Orange/T-Mobile/EE Networks = Die!

[Tom27]

Ok..
So today my bill comes through the door from Orange.

My contract's monthly installments were suppose to be £26 per month.
I flick over to the first page to find £35.89
Why?
-Because they added £3.45 for a paper bill.
-They also added 20% VAT costs (which should have been included in the £26)
Bare in mind that when I first signed up for the phones contract, I request online billing ONLY. Which the member of staff "confirmed"

Now I'm not sure what any other person would do on this situation because haggling in the shop usually gets you nowhere.
My next step would be to take a trip down to the bank and immediately cancel my direct debit.

------------

I have previously been with T-Mobile (Before it went to EE)
Upon having this contract I found additional costs on my monthly bills for calling 09 numbers (which I dont use)
sending voice mails (which I never have used)
and going over on my internet bill (Which was suppose to be Unlimited)

That monthly bill went from £15 per month, up to £25 per month (Which lead me onto getting a higher paying contract with unlimited everything to avoid going over)




Has anybody else had any similar experiences?
Or know how these issues can be resolved?

 

[Tai]

Now I'm not sure what any other person would do on this situation because haggling in the shop usually gets you nowhere.

Cause a right ****ing stink until they put it right. Infront of other customers is always a bonus too.

Honestly, I do it all the time. I went to the cinema last week to watch a 3d film... I used the self-service machine to purchase my ticket, then proceeded to the ticket gate to hand it in. He took my ticket but didn't give me any 3d glasses...so I asked where to get them and he pointed to the popcorn booth thing and said they cost 80p. I was like wtf? Since when do you have to buy them? The last time I saw 3d (bout a year ago) they gave em to you for free and you handed them back at the end. More importantly though, I hadn't been told prior to purchasing my ticket that I'd then have to pay an additional 80p in order to actually watch the ****ing film... the guy tried to shrug it off and was dismissive by saying **** like "oh it's probably in the small print somewhere" which just annoyed me even more, so I kicked off, got the manager involved, proved to him that the machine was faulty as it was supposedly meant to ask me if I wanted to purchase glasses AT THE TIME of buying my ticket. So I eventually got free glasses out of it. It was well worth 15 minutes of my time...

The funny thing is that before I'd showed him that the ticket machine didn't warn me, he was more prepared to offer me a refund on the ticket (£11.20) than lose 80p on shitty glasses... idiot.

And the sad thing is that most people in my position would have paid for the glasses

 

[JealY]

they cost 80p

15 minutes of my time

would have paid for the glasses

Yep. Bad example for me though, I never watch 3D films as it's a waste of money due to it being a film-spoiling gimmick... but that's another story.

 

[Tai]

It was a matter of principle, and that's why they think they can get away with it. I like arguing too though. I don't like 3D films either, think it's ****, this time I had no choice though.

 

[JealY]

Ah unlucky, yeah it's principle - tbh I might have complained depending on my mood, company and when the film was due to start!

 

[Celsius]

-They also added 20% VAT costs (which should have been included in the £26)

If you took the contract out when VAT was 17.5%, they charge you the difference from when it went up to 20%.

Complain to the government on that one.

If you've only just recently taken the contract out, then you probably didn't read that the £26 didn't include VAT.

 

[Tom27]

I've been told from a friend that if I switch my phone off for just over a month, then ring up and complain that I'm not receiving any signal what so-ever that they usually waiver the whole fees and cancel the contract out of common courtasy.
I've just wrote a letter of complaint to Orange, but lets see what comes back from it. (Probbably nothing)

@Tai
I would have done the same thing - I think that this whole "small print" situation is aload of bollox.
Whether you find something thats not in there, they always seem to find a way around which just happens to be in their "Terms & Conditions" section of a booklet which you never received upon purchase.
These big companies need thoroughly looking into, ripping customers off like this should be a Jail offense.

