tv company cobains - trying to stop me sending tv back

magoogy

we have been renting a tv from a firm called cobains for about 5 years - about a year ago we decided to return it and buy our own instead of wasting the £20.99 a month - when we phoned they asked if we would like an upgraded up to date tv for a lower price of £16.99 - obviously my hubby agreed - this seemed a good deal - they also asked us if we wanted to buy the original tv off them first before offering us this deal - when hubby said he wanted a better one thats when they offered us this deal....

anyway, we have had the updated one about 1year and hubby feels we are still wasting money - now kids have left school we are short of cash and want to get some of our overheads down - hence, we have just phoned the firm and they told me;- WHEN I UPGRADED A SIGNED A FORM TO SAY I WOULD KEEP THE TV FOR 18MONTHS - surely if you had to stay with them for 18months it would be from the very first tv and not this one.....and i dont remember signing anything of the sort so i have asked them to send me a copy of it out........

anyway, my hubbys sister also got a tv off them and decided to buy one last year - we just phoned her to see if she had the same trouble but she said they also offered her the tv she was renting at £20.99 to buy for £100, which she did - no mention of 18 months contract or anything even though shed had it less time than us........

surely this is wrong?

how do i get round this? was it unscrupulous of them offering to sell me the tv instead first and then offering a better tv at a lower amount? was that a bribe to make me sign to stay another 18month without my knowledge - nothing was ever said about this 18months contract and if i did sign anything it was just a delivery note - WHICH I KNOW I SHOULDVE READ BETTER - BET YA IT DOES SAY SOMETHING IN ULTRA VERY SMALL PRINT....

Bossyboots

It may also be in your original agreement that if you upgraded you would keep the TV for 18 months. If not, you have not signed anything else, and it was not mentioned on the telephone, there is no contract for the 18 months.

If this is the case, give them notice of termination of the original contract and ask them to agree a date for collection. If they won't do this, you give them a date for collection and make it clear you will not pay anymore from that date and will take no responsibility for the TV either. If you can, put it in writing.

magoogy

the thing is i cannot find the original agreement - but, im going to have the drawers out tomorrow and look - they must be in the house somewhere hopefully

hubby said there is only 4months to run on the 18month contract so, if the worse comes to the worse we are only going to have to wait 4 months luckily..........

webmasterpolo

This is a common practise with mobile networks as well when they upgrade your handset you are required to sign up to another 12 month contract to subsidise it. It is highly likely the new tv came with a new contract starting the day you got the new tv.

If you can't find the original agreement and they are messing you about sending you one, you could either check their website for a copy, ask your sister or call their sales line and ask for a copy posing as a new customer. Or if you want a bit more hassle you could push them under the data protection/freedom of informaton act to give you a copy of the exact document you signed showing your signature and date. Make sure it is the document for the new 18 month contract though.

magoogy

nooooooooo - they have just sent me the document - hubby did sign for another 18months from when we got the upgraded tv - never mind - only 4month to go..........typical - always read the small print as this was never told to us

Bossyboots

magoogy wrote:

nooooooooo - they have just sent me the document - hubby did sign for another 18months from when we got the upgraded tv - never mind - only 4month to go..........typical - always read the small print as this was never told to us

Men, I don't know!!!

Make sure that you have read the terms fully now, particularly how much notice you need to give to terminate the agreement. You don't want to end up in four months time finding another clause that keeps you tied in because you did not give notice early enough.