7day cooling off/ return if no coverage with new network?

cevans65

Hi there,


I have looked about for info but cannot find a simple answer.


If I buy a new contract on whatever network and find the coverage is rubbish can I take back and say it is not fit for purpose etc and get them to cancel contract as long as it is within 7days?


Basically both my wife and I are with orange and signal is / gone rubbish yet 'coverage' checker says full coverage thus going to move to 02 or whoever and even if they say coverage is fine if I don't agree say after using for 4 days can I take back and get them to cancel?


Is this correct fullstop
Is the 7days return correct?
Is it under sales of goods or supply of goods and service?
What about the fact I will have used the contract i.e. made some calls, used the internet etc


Thanks for help in advance

mije1983

Would be easier to just get a free PAYG sim from all the networks you are interested in, and compare the signal strength in the places you go to (work/home/local pub etc).

MataNui

In general no. There is a 'cooling off' period for items bought over the internet (or phone) providing its not an upgrade BUT once you use the service that period ends. If you buy in store then there is no cooling off period.

I believe there is one of the main networks that does offer a coverage cooling off period but dont know which one.

boatman

http://ee.co.uk/help/accounts-billing-and-topping-up/terms-and-conditions/ee-terms-and-conditions/returns/retail-returns-policy

Does this apply to you?

Maybe ask here
https://www.facebook.com/orangehelpers?ref=stream

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/i-keep-losing-mobile-phone-signal-in-my-home-what-can-i-do

d123

cevans65 wrote: »

Hi there,


I have looked about for info but cannot find a simple answer.


If I buy a new contract on whatever network and find the coverage is rubbish can I take back and say it is not fit for purpose etc and get them to cancel contract as long as it is within 7days?


Basically both my wife and I are with orange and signal is / gone rubbish yet 'coverage' checker says full coverage thus going to move to 02 or whoever and even if they say coverage is fine if I don't agree say after using for 4 days can I take back and get them to cancel?


Is this correct fullstop No
Is the 7days return correct? No
Is it under sales of goods or supply of goods and service? Neither
What about the fact I will have used the contract i.e. made some calls, used the internet etc

The only 7 day return period was under the Distance Selling Regs (recently changed to 14 days IIRC), but this only applies to mail order/telephone/internet type sales.

If you sign the contract instore you have no right to cancel.

You also cannot have used the supplied service if you wanted to use the DSR to cancel (some networks are stricter on this point than others)..

matelodave

I'd go with mije's suggestion and get a PayGo sim card for the networks you are interested in and try them out before jumping in with a contract which you may not be able to get out of.
Coverage checkers are just an indication of what service you might receive, they aren't a guarantee of service and will always have a disclaimer as the network provider has no control on where or how you are going to use the phone or even if the phone you propose to use is suitable. Likewise they can't do much if a ginormous block of flats, office block or multi-storey car park gets built which blocks your signal after you've signed up either.
It's up to you to make sure that what you are signing up for is fit for purpose if you have a specific requirement.

cevans65

Thanks for these words.

I did guess as much as if it was so, return within 7days because poor signal, then I am sure I would have found loads of info on it.

Didn't think of the free sim tho so thanks for that idea.

I understand they cannot guarantee a signal but loads of people must have this. As said im with orange and the signal over last six mths has gone shocking and I'm doing the comedy sketch of walking round the house trying to get it to work lol. Orange say signal is fine but someone said they had disconnected the orange and tmobile 3g and converted to an EE 4g mast.


Anyway, thanks again

d123

cevans65 wrote: »

Thanks for these words.

I did guess as much as if it was so, return within 7days because poor signal, then I am sure I would have found loads of info on it.

Didn't think of the free sim tho so thanks for that idea.

I understand they cannot guarantee a signal but loads of people must have this. As said im with orange and the signal over last six mths has gone shocking and I'm doing the comedy sketch of walking round the house trying to get it to work lol. Orange say signal is fine but someone said they had disconnected the orange and tmobile 3g and converted to an EE 4g mast.

Even if you were an EE 4G user you would still need the 2G/3G network to make calls as Voice over LTE is still only in testing.

The networks will never guarantee receiving a signal inside an individual house, even the coverage maps are more for general coverage.

A house built with 4 foot thick stone walls or lead lined concrete wouldn't allow a signal even if the tower was in the front garden, it's beyond the control of the network.

tennyalad

Yes. There is a 7 days cooling period with o2 but you would have to pay for any cost you incurred during the 7 days period e.g calls you made during that period would be charged on a pro rata rate.