Boiler service and emergency breakdown cover

parklodge

I took out a contract in April 2021with Smartbe, having got fed up with the ever increasing charges from British Gas. 
Now in May 2021, I don't feel happy with Smartbe's service ,so I gave them a notice to end my contract with them . I am fully aware that the the two monthly instalments I have paid and the third due on 19/5/21 would be payable. I have not had any service from them in the period since 1/4/21(i.e. In the new year). However they have come back that I would owe them the full price of the contract. They say that their Terms and Conditions states this . I would owe them 10 monthly instalments to be able leave them . 
I have managed to argue my case and because of them misleading me on the terms, they have let me leave without having to pay the full balance for the remainder of the annual contract. 
My view is that there is no legal basis for charging a full years charge if you wish to discontinue with the service contract. It is !!!!!! to say their Terms and Conditions says that. Even If their Terms and Conditions state what they say it says , it is still illegal,never mind being unfair. How many customers have been forced to pay this extornating charge? Any suggestion how and who takes this matter up? 

Jeepers_Creepers

If their T&Cs state that you owe them the full year's payment after you've been with them for, say, 2 months, then - guess what? - you owe them the full year. That's what you signed up for. It might be morally 'unfair', but there's probably good reasons for it, other than extortion... For instance, there will be some folk who'll pay one or two monthly instalments for a pre-existing fault condition, and then cancel their contract as soon as the repair has been carried out.

Does it matter that you are paying them monthly? What if you had paid the full annual sum in one lump - how much of that would you have expected them to refund you after two months?

However, it would be a different matter had they had misled you with their terms. Have they? In what way?

If you didn't call on their service during these two months, can I ask in what way are you not happy with their service?