3 Mobile! New Contract - £150 Deposit Charge

[Semi]

Hi.

 

well to start my Credit score is awful, but i have no defaults.

 

I recently left Vodafone and decided to move to 3 on there special promotional tariff of 500 mins for £15.

 

When taking the contract out, the store guy put my name in, and said i passed the credit chek, but i have to pay £150 as i am a high risk.

i was told i would get the £150 after the 18 months. but i was also told if i missed a payment i would lose the £150 as a deposit.

 

i stil went thru witht the contract as i thought it was a good deal and was only being offered for another 2 days.

 

i want to know where i stand with getting this £150 back asap.

 

as im sure i have a 14 day cool off period. so i could say give me the money or i would leave your network.

 

please help.

 

thankyou.

 

p.s luckily when i hesitated when the £150 charge was mentioned he threw me in an official SonyEricsson £50 bluetooth headset in. when at first he told me that the accessory deal is not included on this tariff.

 

regards

 

Semi

[rodenal]

£50 bluetooth headset? More like £10

 

Anyway, its quite normal for mobile companies to ask for a deposit if you have poor credit, however usually your first bill or two are taken out of this, sounds like 3 are looking for an excuse not to give you the money back at the end of the agreement.

 

Have you considered a sim only contract? I'm sure for £150 you could get a fairly nice phone(i have a w810i just coming out of contract, and i believe these are now about £130, brilliant phone).

 

I used to have one of these sims, £30/month 1000 texts and 500 minutes from o2 online, no 12 or 18 month contract, just a rolling monthly one.

[Sve]

If you decide to cancel your contract before the 14 days period DO NOT think you will be getting your money back quickly. I had the same experience - went for a phone, warning the sales person I can NOT provide proof of address on the spot (I didn't have any with me). He said it wasn't a problem, so I went ahead with the order. He said I would have to pay 150 security deposit which would be paid back to me in 12 months (not 18 as in your case). I have agreed, paid the deposit and when I was about to leave the shop he asked me again for a proof of address. After I reminded him I can not provide one, he said he can not release the phone. I said "Fair enough - I cancel the contract and I want my 150 back."

 

He said I will receive the money in 6 weeks (!!!). To cut the long story short - I've sent letters, called every week and I finally got my money back ... 2 months (!!!) later!

[Semi]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Thing is its not a deposit its just another payment to them.

 

i was behind the counter at one point to sign the form, and could see the screen of his pc, and swear blind it had a paragraph about commision he would get from the £150 deposit payment.

 

does anyone know what 3 insurance i like? as i had vodafone and lost my phone and suprisingly, vodafone was very good with the insurance.

just went in store said i lost it, small phone call and was out within 10 mins with a new phone and sim.

 

gonna write a letter and pester them. i'll even say i don wont the cash, but just credit my account. so at least i got 10 months line rental out the way.

 

regards

 

Semi