internet provider war!!!

[delly0408]

I was called by a sales advisor asking if I would like to receive free broadband from TalkTalk last December. I agreed to change and was told I need not do anything other than stop my direct debit.
Today I have received a debt collectors bill for 3months charged from my old provider. It seems that they have both been active and TalkTalk did not cacel my previous account (not contract).
Many phone calls later neither provider will accept responsibility for the bill. Where do I go from here? Has anyone else had a similar problem

[trish432]

I think it is your responsibility to cancel your original ISP. My daughter signed up with talk talk last week and she had to ring pipex to cancel.
Maybe if you can prove that you were told this by talk talk (I think all their calls are recorded) you might get somewhere.

[Ethel]

There is no way your old provider would cancel your contract on the say so of a third party - the contract was between you and them, and the terms and conditions would request you to cancel by giving notice in writing or by telephone. I haven't seen the contract so don't know the exact terms. You say it's not contract, but there must be a contract of sorts. You paid each month - they provided a service.

If you can prove TalkTalk told you they would cancel the account, then they are responsible. But there is the rub - they are never going to admit to telling you that.

Your old provider is in no way responsible as you didn't cancel the account.

If you get no satisfaction from TalkTalk, contact the Ombudsman Otelo to make a formal complaint and get help in finding a resolution.

[delly0408]

Thanks, had a feeling that is what u would say. Seems I got caught on the hop really.
You learn by you mistakes as they say but will still put in a formal complaint to TalkTalk as they definately told me not to worry about cancelling old ISP.
Have also found out that TalkTalk have been fined for this in the past so you never know.