A1comms (Buymobiles.net)

mobilejunkie

mullet wrote: »

How on earth can i obtain confirmation that is in full and final settlement when I don't have any kind of breakdown of what is owed, or to whom? The demand from Burlington Group says that the sum owed is due to a "default" and refers to an account with "A1 Comms". That is all.

If a default occurred it was EE - the network supplier - who defaulted. Not the purchaser. I only paid the contract off early because their customer services were so god-awful. I think (at the very least!) they have a duty to inform customers that customers will have to pay extra if they pay their contracts off early.

**** this. I am angry now. These people are demanding money with menaces by holding the threat of poor credit ratings over people's heads.

As has been pointed out, this has nothing to do with the network. You had a contract with A1Comms (which you agreed to at the point of sale) and that is what this claim is for.

All you need to is ask for written confirmation that the amount demanded now will be in full and final settlement of any claims from them. If it isn't, you will simply end up in the same situation again even if you do pay it. Of course, you should also ask for written confirmation/breakdown of what the amount claimed is for. Anyone claiming money must be able to specifiy in writing exactly what it is for and what the effect will be IF paid.

username

I can offer a little bit of insight as to why A1 Comms / buymobiles.net are chasing for the cost of the handset, even though you have paid the contract off.

When you buy a phone through a dealer, they get paid a commission from the network for signing up the client. This obviously pays towards a significant contribution to the cost the handset, which the dealer must source, and sometimes the client pays the rest upfront (or whatever the arrangement may be).

If the client defaults and doesn't pay the bill, is referred to the collections team at the network, is fradulent or pays off the entire contract upfront within a certain time-frame, the network will claw-back the handset commission initially paid to the dealer, together with a load of fees etc. The dealer will not receive any on going revenue such as overspend/bill share, thus making them out of pocket for that sale, as they will have sent the handset to the client and won't receive any payback for it whatsoever.

The exacting terms and time scales vary from network to network, but that's the gist of it.

mobilejunkie

The reason this has become prevalent with them recently is probably that Vodafone and O2 withdrew their agency, which means they have done well to survive (Phones4u, a MUCH bigger outfit, did not when the same thing happened) so they are probably very keen to recoup any money due for early contract terminations relating the handset they themselves have paid for and provided.

They are at least paying cashback claims promptly after a very rocky time last year, so fair's fair!

Silk

mobilejunkie wrote: »

They are at least paying cashback claims promptly after a very rocky time last year, so fair's fair!

TBH I don't think they are being fair, if they were being fair they would just try claiming the profit lost rather than chancing their arm for hundreds of pounds for a twenty quid phone which they have been doing.

mobilejunkie

Maybe. However, I've found them more than fair when I repeatedly sued them last year (as did several of the people I order for) and I do have some sympathy for them. After all, there aren't many other dealers left and I prefer them to the networks.

macman

I would suspect that your daughters's credit rating has already been trashed if the DD failed twice: at the very least the late payments will be recorded, if not a default.
The provider is not going to be able to give you any info at all, since the contract is in your daughter's name, not yours.

robone

I to have had dealings with these thieves. they tried to steal £402 from me. I took a phone from them last October and didn't like it so sent it back a couple of days later by registered post. EIGHT months later I got a letter from them demanding £402 or within 7 days they would pass it onto the debt collectors. Unfortunately for them I had saved the receipt, something I am guessing they don't expect customers to have done and so it is easy money for them. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THEM NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE DEAL SEEMS THEY ARE THIEVES