I SWITCHED - ALL GONE WRONG!

Fastrack1966

I made a huge mistake signing up with another ISP without realising I was tied to the PO Broadband contract. I thought there was a clause where PO customers who were not happy with the new Shell deal could leave, I was wrong! When switching too early should one ISP, the one I am leaving or the one I am joining, not warn me of this? I realise I was careless but it is a bit of a con for a customer to be allowed to leave with no warning. Then comes the £192 bill! Too late to leave the new one and revert, unless I grovel really low.........

prowla

If the outcome turns out to be that you are committed to paying for the two, then you perhaps make the new one a 2nd installation, so you have a main and a standby.

Fastrack1966

"Standby", thanks Prowla but surely we cannot just swap routers and connect to the other ISP? Anyway Post Office BB have closed my account

littleboo

If you're leaving through a get out clause, such as an in contract price rise, you still need to advise the losing ISP that you are invoking that right to leave. There is no get out clause due to the customer base being sold, unless there is a change in terms, as far as I know. The gaining ISP obviously has no idea of your contractual position with the losing ISP and whether or not there are early termination charges

Fastrack1966

Thanks Littleboo, no - just the change of ISP running the service. When I complained to POBB back last year about something else they rang me to persuade me to stay. All it would have taken this time was a call or email warning me of my contractual obligation. It's annoying that they just stand by and let someone leave then later announce I have to pay months n months for not being a customer! 

Neil_Jones

Fastrack1966 said:

Thanks Littleboo, no - just the change of ISP running the service. When I complained to POBB back last year about something else they rang me to persuade me to stay. All it would have taken this time was a call or email warning me of my contractual obligation. It's annoying that they just stand by and let someone leave then later announce I have to pay months n months for not being a customer! 

This is what we have T&Cs for that you're supposed to read before you commit in the first place.

And its standard practice for early exit fees to apply, again in the T&CS you agreed to.

And you're not contractual forced to stay with POBB - you can leave at any time.  But if you do, early exit fees.  But nothing stopping you switching.