Paying 2 year contract for over years!

System

mobilejunkie wrote: »

Is anything ever the fault of the customer? That's why we have a nanny state.

If you don't agree with it fine but don't think for one minute that you have not benefited in some way from regulatory oversight.

Sometimes it done badly and other times it done great so less of "That's why we have a nanny state" as if there is some utopia out there that is a free for all :rotfl:

System

d123 wrote: »

So what’s the other option?

Networks to arbitrarily disconnect people at midnight at the end of month 24?

Shall we do the same with broadband, gas and electricity contracts?

Fixed term with service disconnected as soon as the fixed term ends? Sounds quite ridiculous to me...

The current situation doesn’t seem particularly complicated, it’s an open ended contract with a minimum term, give notice if you don’t want it to continue, any adult (even some children) should be able to manage that.

Don't know what the other option is that's why they are in discussions.

But don't sit there and think for one minute that the network companies can't come up with a system to tell you when your contract is coming to an end. They know damn well that phones are personal computers and therefore some can be around the £1000 mark and its easy money for them if they get some % of customers who forget to check their contracts 1, 2 or 3 months after their contract has ended.

System

pmduk wrote: »

So whose fault is it that people don't read contracts? If they were read out loud to them they wouldn't listen!

It makes you wonder how some people can get dressed without having a support worker.

No offence meant to those with real issues who need assistance.

Look I'm realistic I have been an adult for 34 years and seen plenty of regulatory over sight being implemented after the event. The world does not implode with check and balances.

Fair enough if you don't agree with a certain policy but if someone or some body take up the cause to change something because they feel it's better then more power to them.

Sitting on the side lines and moaning about it does nothing.

mobilejunkie

john22 wrote: »

If you don't agree with it fine but don't think for one minute that you have not benefited in some way from regulatory oversight.

Sometimes it done badly and other times it done great so less of "That's why we have a nanny state" as if there is some utopia out there that is a free for all :rotfl:

1) Quite right, I have - and long may that continue.

2) I have also lost out many times through nanny state "protection" of people who can't be bothered to read a simple contract or establish how they work and what their obligations are beforehand. There are many examples where I am worse off already; credit cards, energy caps are just two. There is also the future danger of an end to free banking (which has been mooted a few times over the last three years or so) and now mobile phone contracts.

Meanwhile, the "protection" often does nothing of the kind for those it is aimed at and (where it does) only saves people a pittance. I laugh at the massive amount all of us end up paying for in respect of the ludicrous claimed savings for having a smart meter - another thing which wastes my money for absolutely no benefit.

Some well thought out regulation and protection is good - but far to much is designed for the brainless or lazy at large costs to everyone else and achieves very little in practice for the former group - who will always squander money unnecessarily whatever the government dictates.

System

mobilejunkie wrote: »

1) Quite right, I have - and long may that continue.

2) I have also lost out many times through nanny state "protection" of people who can't be bothered to read a simple contract or establish how they work and what their obligations are beforehand. There are many examples where I am worse off already; credit cards, energy caps are just two. There is also the future danger of an end to free banking (which has been mooted a few times over the last three years or so) and now mobile phone contracts.

Meanwhile, the "protection" often does nothing of the kind for those it is aimed at and (where it does) only saves people a pittance. I laugh at the massive amount all of us end up paying for in respect of the ludicrous claimed savings for having a smart meter - another thing which wastes my money for absolutely no benefit.

Some well thought out regulation and protection is good - but far to much is designed for the brainless or lazy at large costs to everyone else and achieves very little in practice for the former group - who will always squander money unnecessarily whatever the government dictates.

what I can i say win some lose some

pmduk

John22, obviously, I don't know your background, but when I have had to deal with customers who've failed to check their bills and bank statements, it's hard to think of anything that's going to solve this issue.

The consumer groups and Ofcom can't even agree on how much notice networks should have to give customers that their minimum term is coming to an end. IIRC, Ofcom suggested 40-60 days, Which?, (I think), have disputed this as customers can't be trusted to then wait until the 30 day notice period and will attract early termination fees.

My personal favourite, (but totally unrealistic idea), would be for people to move to SIM only deals and source & fund their devices separately. The networks won't let go of a huge revenue stream without a fight.

john22 wrote: »

... and seen plenty of regulatory over sight being implemented after the event. The world does not implode with check and balances.

I don't disagree with you, but sadly there is so much attention given to relatively problem-free areas such as this where other matters are ignored. Off the top of my head: Companies rising phoenix-like from pre-pack administrations. Companies going bust, with customer's money not ring-fenced etc etc. I could go on.

System

pmduk wrote: »

John22, obviously, I don't know your background, but when I have had to deal with customers who've failed to check their bills and bank statements, it's hard to think of anything that's going to solve this issue.

The consumer groups and Ofcom can't even agree on how much notice networks should have to give customers that their minimum term is coming to an end. IIRC, Ofcom suggested 40-60 days, Which?, (I think), have disputed this as customers can't be trusted to then wait until the 30 day notice period and will attract early termination fees.

My personal favourite, (but totally unrealistic idea), would be for people to move to SIM only deals and source & fund their devices separately. The networks won't let go of a huge revenue stream without a fight.

look you never gonna help everyone and who knows where the decision will land but to just dismiss it and not think that someone might come along and wonder if this could be better is being naive.

Of course its free money to the networks and they are gonna milk it for as long as they can. But depending on how their talks are going on with ofcom they will decide to make a deal that does not give them the worst possible deal.

Frozen_up_north

pmduk wrote: »

My personal favourite, (but totally unrealistic idea), would be for people to move to SIM only deals and source & fund their devices separately. The networks won't let go of a huge revenue stream without a fight.

I don’t think it’s a totally unrealistic idea, plenty of consumers have gone the SIM only route. That’s why Dixon’s/CPW aren’t making such a profit these days :rotfl:

ErnestEntrepreneur

Thanks for all the helpful replies - I guessed as much, but I think we all know these companies virtually rely on some people continuing to pay the higher rate - like all those people who pay more for insurance because they stay with the same company.

It just seems that if I kept charging people a higher rate for something they bought in my shop I'd feel very guilty about it, because it's morally wrong, and I'd fix it as soon as possible, because most of my customers are people I count as friends, but these big companies seem to have call centres to handle issues like this, and there is no single person you can hold responsible for this morally bankrupt behaviour.

Oh well, live and learn... Thanks for the tips about finding other suppliers to quote etc.

Helpful as usual. Cheers.

stragglebod

There is a single person you can hold responsible ,,,