Cancelling three contract - 30 days notice

[efchen]

Heya, just joined this forum, am in need of advice re 3!!!

So, I want to get out of my contract at the end of my min term (Feb 18). The small print says (10.1.c):

You can end the agreement if your Price
Plan does not contain a Minimum Term, or if you
want to end the agreement at the end of your
Minimum Term or any time after your Minimum
Term has expired, provided you give notice to
3 Customer Services at least 30 days before
the date you want to end the agreement. (A
Cancellation Fee will not be charged.)

I sent them a letter (recorded mail) on the 12th to make sure they couldn't wiggle out of it, clearly stating that I was giving notice with the intention to have the contract end on the 18th of Feb. It does say "at least" 30 days, so 36 days should be fine. Or so I thought. Called customer service to make sure they've received it.

Now they're saying that either I have to give notice on the 18th of Jan, no sooner, otherwise I'll have to pay an early cancellation fee!!!

Is there any merit to this claim?

I haven't been in the UK that long but I have never heard of such a thing in any of the 4 other countries where I've lived. It just seems odd and inconvenient. Also, the 18th is a Sunday, so I can forget about sending them a letter!! And how can you make sure a letter is delivered on a specific day without paying through the nose??

HALP!

[Alistair]

Heya, just joined this forum, am in need of advice re 3!!!

So, I want to get out of my contract at the end of my min term (Feb 18). The small print says (10.1.c):

You can end the agreement if your Price
Plan does not contain a Minimum Term, or if you
want to end the agreement at the end of your
Minimum Term or any time after your Minimum
Term has expired, provided you give notice to
3 Customer Services at least 30 days before
the date you want to end the agreement. (A
Cancellation Fee will not be charged.)

I sent them a letter (recorded mail) on the 12th to make sure they couldn't wiggle out of it, clearly stating that I was giving notice with the intention to have the contract end on the 18th of Feb. It does say "at least" 30 days, so 36 days should be fine. Or so I thought. Called customer service to make sure they've received it.

Now they're saying that either I have to give notice on the 18th of Jan, no sooner, otherwise I'll have to pay an early cancellation fee!!!

Is there any merit to this claim?

I haven't been in the UK that long but I have never heard of such a thing in any of the 4 other countries where I've lived. It just seems odd and inconvenient. Also, the 18th is a Sunday, so I can forget about sending them a letter!! And how can you make sure a letter is delivered on a specific day without paying through the nose??

HALP!

Its just their usual crap to make things difficult for you to leave. I would send a letter now but date it the 18th but send recorded don't trust them. Thats basically what i did.

[efchen]

After going through their price plan (another highlight from their collection of small print docs) I found out that the cancellation fee is just the monthly fee up to the end of my minimum term.

Rang them up (5th time today), asked for PAC and here it is!

I guess that if you're in a position to port your number, that is an easy (easier?) way to do it.

What bothered me most about the process was that I had no choice but to be rude to the CS people. Last one I spoke to wouldn't stop offering handsets, asked me which contract I got from O2. I referred her to the O2 website if she's interested in their offers, but she wanted to know which one I got, specifically, so I said sorry to be rude but that really isn't any of your business. Did the trick but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Looks like I'm out, yeeha!!!

[Trellis]

Yes, I have had a similar issue with three. I gave them 50 days notice that I would not renew the contract when it expired, in accordance with their clause 10.1c, which says that you can terminate the agreement - and I quote: "You can end the agreement if your Price Plan does not contain a Minimum Term, or if you want to end the agreement at the end of your Minimum Term or any time after your Minimum Term has expired, provided you give notice to 3 Customer Services at least 30 days before the date you want to end the agreement. (A Cancellation Fee will not be charged.)”

So I told them that I would not use it when it expired at least 30 days in advance, like they ask: those are their own words.

5 months later they are still chasing money for the contract that they refuse to terminate. I can't decide whether to take action against them to recover the money they have taken, or wait until they commence proceedings against me and simply read out their contract as my defense.

Suggestions?

[rainsong]

I intend to cancel my contract with 3 as soon as I possibly can. Seems I'm going to have to be very careful they don't screw me around. Had enough problems with them already.
Glad to hear other people are standing up to them and aren't willing to take this crap lying down. Good luck to all of you.

[GoNz0]

so glad im PAYG

[bk7]

I'm sorry to continue this topic but I found it just as I'm preparing to leave 3 for a better deal at T-Mobile.

If I am eligible for contract upgrades/renewals 1 month before I last renewed it (e.g. eligibility in June), am I required to give them written notice of my intention to leave?

Having read this thread, I am inclined to think that there is a different process if I need my number ported (I will need to PAC for T-Mobile to keep my number).

I am even willing to pay the difference on my contract (only 3 months @ £10) if it means I can get away from their horrible deal (on which I am currently going over and incurring charges anyway), if it means they will give me the PAC in the next week and thus end the contract now.

Does anyone have any experience of this particular process? thank you