3 (Three) Mobile Contract Problems - Help

[DeludedGuy]

Hmm thanks for the advanced warning, my contract is due to expire with 3 so I think when I cancel, I will definately cancel

I strongly advise you to record the conversation and note down the name of the person who you spke to.

[eddie3001]

I too am having this problem with 3. I have been with them for 4 years now and i cant believe what they are doing to me.... I gave my 30 days notice on 21 nov 2007 then on the 29th nov 2007 someone from 3 called me and offered me £10 per month for 500 mins and 100 texts and i was interested because it is a good deal but i told him to call me back so i could speak to my partner because she uses the contract phone, but they didnt call me back. Anyway i was expecting my contract to stop working at the end of december or start of january. Well it came to the 21st of Jan 2008 and i called them up to see what was going on... well they told me that i agreed to a new contract which apparently was a "no handset deal" which i would never accept because the phone i have is nokia n70 but the screen is broken and i cant see who i am calling so why would i agree to that? I have called them up loads of times and they say they will call me back but never do. i even had a phone call from them saying that i was telling the truth and to wait for a phone call in 48 hrs which they never called me and when i called them back they are denying everything and that i will have to pay £262 to cancel a £120 contract which is stupid. They will not cancel my contract or even try to believe me they just keep repeating the same thing over and over again and im so sick of giving my name, post code and dob about 100 times in 1 call

[GoNz0]

stop paying, it will get there attention..

[immy69]

Always Cancell Your Contract Properly!!!
The Way To Do It Is, Always Ask For A Pac Code From Them, Then Port Your 3 Number To Any Old Pay As You Go Sim, Its Free And You Know For Sure That Your Contract Has Cancelled.
If You've Decided To Go With A New Network Then Port Your Number To Them..
Once Your Number Has Been Ported Your Old Contract Cannot Exist.
Never Upgrade With 3.... Never!!!!

[dangel]

Always Cancell Your Contract Properly!!!
The Way To Do It Is, Always Ask For A Pac Code From Them, Then Port Your 3 Number To Any Old Pay As You Go Sim, Its Free And You Know For Sure That Your Contract Has Cancelled.
If You've Decided To Go With A New Network Then Port Your Number To Them..
Once Your Number Has Been Ported Your Old Contract Cannot Exist.
Never Upgrade With 3.... Never!!!!

No Being Funny But Why Capatalise Every Darn Word? That just hurts my bonce!

[amandaB]

I have been in exactly the same situation!
i was coned into starting a contract with three while i was waiting to renue my contract with vodaphone. when i realised i was renuing with three i explained i wanted to be with vodaphone but it was insisted i finish the deal as i had already given my details and i could cancel after as this was apparantly a better option.
i chose to stay with vodaphone as i felt i was decieved with the three contract in the first place and wasnt impressed by the service.

when i tryed to cancel it was impossible. i couldnt understand the people i was speaking to. after over half an hour of being but through to different people that was no help i was given a number for the service provider. i rang, the phone beeped three times and hung up on me. after several attempts i was back where i started, a lady put me on hold and said she would cancel it.

i phoned back to conferm a few days later, which it hadnt and apparantly because of the incompetance of the staff with in the 14days i am tied to a 2 year contract with a phone still in the parcel it was delivered and a contract that has never been used!

As the previous person said they do not listen! they continue to insist on making a payment which will make it better telling me after i have given them money it will get refunded but do not give them a penny as this wil tie you even further. it is a lie! or as they would defend themselves misguidence of the truth.

i have had phone calls and made calls explaining myself, these lasting at the longest nearly 2 hours and the response i get is always is ... 'yes miss but that does not change the fact you owe this money' .... er... no i havnt used a product or a service!

all i can do is wait for the court date or maybe they wil stop waisting my time and complete the task on their own and take this phone off me and cancel the contract!

[DeludedGuy]

Reading all of this again makes me want to contact watchdog. I cant believe they are still doing the same old tricks and trying to get away with it.

[amandaB]

well im at a dead end now. have had enough. didnt realise other people had been screwd over by them. i read the dates after and your experiance was earlyer on in the year. it is all going through court. which is so rediculus. i cant believe how rediculous it all is. anyway Thank you for your post i was desperate to see if it was just me and doubted my own judgement. now i know im not the only one it is definatly a problem. i am looking into watch dog. im at uni so seeing what student union can do. and citizens advise.

