Three Contract Issue

*Adam*

I have a SIM Only Pay Monthly deal with Three which I have had for more than the minimum term of the contract. I do not wish to cancel it for reasons I will keep to myself for now, but I could not get a like for like replacement anywhere near the same price with any provider.

I have just had an email stating that my monthly charge is changing and that the increase is moving away from a percentage based increase to a pounds and pence set increase a la BT/EE. In my case it is £1.90 per month extra after April.

However, my terms and conditions specifically state that "Your Monthly Charge will be subject to an annual increase of 4.5%. The annual increase will first appear on your April bill. An example of how this may impact you is set out in the Quick Summary of your Agreement above."

The change in their email means that my increase will be an increase of roughly 22%.

What are my options here to get Three to keep to the terms of the contract and increase by 4.5% rather than 22%?

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6657240/three-contract-issue

Blame M Lewis for the change. Which will be covered in T/C with variation of terms with X days notice.

Frozen_up_north

Think yourself lucky, I was with Three several years ago and they discontinued the SIM only deal I was on and said I would be changed to one at a significantly higher cost, I had been given 30 days notice (as per their terms) and if I did nothing I was effectively stuck with a huge increase, or obtain my PAC and take my business elsewhere… which I did. I dislike mobile contracts and won't be taking another one. There are plenty of low cost 30 day rolling "non contracts" out there for less than £10 a month.

saajan_12

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6657240/three-contract-issue

You didn't have a contract for 4.5% increase forever. You had a fixed increase for at least the minimum term, and then then agreed to renew you on the same terms. They don't have to keep doing that. Your options would be take the increase or refuse (& walk away).

PHK

You are outside of the minimum term, so they can change prices by giving you notice. You can either accept or leave.

In this case, service providers were told by the government they should move people from old % contracts to new fixed increase amounts. Which of course means that those on the lowest amounts have a bigger increase.

All of this was foreseen when Martin Lewis was campaigning for the change.

Neil49

An option is to leave Three and move to Smarty. They use the Three network and are actually owned by Three. The difference is that they are much cheaper and include EU roaming.

sdduk

I would get your pac code and move to Smarty or ID they both do 30 day contacts and leave when you like also ID do data rollover every month…..They both do 12mths contract has well so you have a choice.

I've been with Smarty for about 6yrs now and had no problems with them singnal is good in my area so if you get good signal with 3 then you will get the same with smarty and id.

brewerdave

I'm with ID mobile - another revent advantage is that I'm now connecting to Vodafone towers as well as 3 - so generally better coverage. Don't know if Smarty are gaining that "extra" as well?

Neil49

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81905780#Comment_81905780

The Three and Vodafone network merger will take some years to complete so it's the luck of the draw as to whether you will benefit straight away. Three own Smarty so they will definitely get the benefit of this merger

tinker411

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81905780#Comment_81905780

Re Smarty - yes:

https://help.smarty.co.uk/en/articles/10235435-what-does-three-s-merger-with-vodafone-mean-for-smarty

Re Vodafone masts - well, all Vodafone is bringing to the table here is 2G. Three brings 5G (Vodafone didn't have it here before), however with Vodafone customers hammering it now 5G speeds have crashed by almost half so far.

*Adam*

I thought this might be the case. Will just have to suck it up and keep slowly paying more until the benefit isnt worth it then get a better deal.

Right now even with the massive increase its still more value for money. Just wasn't sure because it specifically stated a % increase and I couldnt see where in the Ts and Cs they could unilaterally change it.