Orange/ee withdrawing my free monthly tariff and replacing with paid tariff

nickwar

I have 3 business phones that I have retained the numbers for which are on a Orange Virgin EQ tariff. This was an up front payment in the mid 90's in return for a monthly tariff that was free, pay only calls texts ( admittedly higher rate than others).
I used this in my business for receiving calls, and made calls from another number, on a better tariff. Now Orange are withdrawing this tariff , and if I do not go on to a new business sim only at £7 a month ish, I will lose the numbers. :mad::mad:I can go to sim only, but this is not on a business contract and means I have to top up to retain numbers etc.

I do not see why they should pull the rug on me. I know it must cost them to administer the account, but they knew that when they bought the business. Am I wrong to think they should provide the same service under EE, or am I living in a world where the mobile companies can do as they want? They refuse to provide a letter of deadlock, which prohibits me from using the ombudsman.
View please , thanks:T

mobilejunkie

Why do you think they can't change the terms of a contract???? Why would the Ombudsman care?

Welcome to the real world. If you don't like the new terms, go elsewhere.

nickwar

Because I have already paid the up front cost, they now wish to charge again. Changing terms are fine to a degree, but going from not chargeable to chargeable is a considerable change. I cant go elsewhere, as no one else provides the same, thats why I hung on to the deal.

pmduk

Most mobile contracts have a get-out clause allowing networks to terminate contracts should they prove uneconomic. Check for this. Even if not, there'll be a point at which either side can give notice to the other. No contract is for life.

ETA: once you have made a formal complaint, you can escalate the matter to their ADR after 56 days without a deadlock letter, however, as this is a commercial decision it's possible the ADR will refuse to consider it.

nickwar

I have made formal complaint, but they refuse to send deadlock letter. After 56 days the account will already have been closed unfortunately. I am not so sure, without digging out the original contract, that they had such a get out clause. Don't forget this was in the mid 90's. It was around the time that someone had a tariff that was free calls within the m25, and these were being sold on for 1000s £ .

Buzby

Ah yes - Mercury One2One, the M25 network? Beloved by taxi drivers and even this came to an end with customers invited to change tariffs or lose their number. The secondary market on selling 121 numbers did exist, but died out.

The contract you had with the network had no reference to the tariff used, so you’d be unable to claim you didn’t agree to any changes. You tariff is only available for as long as they are prepared to offer it. Most continue (but unavailable to new customers) until natural wastage means it is no longer viable to retain it. What is bringing it to a close is EE retiring their original billing platform used by Orange. I gather all such schemes will need to end before the year end as the old IT system platform is terminated.

You’ve had a good run - but nothing is forever. If you don’t want to lose your numbers, you’ll need to switch or port to a new supplier.

rhysadams

You've done well to last this long, I had my Virgin tariff cut off about 5 years ago. If its for work, get yourself a GiffGaff or Lebara sim and either sign up to a tariff or make a few phone calls every now and then.

J_B

Can't you just ask EE to transfer the numbers to PAYG?

boatman

I'd ask for good chunk of credit before moving.

pmduk

OP, you can't complain about a change to a contract when you haven't even bothered to check the contract first.

d123

boatman wrote: »

I'd ask for good chunk of credit before moving.

And when they refuse? Do you storm away and lose the number when it's terminated?

Orange is shutting down completely, if you still have an Orange price plan the choice is to accept a new plan, move the number elsewhere or lose the number.

No one has a right to stay on OVP Virgin, we've all been out of minimum term on those contracts for many years now...