Standard Business practice

Many companys now use this tactic. They can often make more money from penalties and 0870 numbers than they do from their service. It's called lockin. They make you a super attractive deal for the first 6 months then it goes to the standard deal. They are playing the long game, knowing you will be stuck with them for years. One of the tactics is the automatic 12 monthly contrac renewal with a limited cancelation period. When you phone them to cancel, they detect your phone number route your call to their busiest and least english speaking call centre. This is very frustrating and takes ages. The agent then tells you that your contract has been successfully canceled, except it has not. Your direct debit may then skip a month so you assume it's worked. Then it starts back up again. If you call the bank and cancel the payments then you will be sent demands for payment. If you write to them then they will lose your letter, even when you send recorded delivery. This will drag on for months.

The bigger the company the more likely they are to do this. It's important to cancel Direct Debits at the bank, maybe record phonecalls, but tell them you are doing so, write to them recorded delivery and take down names and what was said. It does take months but you will win in the end.

The best thing is not to let someone have any leaverage over you in the first place.

User Comments / Have Your Say

The opinions and views expressed in the above comment are purely those of the writer and in no way reflect the opinions or views of the Daily Express website, the Daily Express newspaper or Northern And Shell Media Publications. We accept no responsibilty legal or otherwise for the accurancy or truth of this comment.