[Darryld1]

In my opinion, 3 are using the PAC code wrongly. PAC codes are NOT mentioned in any of 3's terms and conditions. See for yourselves - check out their website. 3 even admit on their website that the terms and conditions aren't exactly the most riveting thing you'll ever read. ya don't say!!

If you request a PAC code, 3 will wrongly use it as a contract cancellation trigger. This will then overide your 30 days notice and they won't tell you that! Fine if you have used the PAC but if you are offered it, told that it will expire after 30 days BUT NOT that 3 will consider that if you don't use it within 30 days, that 3 will assume that you still want a contract with them!

So you want to leave 3, you tell them this, take out a new contract or PAYG and give 30 days notice. They will ask you why you want to leave, offer all sorts of nonsense they have no intention of providing (just read some of the lies 3 used on folks in this fourm), and assure you that all is well. IT IS NOT OKAY!! 3 still want you and your money!!

I gave 30 days notice to 3 in July. They continued to provide me with a service despite me telling them several times to disconnect it. 3 have stated in writing to me that because I did not use the PAC code, that it expired after 30 days and because I didn't use it, that they assumed that I still wanted their service even though I had said several times that I didn't and that I had told them I had a contract with Orange! Clearly a flawed argument on 3's behalf.

The PAC code is not supposed to be used to disconnect a mobile phone service - it is only meant to transfer (port) a number to another service provider. 3 state in their T&C's that 30 days notice is all that is needed to cancel a contract. (3 T&C's section 10)

MY ADVICE TO YOU.

1. Cancel your Direct Debit with your bank. Do it anyway. You can call your bank or visit in person. Any company who you give your banking details to can set up a DD without your consent. Yes, it's wrong but they can technically still do it. You gave them your details after all so your bank cannot stop them. IF 3 do set up another DD, you can request a full refund from your bank under their Direct Debit Indemnity Scheme and your bank will pursue 3 for that money. Now you have your bank on your side providing you have not breached any of the terms of your 3 contract...and let's face it, you won't have.

2. Do not enter into any discussion by calling 3 more than once to state that you have cancelled your DD and that you want the content of the conversation recorded on your file. You can do all this before you give your 30 days notice. Then if 3 want more money , they will have to ask you for it or set up another DD with your bank. Take the person's full name and request that they put your through to their Supervisor immediately. If this is not possible, request a call back and tell the person to make a note of this on your file while you are still on the phone. If you do get hold of a supervisor or manager, state exactly that you have cancelled your DD after giving 30 days notice and that you do not want 3 to reinstate the DD with your bank. Get that put on your file too.

3. You're gonna love this bit - PAC codes are NOT mentioned in any of 3's T&C's!!! I looked and looked but couldn't find it on their latest T&C's. Even though they say that PAC codes are in your T&C's and that you are in breach of them. This is a lie!! Request written proof of where in 3's terms and conditions 3 state that a PAC code is used for anything! Anything at all. They don't mention PAC codes once! First get them to admit IN WRITING that they do not state PAC codes in their T&C's. Then request in writing why they did not terminate your contract according to their own T&C's. You must do this in writing and request a response in writing - not a phone call,text,smoke signals,carrier pigeons,jungle drums....good, old fashioned writing.

Now you have them! They have no way of maintaining a contract with you if you have cancelled a DD and they are in breach of their own T&C's.

If 3 persist, request a copy of the contract you signed. If they cannot provide a copy of that contract, you cannot be in breach of one!

I believe that the above is correct but I urge you to check it all out for yourselves.

Darryld1

[Darryld1]

PS: Contact OFCOM at the first sign of ANY nonsense from 3. Do it. The more people contact OFCOM and state that 3 are misusing the PAC code, the more chance there is that the whole industry will also change. Despite everything I have ever done to convince 3 that i did not want a service after the 30 day notice period, the ONLY thing they responded to was OFCOM contacting them. They take OFCOM seriously - i'm not sure how powerful OFCOM are but it's still worth doing as then you can prove you have done everything you can to stop 3.

