Problems with Pipex homecall

riabia

Where to start... Basically in december last year my ex patner took on a contract (unbeknown to me it was a contract) with pipex homecall for internet, line rental and phone. We split up in May this year and as i was remaining in the house I phoned pipex to change the name of the account holder and set up a new direct debit from my bank account. As i am financially unable to stay in the house I phoned pipex this morning to tell them i wish to terminate their services. They said i was subject to a £204 charge as i'm in a contract. I said i was unaware that it was a contract and that had I known this i would never have taken it on or changed the name. They never at one point said i was in a contract. When i phoned this morning they said it was my responsibilty to read the T&C , but my ex partner didnt even give me a password for the account let alone thrust the T&C under my nose to read. They said i can either pay the charge or take pipex with me to my new place but as im moving to somewhere with cable this isnt possible. Where do i stand?

espresso

As you have transferred the contract to your name, you will have to pay or transfer to your new place. The fact that the new place has cable is irrelevant, as the choice of provider is yours.

riabia

Thank you espresso for the advice, but im still going to try and get this fee waived as I think its unfair.
Update...
Having sat patiently waiting for a call from pipex that never came i decided to ring ofcom for advice, who basically agreed with me saying I should have atleast been told that it was a contract and should have been sent something out in the post. I phoned pipex back this afternoon and was told the figure of £204 was wrong and was actually £130 and althouh this is subtantially better I still feel as though I have been signed up to something without being given the full details. I am awaiting a call from a CS manager...watch this space!

patwa_2

Hi, I'm not trying to be judgemental, just trying to understand, but did you not at any point ask for full details of what you were transferring to your name BEFORE you transferred? I mean you could have been transferring yourself to anything that your ex-partner may have registered for. I'm sure you would not have been begrudged information prior to taking on the committment, although the data protection act may have required your ex's input as the account was in his name at that point prior to the transfer.

Again, not trying to condemn or anything like that, just a curious question.

H.

riabia

Yes, i did ask what i was transferring to my name, and was told that it was a monthly payment for broadband, line rental and cost of calls. At no point did anyone say i was being tied into a contract. Infact the word contract didnt even come into the conversation, this is why i'm slightly reeling. On speaking to the CS yesterday the young gentleman said that only one company (wouldnt name who) will actually say outright that you are in contract, basically saying that they hide the fact that your tied into a yearly or 18th month contract. It wouldn't have been so bad if they had sent the T&C to me after transferring it to my name, but nothing. I only found out that it had been successfully transferred to my name after a call about a different matter. I just feel there is a lack of communication between the company and its customers.

mattbass

Pipex are notorius for this contract among other things.