[Mike_Roper]

I never entertain calls from phone companies ,advertisers etc except on the 5th sept when for some unexplained reason I said yes to a 7 day trial of 3 business package from a dealer , try it check reception see if you like it etc . £26 a month but they will pay half for first 6 mths.
Phone arrived sat 6th ,already decided not to go ahead ,didnt like feel of it & voucher to send 3rd month bill to get money back then the 5th etc.
First opportunity ie monday am phoned dealer ,decided not to go ahead do you want me to post phone back or do you have carrier? Young lady said wasnt her department she would get someone to phone back.
Heres me waiting for a call back.Following monday get bill for month from 3,try phoning dealer,no reply,phone 3 explaining situation ,they tried phoning no reply said they would get in touch with them and tell them to ring me.Again waiting for call. Next bill comes from 3.Phone dealer explain waiting to hear how to get phone back to them------- Its your phone for 24 mths , you had to send it back to our shop within 7days!!
Trying to cut the story down-
Asked 3 to look into it. Dealer didnt phone back cos it was over the seven days anyway. 3 listened to the "verbal contract" and was happy with it. Dealer wouldnt back down and to cut a long story short i am tied into a 24 month contract which equates to 700 quid. Theres no way of getting out of it! To make matters worse i dont think theres 3 reception in my area!!! So the phones not even any good for my daughter to use.  Im gonna have to pay them the full 700 quid to get out of it.
Beware, be VERY aware. NEVER say yes to anything over the phone.

Anyone ever managed to get the better of these scumbags at the mobile phone companies???

Mike

[ansar@amahmood6.or]

get in tuch with Financial Ombudsman Services

[Mike Osbourne]

Hi Mike

What a p1sser

If I've read it right you have evidence you tried to contact to cancel within cooling off period. They can't stick their fingers in their ears and go nah nah nah for seven days then say your out of luck.

They rely on a percentage just accepting you haven't got a leg to stand on.I would say speak to trading standards or citizens advice about it, don't let it go.

[daz1977]

a verbal yes is as good as a written signature, in the eyes of the law with sales over the  phone

my misses bought a phone over the phone you,  had it for a year and lost it so claimed on her insurance, got a new phone, then a few weeks later 300 quid went out of the bank, bank would not say who took the money so had to wait for statement all they would say was that it was used on the card,  so had to cancel the card as thought it ahd been cloned, turned out it was the company who original sold her phone saying they where entitled to the full cost of teh phone as she had cancel the original contract by claiming on her insurance,  took weeks and solicitor lettes to get it back,  it turned out it was some company in cardiff selling phones for 3,  they also phone you up saying that you are entitled to a free phone up grade from 3 and they just transfer your number to there new contract and your stuck for a other 18 months

[John Kelly]

Send it back explaining that you had tried to contact them within the 7 days but their systems prevented that happening. Tell them you are talking to trading standards and the office of fair trading. If they want to pursue the matter you will put it in the hands of your solicitor.

[derek west]

just don't pay and let them take you to court.
derek

[Mike_Roper]

Believe me guys I,ve talked to trading standards ,legal helpline through NCCA and all basically say Im stuffed.Verbal contract is as binding as a written one even if you dont realise youve made one.Its up to me to request and read their terms and conditions which no doubt says phone must be returned to them within 7 days of the verbal contract. These scum bags know exactly how to trap you legally, they have no morals or conscience and the mobile companies condone this behavior (in my opinion~)
What is worse that you may not be aware of is -business to business verbal contracts dont come under consumer protection ie you dont get a 7 day cool off . So you have just got to agree to something verbally on the phone and your stuck!!
This is why I needed to point these things out to you all - dont get caught out ,learn from my mistake!!
Mike

[Mike_Roper]

These mobile companies dont take you to court for the money they put it in hands of dept collection agency, its not your choice .
I talked to a solicitor who advised trading standards ,if no joy go back. Legal helpline advised that solicitor costs would be more than bill and still probably get no where.
Mike

[Len Gribble]

Thought I was tied into 12mths contract turned out to be 18 very peeved off! What’s wrong with pay as you go? Have yet to hear a totally a valid reason why not! Yes makes a commitment wish I could tape my incoming calls you are fxxked

Lot of sharks out there cancel any standing orders/direct debits be it bank or credit card company.