From a personal prospective, I only got this contracted phone at £26 because they had a good salesman.
I'm not the wealthiest of people and my origional aim was a half decent £20 mobile phone.
And then to receive that £35 bill is what really hacked me off, and will mean that I cannot afford to pay them.

I guess this just means that I'll be getting "Administration fees" added onto my next month's bill which I probbably won't be able to afford either.
Absolutely pathetic.

---------- Post Merged at 06:58 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 06:55 PM ----------

If you took the contract out when VAT was 17.5%, they charge you the difference from when it went up to 20%.

Complain to the government on that one.

If you've only just recently taken the contract out, then you probably didn't read that the £26 didn't include VAT.

I've recently taken the contract out on the 25th October.
On my written contract which I have a copy of, it states that the £26 includes VAT and no additional taxing costs are to be added on my bill.
Yet they have done the complete opposite of whats in writing.

 

[Far]

I'm the same as Tom. On Orange, have a £26 a month contract. I have a 15% discount for being a long stranding customer . I don't ring 08 numbers, use much internet or send picture messages.

Just checked my balance and its at £29.70. Every month its more than the agreed £26, I find it annoying but theres nothing you can do when you ring up. I want to be with orange because they give the best coverage, and its only a few pounds a month extra so it doesn't break the bank.

 

[Tai]

T-Mobile like rebranding don't they.

 

[Tom27]

The only thing whats really annoying me, is the fact that im being taxed after my £26 bill which has made it to the £35 something >.<

 

[JealY]

If it's definitely an error and you can prove that (it says that) the £26 includes Tax then phone them up and explain.

 

[NightScare]

All prices are quoted Ex Vat.
I know this, as i get idiots such as urself ringing me at least 20 times a day to try and argue it.


In regards to ur network usage, the network checks the the Sim/IMEI/Date/Time/Location 3 times before the usage is charged to unbillled, therefore "All network usage is genuine, u can not argue with us".


Standard telecommunications line right there.

stop ringing porn lines.

 

[Far]

It was on the news only the other day that companies like O2 are increasing your bill without letting anyone know.

My contract is £26 inc vat, as it should be for non business users.

And i've had strange charges on my bill before with Orange, when i've rang them up to question it they've gone "oh sorry thats a mistake, we'll remove it".

You sound like a typical telesales op, told one thing by your superior then lap it up and think its gospel.

 

[Tom27]

All prices are quoted Ex Vat.
I know this, as i get idiots such as urself ringing me at least 20 times a day to try and argue it.


In regards to ur network usage, the network checks the the Sim/IMEI/Date/Time/Location 3 times before the usage is charged to unbillled, therefore "All network usage is genuine, u can not argue with us".


Standard telecommunications line right there.

stop ringing porn lines.

See now its people like you who get all this "training" by your company, and then follow their way.
At the end of the day the big sign in the shop what says "ONLY £26 A MONTH" should have "INCLUDING 20% VAT AFTER YOUR BILL OF £26 HAS ARRIVED".
Theres nothing about that in your terms & conditions is there?
Oh yeah.. thats because you teach your sales people not to tell them absolutely everything if it means getting a sale and maybe a small bonus?

It's wrong and needs looking into.
As Farphit said, its only recently been on the news about ripping people off.

 

[Celsius]

Why is it that people who can't afford things, always get talked into buying them?

See it time and time again, if you can't afford it, don't buy it.

 

[Tom27]

As I said in the first post, I took out this contract because I could afford it.
Little did orange tell me that there was extra billing for X Y & Z.

 

[JealY]

Where did you take out your contract?

 

[Tom27]

It was at the carphone warehouse, Middlesbrough.
They do a mixture of all networks to compare and give you the "best price" from each provider.

As you said above i'll just have to read through everything what they gave me upon purchase and argue with what I have really
Cheers ^^

 

[JealY]

In store? The salesperson should have explained the VAT really.

 

[Celsius]

Best thing to do, go back to the guy that sold it you, argue with him, and then ask him if he's willing to lose his job over it if you get your solicitor involved.