I ordered a TV and broadband package from Tiscali on the 25th February online and was given an installation date on the 17th March. Now I changed my mind and want to switch to Sky. So I thought all I need is to give Tiscali a ring to cancel the order and the installation…

Then I phoned Tiscali today to cancel but was told because they have already activated my phone line, they cannot cancel it. I had no knowledge that my line has already been active (with no letter or any notification from Tiscali). They said the cooling off period is 14 days and because cooling off period has already passed (from the 25th Feb), they can’t cancel it or I have to pay the whole 12-month charge!

Now most people would assume that the cooling off period starts from the installation date and anyway I am cancelling it before installation date. I think it is very unfair that I cannot cancel now. They said I can write a complaint letter (which I did) but what could that do?

Now Sky is coming to install TV tomorrow (and I’ve also ordered Sky broadband). I really want to be with Sky (and even more I want to leave Tiscali). Any advice please!

Hmmm..

From http://www.moneyextra.com/dictionary...od-004050.html


So, is the 'day agreed' the day that the engineer was coming around, or the day you signed up? That'll be the issue.

I would say the day you signed up,it is at this point that the wheels start to turn and a company starts to spend money to fufill what you ordered.I would have thought that a 14 day cooling off is quite generous.
still a bummer.

Cooling off period is definitely from the day you sign up, not the install date.

Sounds like I have to be with Tiscali for a year. I was thinking to get Sky HD, just hope Tiscali will have HD as well this year...

I think this is one of those situations where, legally, yes Tiscali are right. However, if you write to them, they may be willing to do a deal to let you go - although you probably will be charged.

Despite what you read on these forums, if you're lucky and don't have any problems with the installation, once up and running the tiscali tv service is actually very good. Who knows when it will go HD - it must do at some point else it just won't be competetive. The great selection of VoD & replay/catch-up is a big bonus over sky, and when they sort out the fan noise & other teething problems I imagine the tiscali+ box will pretty much match sky+ functionality too. (I'm waiting for a while longer before switching to the tiscali+ box). Sounds like you're stuck with the contract for 12 months, but why not give it a go? Trying to cancel tiscali now will only complicate your install, and from reading other people's posts on this forum it seems like tiscali really do stuff things up when its not a bog-standard job. So good luck to ya!

I agree, the TV service is very good.Give it a go as you don't have all that much choice.Life's too short to worry and you'll be suprised how fast a year goes by.