Mobile phone cancellation

[claire1284]

My friend cancelled her phone contract about 6-8 months ago by calling up the provider, the lady on the other end said you owe us �58 to close it which she agreed to. She has recently received a letter from a debt recovery agency saying she owes �400 to the mobile phone company! She called the mobile company and they said she should have put it in writing that she wanted to cancel, my friend explained that she wasnt advised to do this. - This didnt seem to make any difference and that the �400 is still payable. Does she have a leg to stand on by saying she wont pay it, or has she got to because it was a contract?

Thanks.

[redcrx]

did she get a final statement?

did she continue to get bills?

did she get chased for the money?

was it O2 by any chance? sounds like them

[claire1284]

Apparently they sent her letters, but she has moved since then so she didnt receive them!
Yes it is O2!!!

[redcrx]

she moved and didnt give the posties a forwarding address?

how did the get the letter from the recovery agency?

[4getmenot]

I got a bill bout 4 months ago from a contract I had 5 years ago out of the blue even though I;d never been chased. I did send a cancellation letter and have a copy, but ring the debt agency and ask for all correspondance. I did and had nothing since

[claire1284]

Think her previous address was her mum and dads...

Even so, surely if she was never advised to put the termination in writing can they still charger her?

[redcrx]

o2 are a pain when it comes to changing or ending contracts.

perhaps she could call otelo for advice http://www.otelo.org.uk/

[redcrx]

yes they can as she has no proof that she did it. Unless of course she has a bill for the cancellation figure of �58

[dragongiraff]

Agree with 4getmenot - Get all copy correspondence - Also have a look @ S.40 Administration of Justice Act 1970 re: causing harassment, alarm or distress in pusuing what is claimed to be a debt.

Debt Recovery Agencies are not Court appointed bodies. Their representatives are not Court appointed bailiffs.

Read S.40 of The Act and respond once you have received all copy correspondence. - Point out the offence they are comitting if they continue to harass you in this manner.