how do you deal with this situation?

Question

what can you do if you get a big phone bill that you cant afford to pay because your on limited income and
when you try to phone up to cancel the service, because you feel they miss sold you the service, claiming it was going to work out cheaper for me, to sign up for it, they tell you that you cant because you signed up for an 18 month contract with them so im bounded to it...?
i rang up yesterday and told them that their phone service is costing me a bomb and that i would like to cancel it and come to some arrangement on how to pay the bill, thats when the customer service operater said i couldnt because im bounded to the contract for 18months, i grew enraged and let rip to the guy down the phone, but he continued to say, in a forcefull manner, repeatedly, that i was bounded to their contract and i couldnt cancel the service......thats when i grew angrier and really blasted the guy down the phone telling him' its a dear service and i couldnt afford it damn it!!!!!!!!!''...
he then hung up the phone on me....has anyone been in a position like this and no what to do?

Answer 1

Firstly, you must try to stay calm; losing your temper with the telephone operator will not help your cause. Try ringing them again and ask to speak to a senior representative and explain the problem to them, they must have some kind of support for people in your situation. If you don't get any help from them, you should contact a solicitor (some solicitors offer a free half hour) or the Citizens advice bureau (CAB). They will tell you if the contract is 'legal', and offer help and guidance. All may not be lost, do not use the phone for the time being and try to put as much money aside as you can afford just in case they ask for a release fee.

Answer 2

Well Grandpa, when we lose our tempers we lose the battle.

My experience with this crap is to ignore the sales person because you can't do what they say you have to do anyways.

Write a letter about the situation, and how you can best manage a payment schedule. Even $2.00 a month is something. Give a copy to your lawyer if you have one, just in case it does go to court. However, going to court is highly unlikely because it draws negative attention to the telephone company and is costly as well. They already know you have said you don't have the money, so why would they try to squeeze you for it in court? Anyways, send a copy of your letter to the tel. company and then stick to your promised payment schedule. If they persist in harassing you with phone calls, let it roll off your shoulders because you can't help it if they are numbskulls. If you feel you have to say anything to them, have a list of short jokes you could tell rather than your gut response.

Hang in there Grandpa. Once I told a collection agency they would have to put me in jail because I didn't have all the money. They were more than willing to work out a solution when they realized I was serious.

Answer 3

If this were my situation I would pay off the bill in monthly installments or something on that order. Then I would put the phone away since the bill was hurting me financially and I would get a tracfone or something like that where you control how much money you spend. Then after 18 months my other phone that was hurting me financially would be over with and I wouldn't have to deal with it.

Answer 4

Try calling again and hope you get a different rep. I know it's hard, but keep your temper. Stay calm and keep repeating what you need in order to be satisfied, and ask to be transferred to superiors if the person you're talking to can't help you. It doesn't hurt to threaten to tell your friends and family how lousy their service is, but do it calmly.

My sister was able to get out of a phone contract recently like that, but she was lied to initially and had a contract with an erroneous monthly total on it to prove it, so I don't know if you'll be able to get out of it.

My husband and I tried to get out of a car lease about 6 years ago when he lost his job and they only let us out of the contract with a huge lease breaking fee. They were nice about it but a contract is a contract. They're in it for profit, not to be compassionate.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Ring up and explain you lost your job, follow this by a letter in writing and grovel a bit, buy saying I know its a 18month contact but I lost my job, as soon as you get another you will be back with them, you must phone first and then write, if they reply back always reply nicely I must ad, if they don't accept it at least you have evidence, that you tried to stop the service and if they take you to court the judge will look on it, that you tried to stop the service and the company will look on it that once you get a job you will be back with them, anger is not an option.

Answer 6

If you can do without a phone - have you tried telling them you're moving and would like the phone cut off?

Answer 7

firstly you have to take responsibility for your actions. there can not be many people out there who doesn't know about long term phone contracts. you have to cancel it in writing, contact them again and tell them this without getting angry and don't take what they say to seriously, they just want as much money from you as they can. then you contact ofcom for further advice.

Answer 8

If you have a social worker may be they can help..Try to be calm go to the office talk to person one on one.. Control the anger. Jail may be next

Answer 9

It happens all the time, before you enter into a contact on anything first talk to someone who has it. I have had happen to me and it will happen again before I die.

Answer 10

just ring them (on your mums phone! ) and explain to them. They will help