Please add warning to 'Mid-contract' mobile text

gr1340

The weekly email states the following:

Mid-contract? You're likely stuck... The only way to escape is to pay the remainder of the contract in full (or thereabouts). If your provider hikes prices mid-contract you MAY be able to escape penalty-free - though they're allowed to raise tariffs by inflation each year.

Please can you add a warning that if you purchased your contract through a 3rd party such as buymobiles.net or mobiles.co.uk etc, if you pay the contract off early with the network, you may have to return your handset or pay them the equivalent amount.
During sign up you are actually taking out 2 contracts, 1 for the network and 1 with the handset supplier and the terms and conditions state if you terminate early, you may be liable for the return or cost of the handset/free gifts. This is not made clear at any point unless you read pages and pages of T&C's.

I was chased for a while by buymobiles.net, then A1Comms (thread is on the forum) and 2 other collection companies but I stuck to my guns and argued that if I was entering a further contract, this should have been made clear at the time of purchase. This worked and the debt was wiped out but others may just choose to pay.

If you purchase the phone direct from the network, this is not an issue.

Also, if you do choose to end your contract early, you will not be charged VAT for the months remaining so 20% saved!

Former_MSE_Andrea

Thanks for the feedback gr1340, this is really useful, I'll pass it on to our consumer team.

Could you give me the link to the thread you mentioned?

gr1340

Threads are:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5132249

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5079588

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5438091

There are some terms and conditions from buymobiles.net within those threads although I understand this is a fairly common T&C to include.

I do however think that it should be made very clear during the purchase process of this 2nd contract clause knowing full well that a vast majority of people (myself included) just don't read them.