Charged for leaving Sim Only rolling month contract

Lauren6821

Hi, I wonder if anyone can shed any light for me please?

I've been with Three for around 6 months on a Sim Only rolling month plan for the reason that I could leave at any time only giving 30 days notice. I have now given 30 days notice and moved my number to another network with a better deal. Since then I received a bill for an early termination fee which states that as I left the contract before the minimum term I am liable to pay this fee.

What I don't understand is how there can be a minimum term on a rolling month contract when that's the whole point of the plan to not have a minimum term? Very confused

Thanks in advance 😊

Atasas

You should have been charged for the 30 days service plan only. Could have been "heavy" one, so they charged you "less" in such form?
But even if additional cancellation charge is in small print- thus is not legally correct from perspective of advertising, should( could? Upon stirn talking) get refunded...

NiftyDigits

You have to wait thirty days after giving notice. not give notice and then move immediately. What did you think thirty day notice meant?

Lauren6821

Actually when I called to give my 30 days notice I was planning on taking my number after the notice period, Three informed me that as I had given my 30 days notice they will need to give me my PAC code there and then not later.

My question was about the fee not a notice period because how can there be a minimum term on a rolling month contract? You would need to stay with them in perpetuity in order to never leave before the minimum term in that case.

grumbler

Lauren6821 wrote: »

Actually when I called to give my 30 days notice I was planning on taking my number after the notice period, Three informed me that as I had given my 30 days notice they will need to give me my PAC code there and then not later.

It lasted for 30 days and could have been used close to the end of the notice period that they charged you for.
Most likely a part of this period was paid in advance.

d123

Lauren6821 wrote: »

Actually when I called to give my 30 days notice I was planning on taking my number after the notice period, Three informed me that as I had given my 30 days notice they will need to give me my PAC code there and then not later.

My question was about the fee not a notice period because how can there be a minimum term on a rolling month contract? You would need to stay with them in perpetuity in order to never leave before the minimum term in that case.

What was the early termination fee? around the cost of 30 days?

You should have given notice, obtained the PAC, and then given the PAC to the new network around 26-27 days later which would have only cost you around 2 days of paying both contracts.

macman

But does not obtaining a PAC cancel the giving of notice? You can't do both.

d123

macman wrote: »

But does not obtaining a PAC cancel the giving of notice? You can't do both.

I was being literal, you phone the network and say "I want to give you notice I'm leaving, please can I have my PAC, thank you".

NiftyDigits

Lauren6821 wrote: »

Actually when I called to give my 30 days notice I was planning on taking my number after the notice period, Three informed me that as I had given my 30 days notice they will need to give me my PAC code there and then not later.

My question was about the fee not a notice period because how can there be a minimum term on a rolling month contract? You would need to stay with them in perpetuity in order to never leave before the minimum term in that case.

No. For example. I can start a thirty day contract and give notice on the very same day. At the end of the thirty days, the contract has ended.
The difference here is that you wanted to keep your number. So you give notice and they give a PAC. If you don't want to have an early termination cost, use the PAC just before or even on the 30th day. If you used it in the first week, you would still be liable for three more weeks, minus 3%.

slink85

NiftyDigits wrote: »

No. For example. I can start a thirty day contract and give notice on the very same day. At the end of the thirty days, the contract has ended.
The difference here is that you wanted to keep your number. So you give notice and they give a PAC. If you don't want to have an early termination cost, use the PAC just before or even on the 30th day. If you used it in the first week, you would still be liable for three more weeks, minus 3%.

and minus VAT, they can't and wont charge VAT on a service that isn't being provided.

grumbler

slink85 wrote: »

and minus VAT, they can't and wont charge VAT on a service that isn't being provided.

Urban myth. Some providers do 1/6 discount, some (IIRC, including Three) don't.

All charge some *fee*, and it's not your business whether they pay VAT to HMRC on this amount or not.