Optimumcalls

[Dawg]

Had (another bloody) call from a telecom provider, Optimumcalls, the other day. They wanted to change me over there and then but I refused asking for details instead, which arrived today, about 10 days later- (ain't email getting slow?)
It all looks good, until you look at the 'Legals'.
The contract runs for 60 months, that's 5 bleeding years! They want to tie you in for 5 years, and should you want out there is a penalty of £395 + VAT.
Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
Just a heads up...

 

[cjd]

same old same old......

the telecoms industry is bolloxed.

 

[Rebecca Optimum]

Had (another bloody) call from a telecom provider, Optimumcalls, the other day. They wanted to change me over there and then but I refused asking for details instead, which arrived today, about 10 days later- (ain't email getting slow?)
It all looks good, until you look at the 'Legals'.
The contract runs for 60 months, that's 5 bleeding years! They want to tie you in for 5 years, and should you want out there is a penalty of £395 + VAT.
Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
Just a heads up...

Hi Dawg

My name is Rebecca and I am the customer relations manager at Optimum Calls, I was very sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with us and was wondering if you would like to contact me on 0844 372 3410 to discuss any problems you experienced?

 

[Dawg]

Hi Dawg

My name is Rebecca and I am the customer relations manager at Optimum Calls, I was very sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with us and was wondering if you would like to contact me on 0844 372 3410 to discuss any problems you experienced?

No need for me to call Rebecca, tho' thanks for the kind offer. Maybe just post up here when that ridiculous 5 year contractual tie in is changed, with the ludicrous penalty.

By way of contrast I use Zen for my broadband. Not only do they provide a first rate service, the contract is for one month: I can walk away at any time but they know I won't because they are so bleedin' good.
No need to tie the punters in. Different business model. If yours changes Rebecca, do let us know.

Thanks.

 

[garyk]

Hi Dawg

My name is Rebecca and I am the customer relations manager at Optimum Calls, I was very sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with us and was wondering if you would like to contact me on 0844 372 3410 to discuss any problems you experienced?

Ha, ha yes its the ridiculous 5 year contract not the service I'm sure.

 

[Rebecca Optimum]

Thanks for responding Dawg,

Just to clarify our contract term for businesses is the length it is (60 months) as a guarantee that our prices won't go up, for a lot of people that is a nice security, but we understand that length of time can be too long to commit to for everyone. We are always happy to negotiate things such as this to tailor to consumers needs.

Again in keeping with the above, the exit fee is an estimate of usage based on the contract length, which is quite standard within the industry.

Out of interest is the Zen contract for businesses or residential consumers?

 

[cjd]

Again in keeping with the above, the exit fee is an estimate of usage based on the contract length, which is quite standard within the industry.

That is totally untrue and also irrelevant.

The 5 year contract is designed to lock in a customer over an absurdly long period in the hope that they don't read the small print. It's anti-competitive and unethical.

 

[Rebecca Optimum]

That is totally untrue and also irrelevant.

The 5 year contract is designed to lock in a customer over an absurdly long period in the hope that they don't read the small print. It's anti-competitive and unethical.

I maintain that B2B fixed line WLR companies often have longer contracts and 60 months is not unusual nor exit fees based on usage for that time, I am not in the VoIP field so I couldn't really comment on that.

Optimum Calls always ensure that contract length is always stated at the point of sale, as we are aware that not everyone reads the small print

 

[Bri]

Again in keeping with the above, the exit fee is an estimate of usage based on the contract length, which is quite standard within the industry.

Be careful what you say here Rebecca, this is not an industry standard, its a practice carried out by providers to tie customers in. There will be people on here tonight ripping this apart, see previous thread on the subject.

Dawg is right, why have tie ins? No contracts are getting the norm, and why not?
We dont lock our customers in to Fire Service contracts because we are confident about the service we offer.

 

[sellickbhoy]

not taking anyones side here, but do you have a geographical 01/02/03 number that you can be reached on.

I don't like paying EXTRA when i want to call a company.

 

[Rebecca Optimum]

not taking anyones side here, but do you have a geographical 01/02/03 number that you can be reached on.

I don't like paying EXTRA when i want to call a company.

We do, it is on our code of practice, but for future reference it is 01442234090 or you can email us and request a call back.

 

[Rebecca Optimum]

Be careful what you say here Rebecca, this is not an industry standard, its a practice carried out by providers to tie customers in. There will be people on here tonight ripping this apart, see previous thread on the subject.

Dawg is right, why have tie ins? No contracts are getting the norm, and why not?
We dont lock our customers in to Fire Service contracts because we are confident about the service we offer.

As a veteran of the telecommunications industry, I can only give you an idea of how competitive the telecommunications industry is, see slammings and to a greater extent the new general condition 24 Ofcom have just announced (which was spurred on by such practices!) Optimum Calls are very confident with the service we supply, however tie ins are an necessary evil for the never ending cycle of competitive behaviour. Again I am referring to B2B although I can think of many examples such as your mobile phone provider, gas and electricity companies having such tie ins for residential use. Being a small corporation ourselves, consumer needs are at our forefront, but again as a small business we have to keep our business model in line with our direct competitors, which are contracts between 12 and 60 months. As I posted earlier, if a potential consumer is not comfortable with this we are always happy to negotiate.

 

[cjd]

I maintain that B2B fixed line WLR companies often have longer contracts and 60 months is not unusual nor exit fees based on usage for that time, I am not in the VoIP field so I couldn't really comment on that.

5 year contract are not industry standard they are simply what some companies try to impose on their customers - in my view unethically if not actually illegally. Your company defines the T&Cs of your service, not 'the industry'.

For the record, I am also part of the 'industry' and our terms are 1 month, no penalty.

 

[Bri]

As I posted earlier, if a potential consumer is not comfortable with this we are always happy to negotiate.

But you dont offer it, Rebecca. I was with my nephew in law on the weekend and he's tied into BT for 5yrs also. I dont know what my own plans will be for the next 18months let alone that far ahead, one has to be flexible.

Good luck with it, I hope you do well.

 

[oldeagleeye]

Rebecca. You are my dear digging yourself and your company an even bigger hole hole with every post you make.

To try to tie anyone into a 5 year contract is outragious. No business or indeed private individual can forecast what their financial position will bein 2 - 3 - 4 years time let alone their telecom's requiements and I dare say that even if you forget 5 years - in an year you will be gone from this company too.

Your flogging a dead horse babe in my opinion anyway.

 

[VInsight]

I would like to step in and agree that no one should need to sign up to a 5 year agreement.

Our policy is sign up to a 12 month contract and we also offer the first months telecoms free, we also promise a cost reduction from your current supplier.

Some people just don't look around and go for the first telecoms company they see.

Try us out email me [email protected] and I will compare your rates, i promise to beat any offer that has been offered to you recently.

 

[andav]

Multi year contracts drive me up the wall! Wheres the confidence in your product or service?

 

[Atilla]

Hi Dawg

My name is Rebecca and I am the customer relations manager at Optimum Calls, I was very sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with us and was wondering if you would like to contact me on 0844 372 3410 to discuss any problems you experienced?

Yet another case of potential customer having to pay for the privilige.

Only when pushed might companies divvy up the normal numbers. Why? More pennies in the company pot?

 

[cjd]

There are 2 reasons why companies do this:

1. Obviously to tie a customer in
2. Less well understood - a 5 year contract is an asset that can be valued when a company is sold as it guarantees a revenue stream for the purchaser

Note that neither of these reasons are of benefit to the poor sucker that signed up.