If a salesman has ever misled you into purchasing a product, you know how annoying and frustrating it can be to find out that they lied to you. In dealing with mobile providers, what can you do if they sell you something that turns out to be untrue? Here are five tips to help you know how to complain to your mobile provider.
Request Phone Recordings
If the discussion and agreement were made through telephone conversation, you’re entitled to the phone recording, under the Data Protection Act of 1998. This recording will serve as evidence to prove your case and determine if they did not give you what they claim they would.
Report Your Provider
If your mobile provider has misled you, report them to the local standards departments and your local communications regulator. The provider’s act may have been a breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. As of October 1, 2014, you, as a consumer, have the right to discounts, to undo a contract and receive a refund, and to seek entitlement for damages.
However, for your claim to be successful, the offer sold to you must be significant enough to be a reason why you entered the contract in the first place.
Keep Accurate Records
If you’re dealing with third-party mobile retailers, complaining to them can get tricky. You’ll need to threaten to take them to court under the Consumer Rights Acts of 2015 for not providing the services as described. In the court, you’ll need to prove, with the use of phone recordings, that you didn’t get what was promised to you.
Get Hand-Written Promises
Third-party mobile retailers often contact their customers to talk about phone upgrades to improve their business. If you ever receive a call like that, ask them to clarify what they’re selling and ask them to provide all the details in written form before agreeing to anything. If you’re in doubt, end the call right there.
Challenging Phone Bills that are Too High
If you’re having trouble paying off a phone bill, don’t hesitate to talk to your provider. Try to find an agreement on how much you can pay monthly. If you have a contract of a year or two, you’ll end up paying monthly even if you don’t use the service at all. Try and downgrade the plan to something more affordable.
Be aware that some providers will only allow this after you’ve had the phone for six months, while others do not allow it at all. Still, you should inquire about them. To help you save money, you can ask your provider to set a limit to the contract so that your bill won’t go any higher than a certain amount.
We hope that you never have to face the issues mentioned above. However, if you do, you will now know what to do. Remember, before you agree to any contract offered by your provider, make sure everything said is clear, concise, and written down. Doing this will keep you out of trouble if anything happens.
If you’re looking to claim compensation on mis-sold goods or services in the UK, get in touch with Consumer Reclaim today to see how we can help you.