Chess Telecom - Robbing *****

winson1987

Hi all,

First of all - apologies if this has already been discussed on the form, I had a quick look but couldn't see any mention of it.

My girlfriend had a business line with Chess Telecom. I've finally managed to get the to admit that the contract expired Jan this year, yet they're still pursuing a cancellation penalty for not giving them 30 days notice before TalkTalk took over the service (She advised them 22/01/2015, TalkTalk took over the service on the 09/02).
Surely because she was out of the contract she's under no obligation to pay the penalty?

It's also worth mentioning that the line didn't actually go in until March 2013, yet she was getting billed in Feb for a service that didn't actually exist?

Any help/advice is very much appreciated - the penality is only for £29 but it's the principle!

Thanks in advance,

Steven

tomtontom

Telecoms contracts are generally on a minimum term basis not a fixed term -you still need to give notice to end the service. What does the contract say in this respect?

(Assuming the terms have not changed, Chess do operate on this basis, as do all the main providers.)

winson1987

Hi Tom,

Unfortunately I don't have the contract to hand.

What about the fact that she was paying for a service that didn't actually exist for a month? Surely billing should commence once the service is live?

tomtontom

winson1987 wrote: »

Hi Tom,

Unfortunately I don't have the contract to hand.

What about the fact that she was paying for a service that didn't actually exist for a month? Surely billing should commence once the service is live?

Again, she would need to check the contract. It would be a little late to complain about what happened two years ago though.

She needs to keep in mind that, if she doesn't pay the notice period, they can get a CCJ against her which will mess up her credit worthiness for the next six years.

wealdroam

winson1987 wrote: »

Hi all,

First of all - apologies if this has already been discussed on the form, I had a quick look but couldn't see any mention of it.

My girlfriend had a business line with Chess Telecom. I've finally managed to get the to admit that the contract expired Jan this year, yet they're still pursuing a cancellation penalty for not giving them 30 days notice before TalkTalk took over the service (She advised them 22/01/2015, TalkTalk took over the service on the 09/02).
Surely because she was out of the contract she's under no obligation to pay the penalty?

It's also worth mentioning that the line didn't actually go in until March 2013, yet she was getting billed in Feb for a service that didn't actually exist?

Any help/advice is very much appreciated - the penality is only for £29 but it's the principle!

Thanks in advance,

Steven

Where you say "the contract had expired", do you actually mean "the minimum term of the contract had been completed"?

Most telecoms contracts continue as a rolling monthly contract after the minimum term, and it appears Chess Telecom are similar.
One months' notice is still usually required.

As this is a business contract, your girlfriend should read her contract for the answers to her query.

As an aside, there are many threads on here about Chess Telecom... just use Chess in the search facility to find at least a dozen.