Mobile company 3 using a debt collection company called C.A.R.S to chase me for money

Nick1042

About 14 months ago I bought a temporary wireless thing to use when I moved into my new home whilst my proper broadband supply got sorted out. It was with the mobile company 3 and it was a monthly rolling contract so I could cancel with one months notice at anytime. I only planned to use it for the first month until my proper broadband went live and I did really only use it for a month and then I put the thing a way and never used it again. After I continued to pay each month for about 6 months after me not using it anymore, I decided to cancel my Direct Debit as I had problems calling 3 and waiting so damn long for them to answer. Since then I have been continually harrassed by phone calls and letters by 3 and more recently a company called C.A.R.S recovery services telling me I owe them £32. I have just been ignoring the letters and phone calls but I am worried as the last letter says that this is my final warning and if I don't pay then I they will take me to court. Do you think this is likely? On another matter I do want to say that I think I have been harrassed as 3 were calling me at least 10 times a day leaving automated messages and now this C.A.R.S have been calling me same amount of times and they have called from landline and mobile numbers and I have checked each one online and it is them. Many thanks.

tomtontom

When did you actually cancel your contract? You'll need to pay until this date (plus the notice period), cancelling your direct debit is not sufficient. If you couldn't get through on the phone could you not have written to them?

For the future OP, please don't post the same thread on three boards!

agrinnall

Cancelling your DD did not cancel your contract, the only way to get out of this now is to contact 3 to ensure the contract is cancelled, and to pay up what you owe - £32 seems like a pretty cheap way to end things. I doubt if a claim of being harrassed will work as you declined to respond, had you done so you could have ended the calls (and at a lower cost than what you now owe). Head in the sand is never a great idea with debts.

Nick1042

Thank you for your replies, just one last thing to ask, I never actually signed anything to say I was in a contract with 3, could this change anything do you think?

tomtontom

Nick1042 wrote: »

Thank you for your replies, just one last thing to ask, I never actually signed anything to say I was in a contract with 3, could this change anything do you think?

No, you had a copy of their terms (notice period etc) and accepted then by using the service. Physical signatures on utility contracts are rare nowadays.

Nick1042

thanks again but one last thing, to go back to my original question, if I don't pay it do you think it is likely that they will take me to court for £32?

tomtontom

Nick1042 wrote: »

thanks again but one last thing, to go back to my original question, if I don't pay it do you think it is likely that they will take me to court for £32?

It's what they do for a living so no reason why they won't. They'll add the court costs to the claim so they won't be out of pocket.

powerful_Rogue

Nick1042 wrote: »

Thank you for your replies, just one last thing to ask, I never actually signed anything to say I was in a contract with 3, could this change anything do you think?

Nick1042 wrote: »

thanks again but one last thing, to go back to my original question, if I don't pay it do you think it is likely that they will take me to court for £32?

In all seriousness, for the sake of £32 I would pay. You entered into the contract and need to fulfill your side of it.

All that will happen is that you will keep incurring costs and very likely get a default (if you haven't already) placed on your credit file. That will impede any future chances of getting contracts/credit - for the sake of £32, is it really worth it?