[Darryld1]

3 offered to zero my balance today!

They have until tomorrow to send me written evidence of where PAC codes are mentioned in my original contract. (they can't do it) They have until tomorrow to send me a transcription of the conversation during which I gave 30 days notice. (they can't do it) They have until tomorrow to come up with something better than 'we're going to ignore our f**k up and everything it's cost you since we made it'. (they can't do it) They have until tomorrow because I gave them 7 days notice last week and that's my deadline. no offer of compensation for the 5 1/2 months of hassle, stress and grief. No offer of anything just 'a goodwill gesture'. Goodwill my backside!

Useless, arrogant, time wasting, contract law breaking, legal letter ignoring, pillocks!

And now the bit which really hurts companies who behave like this, I get to take them to court and they will have to pay for everything and I get to go public about it all. I wonder how many people will benefit from me trying to change this PAC code nonsense? Must be worth a packet!!

IF 3 WERE GIVING PHONES AND CONTRACTS AWAY, I'D RATHER SNORT WASPS THAN HAVE ONE.

[fraser4691]

Hi all,
Just wanted to echo whats been said in the above posts, my lastes dealings with 3 have left me totally dishartened.

Some of their call center staff are are simply dishonest and lie to you to get you to renew.

I have NEVER had dealings with such an unscrupulous company before.

Like someone above posted... NEVER RENEW YOUR CONTRACT WITH 3 CALL CENTERS, they are not to be trusted....

Fraser.

[amandaB]

holla fellow 3 haters. after 6 months and spelling out i n.e.v.e.r wanted the contract. the threats of debt collecters and court came to an end as i basically said take me. my phone is in the packagin still and i have evidence on my phone bill with vodaphone that i phoned loads tryin to cancel etc... got a phonecall from someone in England! yes they do exist im shocked too! just said to send back the phone to an adress. these guys were so persistant in demandin money and i very nearly gave my bank details being told various false solutions. i persaveered manly cuz i had my dad advising and stuff from these posts. im sure there are many people esp vunrible that wont know any different! how evil is that! if anyone needs the secret adress this is Letstalk communications 13, Mansel St, Swannsie, SA1 5SF. peace.

[Blitzen]

In my opinion, 3 are using the PAC code wrongly. PAC codes are NOT mentioned in any of 3's terms and conditions. See for yourselves - check out their website. 3 even admit on their website that the terms and conditions aren't exactly the most riveting thing you'll ever read. ya don't say!!

If you request a PAC code, 3 will wrongly use it as a contract cancellation trigger. This will then overide your 30 days notice and they won't tell you that! Fine if you have used the PAC but if you are offered it, told that it will expire after 30 days BUT NOT that 3 will consider that if you don't use it within 30 days, that 3 will assume that you still want a contract with them!

So you want to leave 3, you tell them this, take out a new contract or PAYG and give 30 days notice. They will ask you why you want to leave, offer all sorts of nonsense they have no intention of providing (just read some of the lies 3 used on folks in this fourm), and assure you that all is well. IT IS NOT OKAY!! 3 still want you and your money!!

I gave 30 days notice to 3 in July. They continued to provide me with a service despite me telling them several times to disconnect it. 3 have stated in writing to me that because I did not use the PAC code, that it expired after 30 days and because I didn't use it, that they assumed that I still wanted their service even though I had said several times that I didn't and that I had told them I had a contract with Orange! Clearly a flawed argument on 3's behalf.

The PAC code is not supposed to be used to disconnect a mobile phone service - it is only meant to transfer (port) a number to another service provider. 3 state in their T&C's that 30 days notice is all that is needed to cancel a contract. (3 T&C's section 10)

MY ADVICE TO YOU.

1. Cancel your Direct Debit with your bank. Do it anyway. You can call your bank or visit in person. Any company who you give your banking details to can set up a DD without your consent. Yes, it's wrong but they can technically still do it. You gave them your details after all so your bank cannot stop them. IF 3 do set up another DD, you can request a full refund from your bank under their Direct Debit Indemnity Scheme and your bank will pursue 3 for that money. Now you have your bank on your side providing you have not breached any of the terms of your 3 contract...and let's face it, you won't have.

