General Chat

My FIL recently changed mobile phone services from O2 to Vodaphone at the carphone warehouse only to find that were he lives he cannot receive a signal. He has gone back to the carphone warehouse only to be told that service is not guaranteed.

I have told him to go back and tell them if they do not cancel the contract which they have sold him in the knowledge that reception was poor or none existant in his area then he has been missold the service and he will take it up with OFCOM to see if he gets any further.

Does anyone else agree that if you are sold services you should expect a reasonable level of service?

TBH i would have looked into it myself

When i got my son his phone i wasn't asked if he would get a signal so maybe is down to the individual to find out.

If a company is not providing a signal in your area why are they selling contracts in your area.

Yes maybe he should have done research but as a 70 year old I don't think it entered his head that a reputable firm like the carphone warehouse would tell him that this was his best option when they knew that vodaphone did not have good coverage in his area.

If I get a loan and the loan provider proceeds to sell me insurance I do not need or want this is missold so why is the same not true for mobile phones.

You know what there no need to get your knickers in a knot with me...take it up with carphone warehouse

Dont know for sure but i think you have 14 days to cancel a contract? Annie

look at the contract to see if there is a cooling off period,,usually 14 days,this will lie with vodafone...have a read on statuary rights,

He says he has been back to the carphone warehouse who say that they do not guarantee coverage. I am not sure whether he went back immediately. I live at the other end of the country and he only mentioned it to me yesterday.

My question is: Is it acceptable for mobile phone companies to sell contracts when they know that coverage is poor or none existant in your area?

I think not,

Julie I am not getting my knickers is a knot over your comment. It just seems that a lot of vulnerable people can be taken advantage of?

If you can't get to the store in question, go over their heads to their head office, customer servicess...no company wants bad publicity, and if you stay cool and concise it is likely they will cancel the contract as an act of goodwill. Certainly worth trying.

from what i have seen most contracts tie you in and seem a total rip off unless you are a constant user, ie glued to the damn thing! ( ok for business i guess)

Hello Ice Ice Baby pleased to meet you

I know he most probably doesn't have a leg to stand on as he has signed a contract and should have read the small print.

I don't think I am explaining myself very well.

Taking my FIL out of the discussion. If necessary I will buy him out of contract.

There is a consumer law which says that items sold must be fit for purpose. Is it unreasonable to expect to use a service you have paid for in your home? Is it perfectly acceptable when going for advise on the best contract for you to have ones where no or poor coverage is put up for consideration?

I have read through my thread again and it seems I am having a go at the Car Phone Warehouse. This is not my intention, I mentioned them as that was were FIL bought contract. I mean mobile phone companies in general.

There are many vulnerable people who don't read contracts especially when sales assistant is standing over your shoulder. Yes the cooling off period is a good thing but should it be offered in the first place if no or poor coverage is what is available.

Rambling Rose

I will contact customer services on his behalf. You never know I may be lucky. I'm not having a go at carphone warehouse even though it may seems so now I have read it back. It's just that FIL had been to them. My question applies to all mobile phone companies.

Thank you all for your responses.

I have just been googling and found a court case from Feb 2010 were the case was proven that a person should expect to receive coverage from a mobile phone in own home if sold in that area. The plaintiff received £500 in compensation.

Ice Ice Baby I will be contacting them on his behalf. Unfortunately there is no family members around were he lives.

I have talked to him about pay as you go and am sending him a sim card. He reckons he spends £30 a month on calls so thought a contract was what he needed. He has family in Australia and Italy. I keep telling him he needs broadband and skype and he can talk to his hearts content for zilch.

Maybe it would be best to contact Vodaphone.

Christine

I am trying to get in touch with him to ask him to send me the contract. I have left a message with his friend.

Thank you all again for your suggestions.

I just can't get my head around the fact that contracts are being sold when there is poor or no reception in the area. This seems ludicrous to me. To me it's like buying a box of chocolates with a statement in small print saying that we cannot guarantee that there are any chocolates in the box.

Tell the Carphone Warehouse that you are going to contact Watchdog.....I am sure they may well give in.