bluff that they didn't expect me to accept!) that they would terminate my contract early, for free, if I returned the phone to them and also the signal booster.

I accepted, but thinking on it, are they allowed to request my phone back? Surely I've paid for it after 18 months?

I'm genuinely not bothered, I'd rather do that so I can go to a better network, but I was just wondering.

Hope this makes sense!!

pepdavies

Well is your phone worth more than £188? Sounds like a good offer to me.

robbies_gal

the signal box shold have worked why not take it into apple to have alook-the phone i mean

macman

Of course they're 'allowed' to request it. Equally, you can decline-in which case the contract will run to minimum term and you will have to pay the £188. Those are the terms they have offered, you are free to accept, renegotiate or decline as you see fit.
The phone may well be paid for, but they're attempting to recover some value from the contract.

Buzby

It's a good solution - the phone is locked to the wrong network so handing the phone back is a good compromise. Alternatively, pay them the £188 and £20 to have it unlocked - it's your choice.

grumbler

dyzzylyzzy wrote: »

I accepted, but thinking on it, are they allowed to request my phone back? Surely I've paid for it after 18 months?

They are allowed to charge you the Early Termination Fee.
Do you prefer paying it and keeping the phone?

JSUK_2

I can't imagine that a locked possibly-faulty 18-month-old phone can be worth more than the £188 ETF they'd be demanding. Go for it.