Bloody phone company

[Creech]

After months of poor reception in my area, the mobile company (2 + 1) I have 2 plans with have decided out of the goodness of their heart to terminate my contract and waive the cancellation fees ($747 for both phones). This is where the fun begins...

I need to wait for 2 labels to be mailed to me so I can return the handsets. If I don't return the handsets they will auto debit the cancellation fee from my credit card. They have sent 1 label. They have tried to send the second label 3 times but it has never got here. Everytime you talk to them in Bombay??? they wouldn't know if their arses were on fire. I don't know why it's so hard to send a mailing label to my address. I then get an invoice saying the cancellation fee will be debited on the 15th January. The last time I rang them (2 days ago) they said they would ring me on the 11th to see if I got the label. If not, they will put a stop on the auto debit. Fu*k knows why they can't put a stop on it now. When you ask them this they give you standard responses and I feel I am getting nowhere. It's like I'm talking to robots. Now, I really don't trust that they will uphold their end of the deal. What can I do to ensure they will not deduct the cancellation fees? Can I get in touch with my bank to block the debit? Should I get in touch with the telecommunications ombudsman?

I will never, ever deal with this company again. Be warned, 2 + 1 = crap service.

[Homepin]

Easy fix to this one -

(1) Keep all documents INCLUDING your diary records that you have made of EVERY phone call you have made to them  Diary records can become a legal document and WILL be recognised by a court.

(2) Let them bill your credit card for any amount they like.

(3) The very second they bill you do two things:

(A) File a complaint with the Telecomunicions Onbudsman (easy to do online) and
(B) Contact your credit card company and demand they reverse the transaction as it was not authorised by you.

Taking those actions will get the wankers talking to you I can assure you from first hand experience (not this company but a very similar situation with a shonky Telco)

As you have found you are wasting your time talking to them......

[indazone gav]

Tell them you wish to return the handsets to their closest authorised dealer. Type a short letter stating that you have been instructed to return the phones, be sure to have the serial numbers on the letter. Have the dealer sign that they have received the phones from you.

[Creech]

I just got off the phone with them. They have now cancelled my direct debit. Hopefully that will stop them stealing money from me. I still don't trust that they did this properly. I will be seeing red if the debit goes through.

Thanks for the tips Homepin.

[v8racefan]

I would file a complaint to the telecommunications ombudsman today, given all hassels you've had so far. Returning phones shouldn't be this difficult!!!

Slack telco's need to be exposed!!!  

[chris288]

I was gonna say, simply tell your credit card that this was not authorized.

The funny "stupid"thing is banks usually require periodical payments or direct debits to be cancelled from the recipients end. If they wont do it, cancel and payout your credit card, that will usually get the attention from the Bastards and then they will fall over themselves to get back your business.

Good luck with it

[shansta]

Last time I rang them - I said I was getting really depressed about their service...

Dude got all excited and asked me if I knew how to drive a truck? 

[Caveoftreasures]

I am with Homepin, great advice.

i had a similar situation,
BUT WHEN I PRETENDED TO BE AN INDIAN AND SPOKE LIKE THEY DO, AND AFTER I ORDERED A HOT CURRY CHICKEN, THEY WERE FINE.
ok, i was only kidding about the second part. I didnt order the curry chicken.     

                                          

[shansta]

I work with a boatload of 'em - from every part of India too which helps more... (They seem to be somewhat racist against themselves) 

I get stuck trying to explain their own (Australianised) teenage children to them (Our way of life is alien to most "old school" Indians). 

[Caveoftreasures]

On the lighter side of things      , the germans during world war 2 used to use them for gunnery practice with cannon range finding,
the japaneese found them great live practice for bayonnette drills, and the english used to send them out to probe the enemys machine gun nests, to see just where the big guns were. i think about that when i wonder what the hell is in my chicken currys.     

maybe they are still a bit pissed and are all now sitting in telemarketing centres around the world, getting back at us all. just a thought.