Talk Talk - Moving House Contract Question

benrk

After some advice RE moving home with Talk Talk:

• Currently 6months in to a 12 month contract.
• 'Essentials TV' package - Paying £4.25pm for 12 months.
• The deal also included a credit for the full years line rental up front.
• So all in it's £4.25pm, £51 total for the 12 months contract.

Fantastic....however I'm now moving house, and in order to do that they want me to sign a new contract....OK that's understandable and I'm sure is in most companies T&Cs.


However, Talk Talk have since moved all new contracts to 18months.....this is the bit that I'd like advice on.
Surely as I originally signed up for 12 months, how can they make me sign up for 18months now?



I said that in that case I'd like to end the contract (happy to pay the remainder of the £51 as it's still a great deal), but I was advised there would be a £100 early termination fee if I did that......


I feel suckered in here....do I have any grounds to dispute this? As it stands I'd have to pay £4.25 for another 6 months, but then another 12 months full price on top, (£8.50pm plus £180.36 line rental, total £23.53pm).



Any advice much appreciated!

JJ_Egan

TT are right its you that's voiding the contract not them .
As its a new contract you cannot complain about the 18 months . Bear in mind they are letting you take a balance of your old contract forward as opposed to just asking for the cancellation fees due .

Basics are you have a contract and either pay it in full or pay any settlement fee .
New property you take out a broadband package and for most ISPs that will be for 18 months .

benrk

JJ_Egan wrote: »

TT are right its you that's voiding the contract not them .
As its a new contract you cannot complain about the 18 months . Bear in mind they are letting you take a balance of your old contract forward as opposed to just asking for the cancellation fees due .

Basics are you have a contract and either pay it in full or pay any settlement fee .
New property you take out a broadband package and for most ISPs that will be for 18 months .

Thanks for the advice - The problem that I have with this is that a firm could put their contracts up to 2, 3, 4 years, and there's nothing you can do about it if you move house, you have no choice.

With this in mind surely you should have to be offered your original contract length, or the option to cancel without a £100 penalty. In my view it's similar to the provider raising their prices, you should have the option to leave.

mije1983

benrk wrote: »

Thanks for the advice - The problem that I have with this is that a firm could put their contracts up to 2, 3, 4 years, and there's nothing you can do about it if you move house, you have no choice.

You do have a choice though. You can move providers. Yes that will cost you, but it is you breaking the terms of the contract so you shouldn't get away from it at no cost to yourself while they suffer. It boils down to the fact it is your choice to move house, not theirs.

benrk wrote: »

With this in mind surely you should have to be offered your original contract length, or the option to cancel without a £100 penalty. In my view it's similar to the provider raising their prices, you should have the option to leave.

They agreed to supply you at your present address, so as you are moving that contract becomes void. In the interests of business they let you off that free of charge if you commit to another contract with them. Seems fair enough to me. To be blunt, why should they lose out when it is you breaking the contract you agreed?

In my view it's not like them raising prices at all. In that situation you have done nothing and it is them changing the contract out of your control. In a house move it is you that has initiated the contract break and them that has no control.

I appreciate it's not what you would have wanted to hear, but barring some goodwill from TalkTalk I fear you don't have much choice except for the 2 options suggested by them.

macman

Wot he said. A home move is free, but starts you on a new minimum term contract-that's the quid pro quo.
The move to 18m min terms is probably a result of higher connection/equipment costs for FTTC and/or add -on TV boxes: to keep the monthly rate competitive, the suppliers need to lock you in for longer.