Problem with transfer to different telephone provider

LazyTyper

This is from an Ofcom announcement:

...
From 26 May 2011, the tie in period for new phone or broadband contracts will be limited to a maximum of 24 months. And consumers and businesses must also be offered a choice of contract lasting no longer than 12 months.

Shorter contracts are likely to promote competition and enable consumers to switch providers more easily to benefit from better prices and services.
...

I'm not sure if the 5 year contract term is enforceable, but it does depend on when you took it out.


..but checking out the modifications to the Ofcom General Condition in 2011, the below caught my attention. As I understand, this was put into force on 25 May 2011...

9.4 Communications Providers shall not include a term in any contract with a
Consumer for the provision of Electronic Communications Services
concluded after 25 May 2011 preventing the Consumer from terminating
the contract before the end of the agreed contractual period without
compensating the Communications Provider for so doing, unless such
compensation relates to no more than the initial commitment period
(being the period beginning on the day on which the Communications
Provider and Consumer have agreed that the contract shall begin and
ending on a day falling no more than 24 months thereafter).

Pinkqueen_2

Hi I have registered on the Forum, being worried what Chess is going to do next...I too have the same problems as lots of others have.....I started with them 18 mths ago. The rep. from Select calls said they could beat BT prices & being a sm. business agreed to go with them....then everything went downhill, they suddenly changed to Chess & said the line rental is paid up front which I did then d debits pd. monthly were more than BT's. When I rang to complain they said the contract was for 5 yrs. I was gobsmacked. I denied agreeing to that & they said I agreed over the phone. The bills are continuing to get higher. Chess do not respond & its impossible to get through by phone. I haven't agreed to Terms & conditions as you get asked when you log on. where is says Chess have the right to charge if a minimum call spend is not reached....do I have a leg to stand on here as I haven't agreed to the terms & conditions??? Please
help...

KaKo27

Hallo, it is outraging, that they still play the same game. For us it had a goodish end. We told them, what BT quoted us and they matched the offer. So far it has worked out and our bills are now much better than they were, when chess took over select call.
From the email conversation we had with them I still have the following phone numbers:
08002888966 for reviewing account
0844 770 6060 customer service department

and stefanodonnell@chesstelecom.com the email address of the person we were talking to at the time.
I wish all the best and hope you can solve your problem.
Katrin

woderwick

Pinkqueen wrote: »

Hi I have registered on the Forum, being worried what Chess is going to do next...I too have the same problems as lots of others have.....I started with them 18 mths ago. The rep. from Select calls said they could beat BT prices & being a sm. business agreed to go with them....then everything went downhill, they suddenly changed to Chess & said the line rental is paid up front which I did then d debits pd. monthly were more than BT's. When I rang to complain they said the contract was for 5 yrs. I was gobsmacked. I denied agreeing to that & they said I agreed over the phone. The bills are continuing to get higher. Chess do not respond & its impossible to get through by phone. I haven't agreed to Terms & conditions as you get asked when you log on. where is says Chess have the right to charge if a minimum call spend is not reached....do I have a leg to stand on here as I haven't agreed to the terms & conditions??? Please
help...

I am in the same position as you, it's a nightmare..I am in a 5 year contract supposedly but never seen a contract or terms and conditions, don't know what to do next, they need to be on watchdog!