Has any one heard of "The Bottom Line"?

[nene avenger]

This outfit sold a friend of mine 2 new Orange phones on the condition that they were to be added to his existing business plan.
They ave not been and he is now paying £200 per month extra rental.
Before we take any action I would be interested to know if any one else has had experience of these people.

[yourbank]

I think a quick google search shows it to be something through CarPhone Warehouse.

I think this is the company

Bottomline Technologies

[OrangePrimate]

Hi

would suggest your friend contact the dealer as a matter of urgency, the dealer is the only one that can cancel the new contracts or make the neccesary changes, Orange are not going to be able to make any amendments untill they hear from 'the bottom line'. It will also help if he has the paperwork to hand showing what was agreed as it will help if O has to step in and fight his corner!

[nene avenger]

Yes Thanks. Orange have already refused to get involved and the bottom line have stopped responding to letters or phone calls.

As you correctly say the problem is with this reseller who apparantly makes sales by agents cold calling companies and promising the earth. I feel that he only way to make any headway now is to issue proceedings in the county court for damages, (the additional costs caused by their failure to do what they were contracted to do im the first place) . As this will run to nearly £10,000 over the 4 year contract that my friend signed I think that theym may move rather rapidly.

All advice/ comments are appreciated

Thanks J

[buzby]

It is ofen best NOT to involve unconnected third parties (Bottom Line) if they did not provide the original contracts. Upgrading within Orange makes this a breeze - but it must be said Orange stand accused of 'stealing' customers from independents by offering deals/tariffs that are unavailable to the dealer channel.

Unless you can prove that there is a requirement for the mobiled to be added to the same contract, you'll be stuck until the renewal date, before the consolodation can occur.

[nene avenger]

Yourbank Thanks for that I dont think its the same outfit, according to companies house its The bottom line GB ltd from Crewe, They are simply pressure sales reselling Orange. so I am treating them as a dealer, which makes them liable for the consequences of mis-selling services

Buzby thanks for the input but as you will realise they are in effect the dealer in this caseThanks
J

[buzby]

Are you missing the point? BL are the dealer, and are acting as agent for the network. They have no ability to modify existing accounts (adding mobiles to a pre-existing account) they did not originate.

They can, of course sell new contracts, which is what has happened. Your problem is not insurmountable, but only Orange has the ability to do what you want.

[nene avenger]

its the other way around, they sold a new mobile and opened a venture call plan with the promise that they would transfer 2 existing mobiles on another plan to the new plan thus saving £200 per month, they even charged a fee for dong so.
This has not happened so my friend is £200 per month out of pocket. They must be responsible for the failure of the arrangement

J

[locutus]

I think you are both saying the same thing, just in different terms...

The Bottom Line are responsable for the cockup.

Orange can sort it out.

[OrangePrimate]

The Bottom Line are responsible for the cock up

Orange cannot sort it out without instruction from The Bottom Line - the new contract(s) that Bottom Line set up can only be amended/cancelled at the request of Bottom Line.

All Orange could do at this present time is do retailer feedback to the dept that deal with 3rd party dealers to try and put some pressure on them to amend their cock up.
Orange cannot make any amendments to what has been requested by a dealer on behalf of a customer (even if it is a cock up!)

Also, have the phones been returned? They should have been returned to the Bottom Line, with proof of posting and hopefully a tracking reference. this strengthens the case considerably. If they are still now being used, even with different sims in them, they will be considered as acceptance of the terms and there will not be any option to now return them/cancel the contract.

[nene avenger]

I agree Orange Primate, but The bottom line proposed the change in the first place and charged to make it. The results are not as promised. Orange refuse to deal with my friend and the bottom line will not even talk to him.
As the bottom line had a contract with my friend and he is out of pocket because they have not kept their side of the deal They are then liable for not complying with their contract and my friend now proposes to pursue the matter through the county court to recover the excess charges raised by Orange

J