Cancelling Ee contract due to RPI price increase?

williamstraker89

Hey, I have been on to EE about cancelling my phone contract and not incurring any cancellation charges because of the annual RPI price increase. They have told me that they can't cancel my contract with no charge as the RPI does not count as it is inflation and can not be controlled by the company. My argument is that although they do mention in the terms and conditions that the RPI will increase prices yearly, it doesn't state that RPI is not considered a 'charge'. It also says in the contract that any price increase gives the 'consumer', me, the right to cancel if it is of financial detriment to myself, of which im claiming it is. Can someone with a little law background please advise. Surely, as I'm presuming the contract is written for the general public and not a lawyer, it should be taken on face value and how I interpret those terms.
Cheers,
Will

d123

williamstraker89 wrote: »

Hey, I have been on to EE about cancelling my phone contract and not incurring any cancellation charges because of the annual RPI price increase. They have told me that they can't cancel my contract with no charge as the RPI does not count as it is inflation and can not be controlled by the company. My argument is that although they do mention in the terms and conditions that the RPI will increase prices yearly, it doesn't state that RPI is not considered a 'charge'. It also says in the contract that any price increase gives the 'consumer', me, the right to cancel if it is of financial detriment to myself, of which im claiming it is. Can someone with a little law background please advise. Surely, as I'm presuming the contract is written for the general public and not a lawyer, it should be taken on face value and how I interpret those terms.
Cheers,
Will

The RPI increase is in the terms you agreed to, it is also shown on their website and allowed by OFCOM, you cannot cancel (without paying an early termination charge) because of it.

If you didn’t want to have an RPI increase you shouldn’t have taken out the contract and agreed to it.

overpricedcoffee

All of the networks have RPI increases built into the terms and conditions now and like @d123 said you cannot get out of the contract without paying an early termination fee.

Every year this happens, RPI increase is announced and people try and find a way to get out of it or they complain bitterly to their network provider about how unfair it is, material detriment etc.

Sorry to sound harsh but RPI has been happening for years now so even the average Joe on the street should be aware of it by now, ignorance or not doing any research is not an excuse to get out of your contract early.

If you don't want to be affected by RPI go with PAYG or a 30 day contract so you can change whenever you want.

williamstraker89

Hey guys,
Thanks for the responses. Yeah i dont think im going to get anywhere with this. However, just to clarify, my question was not due to ignorance or lack of knowledge about inflation, it was more about whether the wording of a contract will allow me to cancel without charges.
cheers,
Will

mobilejunkie

Every year there's a price hike, and every year we get the same question.

overpricedcoffee

EE would of have their legal team go through the terms and conditions to make sure that no one can get out of them due to RPI increases.

pmduk

When did your contract with EE initiate rather than last renew?

d123

williamstraker89 wrote: »

it was more about whether the wording of a contract will allow me to cancel without charges.

And that answer is no, these increases are specifically referenced in the terms.

d123

overpricedcoffee wrote: »

EE would of have their legal team go through the terms and conditions to make sure that no one can get out of them due to RPI increases.

A lot of us cancelled without penalty when EE messed up the increase percentage in 2013 (might have been 2014), they tightened up after that and have it airtight now.

overpricedcoffee

I remember that thread I don't think EE where too happy about that!!

d123

overpricedcoffee wrote: »

I remember that thread I don't think EE where too happy about that!!

You’re a master/mistress of the understatement