Warning: Three continuing to charge for phones already paid for

laminz

Hello, this is my first on any forum so please bear with me.

I am really upset that 3 Mobile have continued to charge me 6 months after my contract ended, for a phone I have already paid for. They are trying to blame me for 'not contacting them' when the phone ended. I disagree that it should be OK for them or any network, or any company, to continue to charge somebody (a) for something for which payment has been made; (b) when the contract has ended; (c) just because the customer has not pressed the 'stop' button to on the direct debit. It is their sneaky way to commit daylight robbery. I know this has been in the media last year and they are still doing it. I've asked for compensation and been offered £30.00 of credit (this is one months charge), which will be applied to reduce what 'I owe them' allegedly, if I am to leave. Its rubbish and I am still worse off. I have complained to Ofcom, though I don't know if that complaint will have disappeared in the mist.

stripeyfox

Hi and welcome.
Are you sure the contract had "ended"? In my experience, after the minimum contract period is up (say 24 months) - it automatically rolls over into a monthly rolling contract. Did you actually call them to "end" the contract?

Jon_01

Contracts don't end, they reach their minimum term and become 30 days rolling contracts.

It's up to you to let them know if you want to change anything. I guess you wouldn't have liked it if your phone had just stopped working one day as you say you've been using it for the last 6 months?

stripeyfox

laminz wrote: »

Hello, this is my first on any forum so please bear with me.

I am really upset that 3 Mobile have continued to charge me 6 months after my contract ended, for a phone I have already paid for. They are trying to blame me for 'not contacting them' when the phone ended. I disagree that it should be OK for them or any network, or any company, to continue to charge somebody (a) for something for which payment has been made; (b) when the contract has ended; (c) just because the customer has not pressed the 'stop' button to on the direct debit. It is their sneaky way to commit daylight robbery. I know this has been in the media last year and they are still doing it. I've asked for compensation and been offered £30.00 of credit (this is one months charge), which will be applied to reduce what 'I owe them' allegedly, if I am to leave. Its rubbish and I am still worse off. I have complained to Ofcom, though I don't know if that complaint will have disappeared in the mist.

Yes - you need to clarify this important point : Did you inform them you were ending the contract? If so, and they have been collecting money since the contract end date then they owe you the money - no question. But if on the other hand you have assumed the contract is up once the minimum period is over, then you are most likely liable for the charges.

Ian011

Ofcom has just closed a consultation on "end of (minimum term of) contract" and "out of contract" notifications. Regulations will be changing shortly.

pmduk

Point to the charge on your bill for the phone. Oh, there isn't one? then you entered a contract, happy to pay that amount until you ended the contract, remembering the minimum period, of course.

Herongull

My understanding is until the rules change (which is currently being looked at) what they have done is completely legal.

You will have signed a contract to pay £x per month for a minimum period (probably 24 months) in exchange for airtime and a phone. You can't end the contract during the minimum term without paying them a large sum of money. However once the minimum term is up, you can give a months notice to leave or else change to a cheaper sim only contract.

If you chose to continue paying £x per month after the minimum term is up, that is your decision - at least that is the position contractually. In reality it looks as if you probably forgot to keep tabs on when the minimum term was up but legally you are not owed a refund - anything they offer you is simply for "goodwill".

Once the rules change, the situation will be different but at this stage it isn't clear exactly what the change will be. It may end up being a requirement to send customers a text when the minimum term is over and if people ignore this they will continue to be charged £x per month.

its_all_over

laminz wrote: »

Hello, this is my first on any forum so please bear with me.

I am really upset that 3 Mobile have continued to charge me 6 months after my contract ended, for a phone I have already paid for. They are trying to blame me for 'not contacting them' when the phone ended. I disagree that it should be OK for them or any network, or any company, to continue to charge somebody (a) for something for which payment has been made; (b) when the contract has ended; (c) just because the customer has not pressed the 'stop' button to on the direct debit. It is their sneaky way to commit daylight robbery. I know this has been in the media last year and they are still doing it. I've asked for compensation and been offered £30.00 of credit (this is one months charge), which will be applied to reduce what 'I owe them' allegedly, if I am to leave. Its rubbish and I am still worse off. I have complained to Ofcom, though I don't know if that complaint will have disappeared in the mist.

Hi laminz, unfortunately that’s not how contracts work, you have to give notice at the end of the minimum term, which is a 30 day notice.

There is talk that the system might change in the future but that’s how it is at present.

You are liable for line rental until you give notice.