Formal Demand letter just sent to me. *First Post help seriously needed*

nedi

Hey all, first post so i think this is the right place to discuss this, anyway... i have received a FORMAL DEMAND from Orange PCS Ltd Demanding i pay late payment fees for a phone contract that run its course in jan of this year.
A month before the contract was due to finish i was phoned by orange telling me about upgrade offers, i said i was not interested and i want the contract cancelled as i will be cancelling the direct debit... the orange contact said thats fine he will get that sorted on my account... but he didn't!!

i have never used the orange plan as i bought the contract for the free phone, and it was a low 12 quid contract, but since moving house i have recently received a lot of old mail from... Orange! saying for me to pay this debt but i feel i shouldn't have to!

the formal demand is only for 68.05 but the point is that it shouldn't exist and now its probably screwed up my credit rating... this is not what i need especially looking to try for a mortgage within the next 6 months

Please please people what can i do here? as i tried to call orange but i cant speak to an adviser as i don't have the bloody phone number which i never used so the automated system is useless..

thanks for reading all, i look forward to your replies.

Neal.

visidigi

So you asked a salesman over the phone to cancel your contract?

Sorry, but you need to get that debt settled and quickly. You owe the money as you haven't cancelled the contract. You should NEVER cancel a direct debit unless you have written confirmation (SMS, email or letter) confirming the cancellation.

Silk

nedi wrote: »

Hey all, first post so i think this is the right place to discuss this, anyway... i have received a FORMAL DEMAND from Orange PCS Ltd Demanding i pay late payment fees for a phone contract that run its course in jan of this year.
A month before the contract was due to finish i was phoned by orange telling me about upgrade offers, i said i was not interested and i want the contract cancelled as i will be cancelling the direct debit... the orange contact said thats fine he will get that sorted on my account... but he didn't!!

Contracts don't "run their course" they carry on after the minimum term on a rolling monthly basis.
You have to cancel them and give 30 days notice.
It may well have been a third party seller who phoned you and nothing to do with Orange.
The only hope you have is that it was Orange and that they still have a recording of the call. If not the default will stand and stay on your file. Even if paid it may still show as late payment

LazyTyper

I'm surprised you didn't get passed through to 'retentions' when you asked to cancel.

But I would strongly advise you to raise a formal written complaint (follow their complaints procedure).

macman

Declining an upgrade does not constitute cancelling your existing contract. Unless specifically cancelled, it continues until you give your 30 days notice.

d123

LazyTyper wrote: »

I'm surprised you didn't get passed through to 'retentions' when you asked to cancel.

Probably because it wasn't Orange who phoned him, it would have been an Orange reseller making the call.

jnm21

It is unfortunately likely that it was not Orange - all you can do OP is pay up & ask Orange nicely (beg) to repair your credit rating. Really feel sorry for you, as the resellers (the ones who lie about who they are) are pond life! You could try emailing the CEO office, but again, remember that you are asking a favour (though it is no fault of yours, this is not orange's fault).

If orange will not comply, all you can do is have a note added to the account on your credit report (succinct, factual if economical & calm, e.g. "I had given notice to cancel the contract, therefore did not update my address & was unaware that the account had not been cancelled - fully paid off once notified").

If you are applying for a mortgage, you may want to see professional advice, as mine is purely amateur.

d123

jnm21 wrote: »

It is unfortunately likely that it was not Orange - all you can do OP is pay up & ask Orange nicely (beg) to repair your credit rating.

From my experiences of Orange the chance of that been agreed to is about as much as a snowballs chance in hell.

jnm21

May be correct, but no cost, so nothing to lose.