Who should pay the cancellation fee?

AG97

Hi. I’m hoping for some guidance on a contract issue.

My son and his then girlfriend ended the lease early on their flat and paid a fee accordingly.
As the broadband termination fee was going to be huge, my son has continued  to pay the monthly fee to Vodaphone until the contract ends.

Unfortunately he has had £380 taken by Vodafone without notice as the new tenant has gone with BT and the Vodafone line disconnected,  but he wasn’t made aware.

My question is, who is liable for the termination fee to Vodafone as this is precisely why he continued to pay the monthly figure.  Is it BT, the landlord or even the new tenant?

Any advice would be appreciated.

The_Fat_Controller

Your son is liable unless he agreed the course of action with the landlord who then let the property with Vodafone broadband included for XX months before they could change ISPs.

There is no logic in him thinking he had any control over someone else's line once he moved out. 

AG97

But that’s why he was paying it even though he’d moved back home, in order to avoid a big fee.  Surely someone should have contacted him.

JJ_Egan

Fee being paid  no reason to contact anyone .

New person takes out a contract with xx  , who put in cancellation as per the industry norm .

AG97

I agree with what you’re saying in normal circumstances.  Should someone not have queried why the £30 monthly fee after it’s been terminated?

The_Fat_Controller

@AG97unless he had a formal agreement with the landlord or the new tenant he was incredibly stupid in thinking he had any control over a broadband line in someone else's home.

Did he have any sort of agreement or did he just instigate his cunning plan without any thought or contact with the relevant parties ?

QrizB

AG97 said:

I agree with what you’re saying in normal circumstances.  Should someone not have queried why the £30 monthly fee after it’s been terminated?

Is there a good reason for Vodafone to know that your son had terminated his flat rental? If not, why would they query the payments continuing in accordance with his contract?

AG97

Naive perhaps but calling someone incredibly stupid is insulting.  I assumed this site was for sound advice rather than a personal attack.  He did in fact contact Vodafone to say he was doing this.

victor2

AG97 said:

Naive perhaps but calling someone incredibly stupid is insulting.  I assumed this site was for sound advice rather than a personal attack.  He did in fact contact Vodafone to say he was doing this.

Has he contacted Vodafone to ask why it was terminated without his consent, as he is the account holder?

Maybe they'll say the new tenant had the right to cancel the service, but worth asking what attempts were made to contact the account holder before taking the payment.

The_Fat_Controller

AG97 said:

Naive perhaps but calling someone incredibly stupid is insulting.  I assumed this site was for sound advice rather than a personal attack.  He did in fact contact Vodafone to say he was doing this.

In that case he contacted the wrong entity !

He should have agreed his plan of action with the owner.

He was no longer responsible for that line the moment his tenancy ended.

He remained responsible for the contract which could have been moved to a new address or terminated at cost.

AG97

victor2 said:

AG97 said:

Naive perhaps but calling someone incredibly stupid is insulting.  I assumed this site was for sound advice rather than a personal attack.  He did in fact contact Vodafone to say he was doing this.

Has he contacted Vodafone to ask why it was terminated without his consent, as he is the account holder?

Maybe they'll say the new tenant had the right to cancel the service, but worth asking what attempts were made to contact the account holder before taking the payment.

Thank you Victor2. He has and they’ve denied any responsibility and said BT should have notified them., so we’re going around in circles. I guess one to put down to experience.