Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Anyone know if I can do anything about this??

My daughter’s boyfriend has just got a new mobile phone on orange – from the local orange shop. Deal is unlimited text, 500 mins and a magic number plus free internet access after 6pm. All for 24 quid as long as you trade in an old hand set. And he got a new cool touch screen fone.

My son goes in last Saturday to get same deal and is told the hand set he wants to trade in is too old and he can’t get the same deal. Fair enuf he thinks – goes to fones4u and takes a contract. Orange. unlimited text, 600 mins, at least 1 magic number but no internet access. £35 a month. Walks out with a new cool touch screen fone

My daughter goes in to the orange shop today with her boyfriend and gets a contract on orange with unlimited texts, 600 mins and a magic number (no internet access) £25 as long as she trades in an old fone. She is told any old fone as long as it has a battery and can be switched on. Walks out with a new cool touch screen fone

The question is: can my son do anything about his deal? Will there be a cooling off period? I’m gunna go into the orange shop 2moz and see wot the score is. Its only £10 a month but this is an 18 month deal so (obviously) he’s gunna payout £180 more!

Any suggestion appreciated.

Many thanks
Paul

They’re usually not worried about what the old phone is, just what monthly contract you’re on. £10 a month sounds very cheap, so they’re unlikely to give much out. Most of their newer phones only get given away with £25+ per month contracts.

There is a cooling off period, so do go in for the chat.

As I understand it Mobile phone contracts are covered by the distance selling regulations so there is a cooling off period

See here: http://www.compactlaw.co.uk/free_legal_articles/distance_selling_regs_2000.html

Paul (& Paul) - This only applies if the contract was taken out "at a distance". My understanding of a 'cooling off period' is where a sales person has approached you not at their point of sale. If you go into a shop with a view to making a purchase, they haven't approached you so there will be no such cooling off period.

It is (as far as I know) designed to protect you - the consumer - against the door-to-door hard sell (double glazing, etc). If you make a conscious decision to go to them, it doesn't apply.

If I am wrong, then someone let me know, but when I did a bit of law (and it was a bit, covering contract law), then this was the case then.

Sorry if this isn't what you want, but as I say if anyone knows any different please educate me too.

There is normally a 7 day exchange/return policy in Orange shops - but not sure if it wasn't an O shop.


Mind you, I wouldn't touch O with a barge pole!

Consumer credit act states a 14 return policy. However my dad bought one of those USB 3G modems from THREE and they insisted he only had 72 hours. it really depends on what kind of a fuss you're willing to kick up!

"She is told any old fone .."

What I would do now is simply go in and deal with the chap in the first shop who said 'any old phone will do' explain that an error had been made and ask to have the contract changed over or cancelled so the new desired one can be taken out. If it's true that any old phone will do then it was misrepresentation

Thanks for the posts on this one. Always useful to have others views

Paul

Sounds like a Job for Trading standards to me