3 Broadband price increase, in contract ?

rottweiler

01-12-2010

I have a 3 dongle and received a letter telling me that my monthly charge will be increasing in line with inflation ?
They cant do this when in contract can they ???

As well as the vat increase ???

Not happy

moox

01-12-2010

Read the terms and conditions.

If it says they can do it (and I recall a clause in 3's T&Cs that VAT is certainly not a reason for cancelling a contract, don't know about inflation), then they can.

Appleseed

01-12-2010

The VAT increase is no cause to cancel. Look at your bill, the amount is always Exc VAT, and then VAT is added at a rate set by the Government. It's out of their hands.

However, any other price increase (inflation etc) DOES give you right to cancel.
It won't be in the contract, but if they have slipped it in it would make it unfair and challengable.

For instance, a year ago the economy was deflating. Did they reduce your bill in line with that? I'm guessing not.

moox

01-12-2010

Originally Posted by Appleseed:
“However, any other price increase (inflation etc) DOES give you right to cancel.”

Originally Posted by 3:
“We may vary any of the terms of your
agreement, including our Packages, on
the following basis:
(a) any updated Packages and new
terms will be available on our website
and on request to Three Customer
Services;
(b) we will let you know at least one
month in advance if we decide to:
(i) discontinue your Package; or
(ii) make any variations to your
agreement which are likely to be of
detriment to you; or
(iii) increase the fixed periodic
charges for your Package (if
applicable) by an amount which is
more than the percentage increase
in the Retail Prices Index Figure (or
any future equivalent) in any twelve
month period.
You can end the agreement for such
variations as explained in Section 10.
Subject to the above, you will not be
able to end the agreement if such
variation or increase:
(i) is due to changes to the law,
government regulation or licence
which affect us; or”

Seems like they may have already thought of that.

wavejockglw

02-12-2010

3 have a history of increasing prices and reducing customer benefits after they have signed up to their network.

The simple answer is that any change to your contract that is detremental allows a customer to cancel the contract within a set period (30 days?), if they don't it's accepted they agree to the new terms.

Thine Wonk

02-12-2010

Originally Posted by wavejockglw:
“3 have a history of increasing prices and reducing customer benefits after they have signed up to their network.

The simple answer is that any change to your contract that is detremental allows a customer to cancel the contract within a set period (30 days?), if they don't it's accepted they agree to the new terms.”

They've never increased my price, in fact they doubled my data allowance without me asking or paying any more. They are already the cheapest mobile BB provider with the most 3G coverage and pretty good capacity, so I can't really see the issue.

wavejockglw

02-12-2010

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“They've never increased my price, in fact they doubled my data allowance without me asking or paying any more. They are already the cheapest mobile BB provider with the most 3G coverage and pretty good capacity, so I can't really see the issue.”

Not really... it depends on usage. If you don't use a lot of mobile boradband 3 are expensive as they require a monthly commitment.

3 have a long history of losing customers because they have changed their terms to customers detriment.

I use very little mobile broadband but get great coverage and bandwidth from Vodafone on PAYG and £15 buys 1GB of data that lasts me more than a year.... beat that 3!!

Thine Wonk

02-12-2010

Originally Posted by wavejockglw:
“Not really... it depends on usage. If you don't use a lot of mobile boradband 3 are expensive as they require a monthly commitment.

3 have a long history of losing customers because they have changed their terms to customers detriment.

I use very little mobile broadband but get great coverage and bandwidth from Vodafone on PAYG and £15 buys 1GB of data that lasts me more than a year.... beat that 3!!”

That's a very unusual situation through! making 1 GB last a year on PAYG, I shouldn't think for your £15 a year Three are fighting for your custom or will miss it!

moox

03-12-2010

Originally Posted by wavejockglw:
“I use very little mobile broadband but get great coverage and bandwidth from Vodafone on PAYG and £15 buys 1GB of data that lasts me more than a year.... beat that 3!!”

For a lot of people, 3 already have Vodafone beat. The 3G coverage of the former is leagues ahead of the latter, particularly in more rural areas.

As I type I am in a fairly large city, and yet, my Vodafone mobile is on 2.5G. 3G coverage is okay, although spotty.

Thine Wonk

03-12-2010

Originally Posted by moox:
“For a lot of people, 3 already have Vodafone beat. The 3G coverage of the former is leagues ahead of the latter, particularly in more rural areas.

As I type I am in a fairly large city, and yet, my Vodafone mobile is on 2.5G. 3G coverage is okay, although spotty.”

Sitting here in in Birmingham and just like home its 5 bars of HSDPA coverage on three just like home and on the drive up I streamed radio all the way. : )

SOL

06-04-2011

Did anyone get their contract cancelled?