How to cancel mobile phone contract

[keenanthomps]

I thought I was signing a direct debit for my daughters orange mobile found out it is a 24 moth contract I can not pay £80 I am on a pension what can I do help please any advice thanks

[BillSharpe]

Usually these contracts have a cooling off period. Are you within that time?.
£80 is that per month?.
That is a lot.
Mine costs £18 including 400 minutes and a phone.

[Eve]

£80 is very expensive for Orange! Have you signed up to a payment plan but she has been racking up costs over and above that?


Who did you take it out with? Orange direct or somewhere like Phones4U/Carphone Warehouse?

[keenanthomps]

She upgraded from pay as you go started around £57 now up to 80 she has phone had it since April she will not pay me so have to get out of contract even if I have to pay a get out fee

[Eve]

How old is your daughter and whose name is the contract in and on which tarriff?

[keenanthomps]

She is 40yrs it contract in my name but thought orange were just using my bank details for payments

[MASS1961]

I think the get out will be expensive. Outstanding number of months x basic charge. Or get the provider to put a limit on it so she can't keep using over the limit.

[Eve]

Is there a minimum monthly tarriff payment on the contract? If so, can you limit it to that, stop it racking up more cost?

Definitely check if you are able to get it cancelled first though before changing anything on the account.

Or is it that she just hasn't paid you the money and it has mounted up?

If she is not sticking to the agreement and the phone is part of the tariff (ie not bought separately) I'd be wanting the phone back unless there was a very good reason for her not too.

[MASS1961]

I have a contract with Virgin, £12.99 per month, 400 minutes & 400 texts, more than enough for me although it gets close sometimes.

[keenanthomps]

I have been paying every month but trying to get any money off her has been hard as for getting phone back will not give me it so could be stuck with phone for 18 months

[sherrardk]

Why are you paying/signing mobile phone contracts for your 40 year old daughter?

[keenanthomps]

She said she would pay for it trusted her wrong move eh,

[Eve]

If needs be, is there a way of getting the line cut off to that particular phone that she has so she can't use it on the contract you are paying for? Better to get the phone back though.

[MASS1961]

And your daughter is 40?? !! Working ?? You are on a pension!
Sorry if that sounds harsh but at risk of losing my best answer, I think you are being taken for a ride. Perhaps try talking to the provider about restrictions if she won't pay you.

[keenanthomps]

Thanks to all for advice will phone orange and see if I can restrict her calls ect not nice feeling being scammed but learnt from this thanks to all

[MASS1961]

Good for you keenanthomps! Good Luck

[EDDIE51]

I would just stop the direct debit and to hell with it. Whats the worst that could happen ? They will phone up and ask for the money , your daughter will answer the phone to be told that a new D D needs to be set up to continue the contract , she can either sign up from her own bank or lose the phone.
The worst that can happen to you is an entry on your credit record saying you have not compleated a contract. You will get letters asking for the money but just bin them , do not respond and they stop bothering after a while.
You have been too soft with her time for some 'Tough Love' she is really taking the p*ss.
I have 5 children ( 26 to 38) and am now 62 and retired, I have to be very firm with them now and refuse such requests , the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' has to close sometime .

[bednobs]

eddie, you are wrong if the op cares about his/her credit simply not paying is not an option - the phone company will persue her through the courts if necessary

[keenanthomps]

Didn't want to be on bad credit list, know what you mean tough love, will never happen again for sure thanks for your advice

[EDDIE51]

bednobs , yes in theory but in reality they just keep sending letters and pass the debit on from one company to another . If they did take it to the county court the questioner just has to tell the truth and offer to pay a minimum amount . The questioner is retired, a small blot on her credit record is worth saving £80 a month for 24 months = £1920 , at least in my book it is but others are free to differ.

[divegirl]

If you want to stop her from using it...report it stolen! Its your phone as you are paying the bill so ring Orange and ask for the sim to be barred then get a new one sent to your address.
At least that way you will only have the line rental to worry about and not her making calls over the top of any allowance she has.

Lisa x