New EE Phone contract is messed up!!! Totally screwing the customer how do I get out of it.HELP!!!!!

silverxx12

Hi all,

I really need some help here. I just recently mid/late December (as far as I recall) took out a new 2yr phone contract as there were some attractive deals EE was offering. I don't believe I have received my first bill and they sent me a text saying that they will be increasing my bill in line with inflation which turns out to be more than a 10% increase in price. Had I known this, to begin with, I would never have taken out the contract in the first place as I am on a tight budget and wanted a reliable stable wifi speed at a fixed price for the term of the contract which is what I thought I was purchasing.
I was then told these conditions were worked into the terms and conditions of my contract which I signed and am therefore tied into this contract and cannot leave (as it has been more than 30 days) or terminate this contract.
I feel really cheated by this whole gimmick of a sale at the end of the year to attract new customers only then to slap them after the cool-off period with an increased price to whatever price EE thinks they can raise it to royally screw the customer to no end till the termination of their contract.
Surely the customer has some rights here it's so clearly a scam!!
How do get out of this contract this is totally unfair!!!

Best regards

Silver

singhini

How do i get out of it. HELP!!!!!

I don't think you can. If you've had a mobile phone contract in the past, you should be aware (and have experienced) price rises inline with inflation. 
Mobile phone companies adjust their prices each year based on inflation (using the Consumer Price Index rate + 3.9%). Having just looked up the latest CPI published rate, it looks like its 10.5% (December rate which is published in January).

i make that 14.4% and i think it increases from 1st April.

Don't take my word for it as i'm now on PAYG 

I'm sure someone else will have the answer for you.

Neil_Jones

silverxx12 said:

Hi all,

I really need some help here. I just recently mid/late December (as far as I recall) took out a new 2yr phone contract as there were some attractive deals EE was offering. I don't believe I have received my first bill and they sent me a text saying that they will be increasing my bill in line with inflation which turns out to be more than a 10% increase in price. Had I known this, to begin with, I would never have taken out the contract in the first place as I am on a tight budget and wanted a reliable stable wifi speed at a fixed price for the term of the contract which is what I thought I was purchasing.
I was then told these conditions were worked into the terms and conditions of my contract which I signed and am therefore tied into this contract and cannot leave (as it has been more than 30 days) or terminate this contract.
I feel really cheated by this whole gimmick of a sale at the end of the year to attract new customers only then to slap them after the cool-off period with an increased price to whatever price EE thinks they can raise it to royally screw the customer to no end till the termination of their contract.
Surely the customer has some rights here it's so clearly a scam!!
How do get out of this contract this is totally unfair!!!

Best regards

Silver

Well the rise would have been mentioned on the adverts, in the small print on the website and the T&Cs, which it sounds like you didn't read.  This is not a new thing.

molerat

They make it very clear about the CPI + 3.9% increase. At the bottom of just about everything you click on is

*The monthly price shown, add-ons and all out of bundle charges will increase on or after 31st March every year by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation published in January that year, plus 3.9%. See ee.co.uk/increase for details. Please note the cost of other services you take from us may increase or decrease while you're an EE customer.

I don't like it or agree that they should be allowed to do it but it is made very clear, you agreed to it and will not be able to get out of it. 

I have just renewed my broadband contract and it will increase by 14.4% in April, very clearly shown in all the e-mails.

km1500

Stop UK mobile and broadband firms ‘lining their pockets’, urge consumer experts

Companies facing backlash amid warning of mid-contract price rises of up to 17% during cost of living crisis

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/feb/05/ofcom-stop-uk-mobile-broadband-firms-lining-pockets

Emmia

As it's a 2 year contract, you'll also no doubt have an increase in 2024 too.

You might not think it is fair, but  it's the way mobile contracts have worked for a very long time, and EE make it clear when you sign up.

ladruid

I don't understand why anyone would tie themselves into a long contract... there are many monthly rolling deals out there that can be stopped with a months notice....

You cant accept a contract, then complain its not fair (probably because you didn't read the contract). It seems unfair, but as you agreed to the contract, your stuck unless they breech the contractual terms, or you can get them to annul it.

SaverRate

The only way out is to pay the contract off in full. You should have read the terms and conditions before agreeing.

Whilst I do not agree with the rises especially this year due to inflation it is in the terms and conditions of most mobile companies. (and broadband!) 

southsidergs

silverxx12 said:

Surely the customer has some rights here it's so clearly a scam!!
How do get out of this contract this is totally unfair!!!

Can you please explain how you not reading everything when you're signing up makes it a scam? As rubbish as the rises are (biggest cpi part not the mobile companies faults either but they're taking all the flack it seems) they have been pretty clear throughout that these rises will be coming they've not been hidden or anything

molerat

southsidergs said:

silverxx12 said:

Surely the customer has some rights here it's so clearly a scam!!
How do get out of this contract this is totally unfair!!!

Can you please explain how you not reading everything when you're signing up makes it a scam? As rubbish as the rises are (biggest cpi part not the mobile companies faults either but they're taking all the flack it seems) they have been pretty clear throughout that these rises will be coming they've not been hidden or anything

The flack is not so much about the rises but the way they are implemented in contract.  They have a captive audience that cannot escape the rises so they are the ones that are taking the hit.  The rises are not being carried through to new contracts.  I have just renewed my broadband as my contract was due in March.  I was paying £25.13 as it had last year's increase on it. For some time they had been offering me £24.50 early renewal but my end of term renewal came through at £21.99, the new sign up price.  This will increase to £25.16 in April so only 3p more than current but will likely still be more than new sign ups. They are already offering me renewal at £23.99 which will likely continue beyond the price increase, if so I might take them up on that.

macman

It's not a fixed price contract, and never has been. Very few mobile providers offer them, Tesco Mobile being one that comes to mind.
Your failure to read the contract does not amount to a 'scam'.