Minimum contract - notification

50Twuncle

I am assuming that a service provider is under no obligation to notify customers when their minimum contract period has expired ?
I have just noticed that, my £14 per month, 2Gb, three contract expires in 3 weeks time and three are offering a £9 per month, 4Gb, unlimited calls, unlimited txt alternative - that I would have missed, had I not had my wits about me........
Isn't it about time that ALL service providers (power, phones, ISPs etc etc) were under an obligation to notify customers when their minimum contract period is up, giving us the chance to look for a better deal or to change providers ?

Bogalot

The expectation is that you make a note of the relevant dates. You could do this on a calendar or set an alarm on your phone/ laptop/ tablet.

Do you expect service providers to remind you of birthdays and anniversaries?

50Twuncle

Bogalot wrote: »

The expectation is that you make a note of the relevant dates. You could do this on a calendar or set an alarm on your phone/ laptop/ tablet.

Do you expect service providers to remind you of birthdays and anniversaries?

No but - surely they (being the ones who collect your money) - should be capable of informing you of the contract expiration
unless of course (shock horror !!) - they hope that many people don't realise and continue paying the same rates as previously (eg Mobile phone contract when a phone has been paid for - many people continue paying the same rates for years afterwards)
Mine is a SIM only contract

JJ_Egan

50Twuncle wrote: »

I am assuming that a service provider is under no obligation to notify customers when their minimum contract period has expired ?
I have just noticed that, my £14 per month, 2Gb, three contract expires in 3 weeks time and three are offering a £9 per month, 4Gb, unlimited calls, unlimited txt alternative - that I would have missed, had I not had my wits about me........
Isn't it about time that ALL service providers (power, phones, ISPs etc etc) were under an obligation to notify customers when their minimum contract period is up, giving us the chance to look for a better deal or to change providers ?

I would agree but would also say its a waste of time posting here .

[Deleted User]

50Twuncle wrote: »

No but - surely they (being the ones who collect your money) - should be capable of informing you of the contract expiration
unless of course (shock horror !!) - they hope that many people don't realise and continue paying the same rates as previously (eg Mobile phone contract when a phone has been paid for - many people continue paying the same rates for years afterwards)
Mine is a SIM only contract

But that's the point surely, it's not a contract expiration, it's a rolling monthly contract with a minimum term. It's entirely your responsibility to check what you're paying.

50Twuncle

Yes - but this works to the advantage of the companies - rather than the consumer.

mije1983

No they shouldn't, from a completely selfish point of view! Because people that carry on paying more than they could be paying allow others like me to get bigger discounts!

Also, there does come a point when people have to take responsibility for themselves rather than being spoon fed everything. Just my opinion anyway

[Deleted User]

50Twuncle wrote: »

No but - surely they (being the ones who collect your money) - should be capable of informing you of the contract expiration

A rolling contract does not have an "expiration" though. Just because there is a minimum term does not mean the contract somehow expires at the end of that term.

If cancelling a contract at the end of the minimum term is so important, why don't you simply diarise it?

50Twuncle wrote: »

unless of course (shock horror !!) - they hope that many people don't realise and continue paying the same rates as previously

That's exactly their business model. I don't understand your problem with it?

brewerdave

The problem is that so many people have got outrageously good deals (eg I'm on the third year of free broadband!!) the Companies need to have some customers paying the ticket price - or they would go bust!
As per post # 7 , I'm happy to diarise renewal/expiry dates -I'd hate it if everyone got reminded as deals would rapidly dry up:D