Interesting! I wonder what would be revealed if a thorough investigation was made into this company.
Although I believe PHS are in breach of their own Terms and Conditions I was advised to cancel my contract in the correct way just to cover myself. This I did and back came the usual reply "We can't accept termination as is does not comply etc etc" I emailed PHS and they apologised (yes really) for not saying why my letter didn't comply. To be fair I did make a slight date error. The guy said I suggest you re-send the letter with the correct dates which I did. Back came the reply "We can't accept..... &*$+~#! Anyway, square one is a comfortable place, I'm familliar with it having been there so often!
It would be great to get something like that going if someone had the time and enthusiasm. I'm going to contact my MP Peter Bottomley to see if he's able to help. The PHS depot and offices are just 2 miles from here.
The more I read the more I realise what a strange company this is. It's such a shame that Trading Standards aren't interested. We have contacted them, in fact I contacted them over another issue with a local garage and it was a waste of time. It makes me wonder what they actually do if anything. If anyone from TS reads these posts perhaps you can tell us all why you do exist!
Can I ask what sort of help TS gave, and which area are you in?
In other words the PHS board of directors want a bigger bonus and this is one way of making sure there's enough in the already large kitty.
Unfortunately like the rest of us you find yourself bound by their unfair terms and conditions, you'll soon discover what a fish on a hook feels like!
OK. It's probably because you had the first year with a fixed charge? Once the first year is up they'll get their claws in you and the price will begin to rocket (as you've discovered with the AWTN) Just out of curiosity, did you receive the charge for the AWTN just after it was too late to cancel within their terms?
I think they would be interested if enough people contacted them. I've been meaning to do it so this has given me the prompt I need, I'll do it today. Hopefully others will.
This is the problem, we're all (or nearly all) happy with PHS at first. Their collection service was fine. The issue has always been unrealistic price increases re collection and admin, also the unfair contract which needs a trained legal mind to examine, which most of us don't have or can't afford. That's why I said we put our trust in these companies expecting them to behave in a fair and reasonable way which they don't.
Good idea. I think we need to try every possibility and always giving links to this and other forums. I can't emphasize enough the importance of keeping every scrap of communication with PHS. My file is now 70mm thick! One of the reasons I say this is because they make lots of mistakes as communication within the company seems poor at best. Mistakes on their part are important should it come to court.
