[3GScottishUser]

Watch them!!!

I cancelled my 3 account 12 months to the day since I took out the contract. I paid them exactly 12 payments 3 X 1/2 price and 9 @ full tarriff.

After cancellation I got a final bill for a FULL months advance rental!!!

Mental!

I phoned Mumbai and got the following explanation.

"We bill you in advance so that charge does not apply. We have cancelled your Direct Debit from the cancellation date so no money will be deducted from your bank account but you can cancel the debit if you like. We will issue a full month's credit to nulify the charges next month".

What? Eh?

Bonkers!!! Whay did they issue the stupid bill in the first place when they know no calls have been made after the terminatiion date and they had 40 days notice to get that organised. A shambolic end to a poor experience and worth mentioning so that others check their final bills as I'm sure there will be some who end up paying for line rental (which is always charged in advance) that they are not liable for.

My end of 3 contarct experience has been a shambles both in terms of 3's performace and the dealer (e2save). 3 have failed to process the termination efficiently and have had to be contacted to revise their termination date, they got the final billling wrong despite their verbal assurance that matters had been corrected. They sent out an invalid bill that they claim would'nt be actioned and would correct it the following month with a new bill that clears matters (what a waste of paper and postage). The dealer for their part got the cashback wrong not once but twice. Totally pathetic really, but as it only cost me £60 for a full year perhaps understandable, or is it? Is this inconvienience designed to make life difficult? Who knows, my dealings with Hutchison 3G UK Ltd are close to an end and that is something to be welcomed.

If you terminate your 3 UK account - watch the bills and make sure you pay only what you owe.

[Ben]

Have fun getting your cheque... took me about 9 months to get my credit :D

Seems a bit crazy that they've billed you for a complete month! It sounds like they should have arranged the termination for the day before the new bill would be raised, but instead they've gotten it wrong. I daresay you could've cancelled earlier and avoided this problem, but then you'd have been missing out on days of service that you'd paid for and, as you'd have been contracted, you'd not have been entitled to a refund.

Good luck getting your money back... the Three experience just goes on and on for you, eh? :p

[3GScottishUser]

You cant cancel early, you have to 'serve' your 12 months.

That I did, to the letter but they still billed me me for another month 'in advance'.

It's all very well excusing them, but if they can set up the billing to their advantage to sollect from 'day 1' they can easily do the same to stop the billing from day 365. It crazy that they sent me a bill for advance rental for 1 month after the date from my termination ??? Bonkers... Hey but some might not notice!

[getti]

Just cancel your direct debit with the bank and then its down to Three to work out their computer systems so show you owe nothing and your contract is over.

What ever you do DONT let them take the money and then say they will refund you. After all this is Three we are talking about!!!

[3GScottishUser]

I wont. According to the nice Indian CSA once the contract has expired they automatically cancel the direct debit so he assures me nothing will be taken but i'll play it safe and call the bank to cancel and avoid having anything further to do with them.

[dgilbert2]

Too late now, but you can can cancel the contract by giving 30 days notice on day 11 months and 1 day.

I did this without problems.

[Hands0n]

Correct. It is all in the timing. Your notice of termination merely has to reflect the final day of the contract. Even if 3 want to get stroppy about this, you have served correct notice and they are obliged to honour your instruction.

Re DD - 3 are really good at pr*tting around with these, the reason I left them the first time round. For sure, make absolutely certain that you give your bank instruction or do it online if your bank allows that. But whatever happens, make sure you cancel your DD from your side. Do not under any circumstances leave an open path into your bank account for 3 (or for any other trader for that matter!).

[3GScottishUser]

I thought I made it perfectly clear elsewhere that I gave 3 30 days notice and posted the termination details to them 12 days in advance of that period.

They still messed uo the last billing period and looking around I dont seem to be the only one this has happened to.

[Hands0n]

And you won't be the last either. The chances of a successful and satisfactory termination are 50:50. 3's CS is legendary for its utter ineptitude. If Bob Fuller and his boardroom chum[p]s don't know about the Customer's distaste at their CS then they've been spending too much time at the cocktail cabinet.

But that said - the key is to shut the door to your bank account making it effective as of the final day of contract (or certainly before their next drawdown from your bank account). Then even if they unexpectedly get it wrong and try to debit you they'll just hit a brick wall. Your money will remain with you and they can sort out their debit/credit notes at their own leisure and beyond your caring.

Which is nice. :)