ServiceBox - Right to cancel

elrond

Hello, trying to help my Mum, she took out a 2 year contract with service box back in August 2018, she wants to cancel. She has called them but told her she couldn't and to check the small print

I have looked at the small print, which has a clear section on cancelling within a 14 day cool off period, but its not clear on her right after this time. She pays by direct debit - have told her not to cancel until an arrangement has been reached.

The "how to cancel" seems to be tied into the previous paragraph with reference to cooling off - im really unsure if she can cancel - any advice would be appreciated.

EDIT : unfortunately cant share the url to the image ?

Sorry as a new user you are not allowed to post with links. This is done to stop spammers clogging up the site. Please edit your message below to continue.

elrond

i.imgur.com/Ac1YFKo.jpg

mattyprice4004

After the cooling off period they don’t need to let you cancel - that’s the point of a contract, to tie you into a service for a set length of time.
If people could cancel willy nilly, there would be little point in having contracts at all

JJ_Egan

Two year contract .
Note you need to check that the service does not roll over at the end of the two years .
You need to be sure to give cancellation notice at the end of two years .

pinkshoes

elrond wrote: »

Hello, trying to help my Mum, she took out a 2 year contract with service box back in August 2018, she wants to cancel. She has called them but told her she couldn't and to check the small print

I have looked at the small print, which has a clear section on cancelling within a 14 day cool off period, but its not clear on her right after this time. She pays by direct debit - have told her not to cancel until an arrangement has been reached.

The "how to cancel" seems to be tied into the previous paragraph with reference to cooling off - im really unsure if she can cancel - any advice would be appreciated.

EDIT : unfortunately cant share the url to the image ?

Sorry as a new user you are not allowed to post with links. This is done to stop spammers clogging up the site. Please edit your message below to continue.

Assuming the contract is as described then no right to cancel.

unholyangel

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

After the cooling off period they don’t need to let you cancel without liability - that’s the point of a contract, to tie you into a service for a set length of time.
If people could cancel willy nilly, there would be little point in having contracts at all

Fixed that for you

Contracts frequently incorrectly state a consumer can't cancel a contract. You can always cancel a contract - just not without potentially being liable for their losses. The "cooling off period" creates an exception to that rule, where you can cancel without liability, rather than setting the period you are allowed to cancel.

OP...you mention "small print"....what small print were they telling your mother to check? Were they telling her to check terms she had been given before entering the contract or after? How did she enter the contract, what information was she provided before entering and how was it provided to her? What date did she enter the contract and when did the plan start? You should look at the consumer contract regulations - they need to give certain information and failure to comply can have some major impacts (such as extending the cooling off period). So the more you can tell us, the better.

elrond

Thanks for the reply's

unholyangel wrote: »

OP...you mention "small print"....what small print were they telling your mother to check? Were they telling her to check terms she had been given before entering the contract or after? How did she enter the contract, what information was she provided before entering and how was it provided to her? What date did she enter the contract and when did the plan start? You should look at the consumer contract regulations - they need to give certain information and failure to comply can have some major impacts (such as extending the cooling off period). So the more you can tell us, the better.

Small print is here i.imgur.com/Ac1YFKo.jpg (forum wont left me post url's)

I'm unable to answer all your questions - would need to cross examine Mum !

I know she is well past the cooling off period.

You should look at the consumer contract regulations << I tried doing my own research before posting here, tbh i was a little lost...

She has since told me she has "negotiated" smaller payments with Servicebox - and she seems happy with this.

I still wonder what would of happened if she had simply cancelled the direct debit - its a policy worth only approx £200 - how far legally would a company pursue her for that amount of money (its not as is if she owes them money - like a loan for example)

unholyangel

elrond wrote: »

Thanks for the reply's




Small print is here i.imgur.com/Ac1YFKo.jpg (forum wont left me post url's)

I'm unable to answer all your questions - would need to cross examine Mum !

I know she is well past the cooling off period.

You should look at the consumer contract regulations << I tried doing my own research before posting here, tbh i was a little lost...

She has since told me she has "negotiated" smaller payments with Servicebox - and she seems happy with this.

I still wonder what would of happened if she had simply cancelled the direct debit - its a policy worth only approx £200 - how far legally would a company pursue her for that amount of money (its not as is if she owes them money - like a loan for example)

I read that but is that the only information they provided? It doesn't seem enough to satisfy information requirements of CCRs.

You should be careful with cancelling DDs. Sometimes contracts (especially ones for insurance) are for a fixed fee for the length of the agreement with the option to take finance and pay a fixed sum monthly.

If credit was involved, they wouldn't need to chase your mum to have it negatively affect her, they could register a default on her credit file after just 1 missed payment. Just cancelling a DD is never advisable. But it should definitely be avoided where credit is involved.

mattyprice4004

You’re mistaken, OP - if she cancelled the DD she does owe the money, and would be chased accordingly.
It’s not like a loan in that it’s likely not credit, but if she’s contracted to pay then she definitely would be obliged to do so.