The Story:
In July 2006, I took out a 12 month mobile phone contract with The Carphone Warehouse
When my contract expired, I informed CPW (Carphone Warehouse) that I did not wish to renew my contract as I now had a second phone and did not require this one. They passed me to their loyalty team and said they didn't want to lose me as a customer and were willing to offer me a new contract called O2 Leisure 750. The cost of this contract because I didn't need a new phone was only £10 per month BUT they would credit my account for the 12 month period to cover the total cost. Therefore I wouldn't have to pay anything each month as long as I didn't use more than my 750 minutes and 125 texts.
How could I say no to something for nothing. I accepted this offer in July 2007
10 months later THEY (important) contacted me to say I was eligible to upgrade. I had not used the sim at all during the last 10 months and didn't feel like it was any point in having a new contract. HOWEVER this time they offered me a deal called O2 £30 18 month which was 400 Minutes + 500 Texts + 500 Texts Free (1000 texts). This deal was £30 per month BUT to keep me as a customer the loyalty team offered me the deal where they credit my account enough to cover £20 of the monthly cost. Therefore this was only costing me £10 per month.
Again I couldn't refuse and thought I could easily put 1000 texts per month to use. I accepted this offer in June 2008.
In November 2009 I was informed by them that I was due for an upgrade, I decided I definitely did not want to upgrade or continue in any shape or form as again I had not used the sim card. I called them after they wrote to me, I told them I wanted to cancel. They said I couldn't cancel until December. They said to call back in December to cancel. I rang in December to cancel and I am told I cannot cancel on the phone and need to write to them. NOTE: The first phone call to them in November I was told I could cancel on the phone in December.
The problem now is they are sending me bills for £30.
The reason for the bills they inform me is because I upgraded my first loyalty agreement 2 months early. (because they called and offered it to me)
Apparently your new tariff starts the day you upgrade but your new contract and monthly fee does not start until the real end of the contract.
WARNING: If CPW call you and say you are eligible for an upgrade and you are not at the end of your contract, when you do finally decide to cancel, they will bill you for those months.
This is such a rip off and one that I feel should be publicized more and someone needs to sort out.
In summary:
1st Contract: July 2006 - 12months
2nd Contract: July 2007 - 12 months but they credit my account for 12 months to cover the fee. **Upgraded after 10 months**
3rd Contract: June 2008 - 18 months but they credit my account to cover £20 of the cost each month.
3rd contract ends and they bill me £30 per month for 2 months because I upgraded my 2nd contract 2 months early.
MY GRIEF: The reason I am so annoyed at this is because in the first place I told them I did not want to continue but they convinced me to stay with them by offering me contracts where they are subsidized by their loyalty team. In the first loyalty sim I didnt have to pay a thing, in the second loyalty sim I had to pay £10. At no point did I ask or agree to pay £30 per month. Because THEY called me 2 months before the end of my contract and offered me a new deal I am now left to pay the £30 per month for those 2 months. THIS IS WRONG !!
I spent hours on the phone to them and their answer is TOUGH !! Their attitude on the phone is pathetic from the start. The guy was awkward from the off as though he deals with this query every day and is fed up of it.