Len

[Dave_Lee]

Mike,
Regarding the 7 days cancellation clause. You can check with your solicitor, but I am almost certain that the 7 days rule is only enforcable if the company issued you with that clause in print or writing, and if they did not then the cancellation period by statute is 3 months.
Also if there is no reception in your area, then you may be able to get out of the contract by claiming the goods are not 'Fit for purpose'.
Dave.

[Stu.Clem]

They should have offered you a postcode service quality coverage  check and also asked you to sign a disclaimer in which you agree to their terms of no cancellation ie you fully understand the terms and conditions of contract.  Sounds like you have been mis led.  My wife recently fell for similar thing with T mobile - not liking the deal is not  a good enough reason  to cancel so she said  (on the day she signed up)  my husband will not pay this bill as service is crap - she managed to get the contract cancelled but had to pay 1 months bill.  Dont give up! that is what they want - fone consumer direct then offcom and keep the refernce numbers they give you then put in writing howyou feel you were misled into taking out this contract and werent given sufficient timely information as to coolling off / cancellation  terms.  Theses steps worked with T mobile  - keep in mind it was all through no fault of your own and they are to blame.
Best of british.

Stu

[Mike Osbourne]

Get those two gay guys off watchdog to nip up there on their bike.

[excel1]

you could try to remind trading standards who are f*****g useless that a product must be fit for purpose and that why would you want a network that doesnt work in your area?

Also 24 months who does these these days? also quote unfair contracts law, have you bought it in your name or a ltd business make a big difference.

[M.Acorn]

Feel your pain ! Had the same thing last year, i didn`t even open the package to look at the phone ,had a nightmare trying to get in touch also,so i could get the address to send it back,i did finally get through to someone after trying for about 3 days constantly,they just kept cutting me off !
I have a 3 phone already,did want to c\ncel it,but they gave me all the b,s saying that they now work with orange some quad band thing,my reception is still rubbish,even says on the 3 site i am not in an area of coverage !

[Mike_Roper]

Its in Ltd company name. No bank details given. Phone not used . Itemised phone bill showing date and time I phoned dealers ,who incidently are Business Telecom from Poulton-le-Fylde wherever that is.
Having to pay 3 to keep them putting in hands of dept collection agy.3 finiance department are like rotwielers ,their tone of voice is totally different from sales guys for some reason.
Mike

[AJB]

Had the same thing with my wife and Orange, offered a free upgrade. Promised
that it was the same number and account, turned out to be a new number and account.
It took 8 months, hours of phone calls, wifes other phone frozen every month, due to none payment
of that bill. Several letters to sort it out. Eventually succeeded, and got to keep the phone.
Until it is raised to management status, ie not the T**t you originally speak to, they have a
written script to work through, and will lie to keep you happy on the phone,. You will get
nowhere, T mobile are the only ones who can help, they have the clout to put the resellers
in their place, the question is will they!

[clinton]

Am with t mobile and could get a better deal with virgin but after reading this post its put me off..

Mike hope its sorted soon or at least get an answer :

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Probably wise to keep up payments while you continue to dispute it.

If you don't the company will post on your credit rating that you have missed payments and could affect you in so many other ways to do with credit products-and that fact will stay on your rating for six years!

roger

[Matt Lindus]

Hang on, we need some details here. You say £700 for 24 month contract.

how have you arrived at that figure when you say £26 per month with half off that for the first 6months?

Your contract is £13 per month inc phone for the first 6 months on a voucher back method, after 6mths back to - £26.

The total you pay to 3 over 24 months is £546.00, very good value in my opinion, especially with free mins and texts. 

As for signal, 3 have an obligation to customers regarding signal and should be looking into this if you report it.

Matt


 

[Mike_Roper]

£26.37 +vat
The dealers will wriggle out of subsidising first 6 mths cos I didnt send details of copy of passport/driving licience,proof of business etc cos it was going back.
Doesnt really matter if the deal is good or not I dont need it -went with orange as last 15yrs.
Like telling a nomad in a desert how good the jet ski is and hope he enjoys it!
Mike