Hutchison 3G UK Limited - 2 year old debt

[Tinohead]

Hi,

I see from some other posts that I'm not alone in having trouble with 3!

I received a letter this morning from Wescot Credit Services, demanding payment for a debt of £20.62 that I am apparently due 3G (The company).

This came as a complete surprise as I’ve been with o2 for over 2 years! I was previously with 3G and had all manner of problems with them that I won’t go into. In the end I started another contract before the end of my 3G contract, but kept paying it until the end of the 12 months.

Now, I can’t remember the exact details, because it was so long ago, but as far as I remember, I phoned at the end of the 12 months and cancelled my contract. Everything was paid, and I thought that was the last I would have to deal with those idiots.

Since then I have had absolutely no contact from them, and this letter (sent to my mum’s house, where I lived at the time) came out of nowhere.

I phoned Wescot straight away and spoke to a relatively unhelpful woman who informed me that the reason it had been passed to them was because I had ignored all 3G’s letters, and changed address.

I told her that I had paid everything outstanding when the account was closed, she then asked me to prove this. I responded that it was over 2 years ago so I didn’t have any proof handy, if at all! I then asked her if I should phone 3G and try and sort it out with them, but she said they would probably just tell me to deal with Wescot. She said she would request that 3G sent out a final bill and put my account on hold.

So anyway, I’ll need to go raking for my old paperwork relating to this and see what I can find out, but while I do, I wondered if anyone could answer a couple of questions.

1) She asked me to prove that I’ve paid the bill; can I ask them to prove that they sent me letters as they claim? Because I have had none what so ever.
2) She mentioned something about me changing address, like I had done something wrong. Surely there is no reason for me to have inform a company I no longer have any relationship with of a change of address?!
3) Any other advice of the best way forward with this?

I’ll say now that I’m 90% sure everything was paid, but not certain. I will hopefully find that out when I go through the old paperwork.

Any help and/or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,

Martin MacRae

[buzby]

For clarification, 3G is a technology offered by all UK networks, are you specifically talking about 3UK (trading as Hutchison 3G? As you;ve discovered, verbally terminating a contract isn't a safe method of doing so, as it becomes an issue of their word against yours, however providing you've not used the thing, ask 3UK to provide you with the date the last call was made from the phone, and tell Wescot that as the account is disputed, to refer the matter back to their client. Do not deal with them in future. When 3UK confirm the last call details, say this proves you had terminated, and you cannot be held liable for then not processing your instructions. If you can remember WHEN you told them to cancel, ask for a transcript of the recording. That should slow things up appreciably!

[Tinohead]

Thanks for the reply Raymond. As I understand it, when they first started, 3UK as they are now known were called 3G. But either way, yes, I was talking about the company.

The contract was terminated, this outstanding balance they are claiming was the final bill. I have never used the phone since, it's at the back of my cupboard somewhere.

Should I wait for the final bill that the woman I spoke this morning said she would get sent out, before I do anymore?

To be honest, if 3UK's customer service is of the same standard as it was when I was with them, and if they are still using foreign call centres, I would rather deal with Wescot!

[buzby]

If it is only the final bill - read it carefully, and note the dates.

You need to give 30 days notice of a cancellation, but this iss interpreted loosely, that the 30 days are worked back from your BILLING date, so it allows them to calculate the amount due to close, and there may be one more bill for call charges only (as line rental is paid in advance).

The bill MAY be correct, you just need to check the details.

As to their Indian Call Centre, well, that's one of the reasons I won't deal with them, or any company that cannot support UK jobs.