Three mobile ... cancelling contract nightmare

crusty_toenail

Hi, I've been a loyal customer for years but our patience with this company has finally run out! I spent over an hour on the phone Tring to cancel my contract, which I cancelled on the last day. I've just received my last bill which has a £13.76 early termination charge? I'm lost. Because of this I'm going to phone them now ... give me strength and ask why ... I'm also going to ask for my husbands contract end date and ensure I diary to let them know exactly 1 month before to cancel his. Never again xxx

JethroUK

crusty_toenail wrote: »

Hi, I've been a loyal customer for years but our patience with this company has finally run out! I spent over an hour on the phone Tring to cancel my contract, which I cancelled on the last day. I've just received my last bill which has a £13.76 early termination charge? I'm lost. Because of this I'm going to phone them now ... give me strength and ask why ... I'm also going to ask for my husbands contract end date and ensure I diary to let them know exactly 1 month before to cancel his. Never again xxx

Good luck - Service providers are a law unto themselves

They dont have to provide you with any service but can still hold you to contract
They can unilaterally modify their contract (increase prices) with you and you HAVE to adhere
They can let your children run up £100s of debt without notifying you
They can trash your credit rating if you dont sign their blank cheqs

I have recently shifted to Tesco/O2 in the hope that I might get treated more like 'a customer'

whatmichaelsays

JethroUK wrote: »

They can let your children run up £100s of debt without notifying you

Why do people give children contract phones and access to their iTunes account?

fozmcfc

I've heard a few people, moan about their customer services, which I believe are in India.

Also my mate rung them to cancel, one of the phones he had on contract with them. They asked his name and address, he said no 23 and the rest of the address and they thought his name was 23.

Then, I swear he must have said, no I want to cancel, half a dozen times to them.

I still don't know why people can't cancel online. All it should take is a cancel contract button and providing it is possible (I.E it's at an end), then it should be done there and then.

They could even still have an opportunity to keep someone, by displaying a special offer, a bit like anti-virus programs do, when you go to uninstall after a trial.

Unfortunately most companies, will try, try and try again to keep you almost to a point, where many are practically intimidated to stay.

Helix

Did you ask for a PAC to port your number? You generally give them 30 days notice and get the PAC at that point, you could then provide the PAC to another network the same day and get the number ported over by the following day leading to you cancelling the contract 29 days early and leading to the early termination fee.

Although in that case you normally get charged pro rata for your monthly fee and the rest becomes the early termination fee.

JethroUK

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

Why do people give children contract phones and access to their iTunes account?

Have a few kids then you'll know the answer

JethroUK

Helix wrote: »

..... You generally give them 30 days notice and get the PAC at that point, you coul.....

I think they have to provide PAC within 24 hours - Talkmobile/Carphone warehouse provided my PAC during my phone call - I gave mine to Tesco and was transferred in well under one hour

snow_ball

I was with them for 2 years but found a better deal elsewhere (Tesco/O2). I didn't want to phone them because I find call centres a nightmare, so I cancelled online. Their website has improved a lot in the last few months and they also now have a online chat facility which is how I gave my month's notice. They made a vague attempt to retain my custom but then gave me my PAC and attached all terms relating to the cancellation. Would defo recommend this method if you hate call centres!

Helix

JethroUK wrote: »

I think they have to provide PAC within 24 hours - Talkmobile/Carphone warehouse provided my PAC during my phone call - I gave mine to Tesco and was transferred in well under one hour

Yes thats what I mean, although you are giving 30 days notice you are getting the PAC before 30 days and using the PAC cancels the contract at the point.

unholyangel

JethroUK wrote: »

Good luck - Service providers are a law unto themselves

They dont have to provide you with any service but can still hold you to contract
They can unilaterally modify their contract (increase prices) with you and you HAVE to adhere
They can let your children run up £100s of debt without notifying you
They can trash your credit rating if you dont sign their blank cheqs

I have recently shifted to Tesco/O2 in the hope that I might get treated more like 'a customer'

Your first two points are wrong. The first is covered by unfair terms. The second is not only covered by unfair terms but also even more strictly from OFCOM - unfair terms only made changes of "material detriment" a reason to cancel penalty free, ofcom have since (since feb this year I believe) made it so any change in price - except for an increase in tax - as a reason to cancel penalty free.

They don't let your children do anything. Your children are under your guardianship, not theirs. Or are you going to blame domestos because your kid got into the bleach - that you left within their reach without the childproof cap on?

Phones should be kept away from young children especially. In fact the UK government recommend that under 16's only use mobiles to make short, essential calls and government advisers recommend not using a phone until they're 12 (previous to that, they had said not letting children under 8).

Bear in mind children as young as 5 can be given alcohol at home.

Anoneemoose

JethroUK wrote: »

Good luck - Service providers are a law unto themselves

They dont have to provide you with any service but can still hold you to contract
They can unilaterally modify their contract (increase prices) with you and you HAVE to adhere
They can let your children run up £100s of debt without notifying you
They can trash your credit rating if you dont sign their blank cheqs

I have recently shifted to Tesco/O2 in the hope that I might get treated more like 'a customer'

And of course they hold a gun to your head whilst getting you to agree to these things...

If you don't like it, don't sign up! There's always PAYG!