2. Do not enter into any discussion by calling 3 more than once to state that you have cancelled your DD and that you want the content of the conversation recorded on your file. You can do all this before you give your 30 days notice. Then if 3 want more money , they will have to ask you for it or set up another DD with your bank. Take the person's full name and request that they put your through to their Supervisor immediately. If this is not possible, request a call back and tell the person to make a note of this on your file while you are still on the phone. If you do get hold of a supervisor or manager, state exactly that you have cancelled your DD after giving 30 days notice and that you do not want 3 to reinstate the DD with your bank. Get that put on your file too.

3. You're gonna love this bit - PAC codes are NOT mentioned in any of 3's T&C's!!! I looked and looked but couldn't find it on their latest T&C's. Even though they say that PAC codes are in your T&C's and that you are in breach of them. This is a lie!! Request written proof of where in 3's terms and conditions 3 state that a PAC code is used for anything! Anything at all. They don't mention PAC codes once! First get them to admit IN WRITING that they do not state PAC codes in their T&C's. Then request in writing why they did not terminate your contract according to their own T&C's. You must do this in writing and request a response in writing - not a phone call,text,smoke signals,carrier pigeons,jungle drums....good, old fashioned writing.

Now you have them! They have no way of maintaining a contract with you if you have cancelled a DD and they are in breach of their own T&C's.

If 3 persist, request a copy of the contract you signed. If they cannot provide a copy of that contract, you cannot be in breach of one!

I believe that the above is correct but I urge you to check it all out for yourselves.

Darryld1

I realise that you are annoyed with Three, but your 'armchair lawyer' stance really isn't helping anyone, particularly because some of your facts are very wrong!

- A Direct Debit is in no way, shape or form a contract of service. Therefore, whether you have a direct debit up and running or cancelled, it has no effect on a contract.

- A contract doesn't have to be a signed piece of paper as you seem to think. Contracts can and are often verbal.

- Your 7 days notice deadline you gave to 3 is also unenforcable as no court would see that as reasonable.

[KKhanal]

I received a offer from 3 network via phone on May 2007, and I was clearly told 4 things.
18 months contract, 12 months free, 6 months - £20 a month & Total Payout only £120 for 18 month period. I accepted this offer, but after a year they started sending bills £40 a month. I tried to resolve the problem with 3 several times, but they didn't listen. I disputed to them and asked them to terminate the contract. On June 2008, they discontinued my line and still sent me the bills. I paid £40 in July, but they still sent it to Debt Collection and I had to pay £87 to them on September. Now, they are sending me £132 bill through the Credit Solutions and even they are sending me a Legal Notice with Solicitors Costs £50 and Court Fee £30 and the £132 on top of that. So what should I do?

[DeludedGuy]

I received a offer from 3 network via phone on May 2007, and I was clearly told 4 things.
18 months contract, 12 months free, 6 months - £20 a month & Total Payout only £120 for 18 month period. I accepted this offer, but after a year they started sending bills £40 a month. I tried to resolve the problem with 3 several times, but they didn't listen. I disputed to them and asked them to terminate the contract. On June 2008, they discontinued my line and still sent me the bills. I paid £40 in July, but they still sent it to Debt Collection and I had to pay £87 to them on September. Now, they are sending me £132 bill through the Credit Solutions and even they are sending me a Legal Notice with Solicitors Costs £50 and Court Fee £30 and the £132 on top of that. So what should I do?

I feel very sorry for you,

Ask them for a transcript or a recording of the conversation, as its a verbal contract they should store it. But knowing Three, they will say they cant give you a copy.

If they cant provide proof of the contract you agreed to, then you can argue that they have no proof of the contract and you are free to cancel your direct debit.

Since it looks like your credit history may have already been damaged by this, you have nothing to lose in canceling your DD.

Going through the courts may be the only option to resolve this, you could always get in contact with Ofcom and ask them for some more advice, but be prepared, argue your case well because if they cant provide evidence of the contract you agreed to, then there is no contract.

Im so sick of seeing this happen time and time again, and they always seem to get away with it.

I may start an online website just to get petitions and put them in their place, this thread keeps getting bumped time and time again.