Can't afford first payment on phone bill?

Lmh71365

This is going to be an odd situation to describe.

Just entered into a debt management plan. Knew we wouldn't be able to get credit for like six years so upgraded our phones & ordered two iPads (for each of our families for Christmas). Could totally afford to pay for these alongside the DMP, so always intended to pay.

Anyway, first payment has arrived and it's so much higher than I expected. It's a month and three weeks worth, total for two phones (normally £30 each) and two iPads (£25 each) is £200.

Well.. Yeah I can't pay it. And we can't pay next month (which we always knew as OH is off sick after a leg operation). After these two months we can get back on track and repay the difference (probably over two-three months).

But since this is our FIRST payments, will they take the phones away? I understand we might get cut off, and I appreciate that, but will we owe them the goods?

Will they return our service once the arrears are cleared??

I have paid £100 to them, via the online system, so I have about £100 outstanding, but I don't have and can't get this money.

downhillfast

Entering a DMP but upgrading phones and making luxury purchases is not going to get you much sympathy around here I wouldn't have thought.

You say you could afford the payments which would normally be 2x£30 + 2x £25 which by my maths is £110 (which could/should be going towards your DMP payments!)... but you have only paid £100 of the money owed on your first bill regardless of it being for over a months worth of payments.

You really need to contact the company you owe and discuss your options.

Robin9

This also demonstrates the need for you to have had an Emergency Fund of £1000

Marktheshark

The proverb "When in a hole stop digging"......

Kernow666

Wonga
Omega
Sunny

or the many other places that loan people with not much common sense when it comes to living beyond there means

Lmh71365

Guys I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm asking if they are likely to take our items away? We could have paid £110, but when we realised we couldn't pay the rest it made sense to just pay half and keep the £10 towards our food/fuel. I've still got the £10 if you think it would make an enormous difference.

Now, my original question please..
Can they take our phones away??

Lmh71365

Sorted. Thank you.

For anybody wondering: yes, EE (in our case) own the items for the first 6 months of your contract and will ask for them back if you break the terms & conditions.

After speaking with EE they have accepted cancellation of the iPads (which are unopened and haven't had the SIMs used) and we just owe for the 3 weeks we've had them. My phone is therefore paid this month, and they will accept me paying 2 months in Feb as I can't make Jan's payment.

Hope this will help someone else in the same situation!

Also thanks (in a way) for the harsh replies, I afterwards sat down and thought what the hell am I doing, I have debts to pay and our families will be fine with something small for Christmas, and therefore realised it was best to return the iPads! As for my phone, I'll still justify myself on that one as my old one was dying and EE PAYG for the mins/data I need for my work is £25! So for an extra £6, I can have a decent and fully-functioning phone, makes sense!