mobile phone question re bill

[practitioner]

hi there i have a mobile phone contract that i took out over 18 months ago. on in october 2007 this contract was over but i have a problem now you see i told the mobile company on numerious occations that i dont want to renew my contract when it expires and i said that when it is finish please end my contract and tke this as notice. i have told them loads of times before the 18 month period. today i reacive a bill for 138 pounds. i phoned them up and they said its for line rental from october 07 to jan 08, bear in mind that the phone sim is gone no phone line or use and contract ended in october 07. i wish to contest this bill and they said that they have no record of my conversations with cutomer service concerning giveing my notice and that i am liable for the bill as they continue the contract regardless of when it expires. i have a witness who heard my conversations with them and they still want me to pay what can i do as i am on sick pay at the mo and on very little money regards and thanks gary

[Louisa 69]

How much notice do you have to give when cancelling your contract ?
I would write them a letter to notify them of your intentions to cancel, send it by recorded delivery. I'm not sure where you stand regarding the amount already owing. If in doubt contact your local CAB for advise. Good luck.

[redcrx]

most mobile phone companies invoice each month. Did they always invoice you every 3 months? If not, what is their reason for doing so now?

[practitioner]

no i have been invoiced every month they said that i needed to give the 30 days notice which i did over 8 months ago and they are saying that i owe them money even though they took it on themselves to assume that i was going to want there services after the contract end date.

they are hiding there mistake and blaming me

[redcrx]

so have they sent you any bills or correspondance since october apart from the one you got today?

[practitioner]

yes every month i have been on there case about this and constantly its getting me no where i am being given the run around every month

[Louisa 69]

It needs to be dealt with one way or another or they are just going to carry on sending you a bill each month.
Is there a different number to call for cancelling your contract. I had the same problems when i tried to cancel my sky, i was told there was a seperate number that dealt with cancelations.

[practitioner]

nope i have called all numbers and departments given its not fair why should they be allowed to get away with it i mean for 3 months i havent had any service at all as the suspended service as i said i wont pay when i wanted the contract cut off but they said i was still liable for line rental even though i could not make or recieve calls is that fair?

[redcrx]

if they werent aware that you were trying to cancel the contract then it is 'fair' that they cut your phone off and continued to charge you, they will also take it to court if you cannot prove you cancelled it.

Write them a letter immediately, send it by recorded delivery, and state that you have been trying to cancel the contract since ?? and listing all the times you have called them. Even if they only keep record of calls for 2 months they will have details of your calls to same effect in December and November. Ensure that it is cancelled with immediate effect and then follow this up with a call to them a week later to confirm they have looked into the matter.