Telecoms Early Term Charge after 6 years

Graham Johnson

Free Member
Nov 11, 2018
11
0
Can anyone Help TML/Utility Warehouse Early Terminations Fees after 6 years.

After 6 years of being a customer with TML/Utility Warehouse we decided to move our telephone lines to a new provider. Not for any reason other the new provider was putting in place a new telephone system.

Now after being with TML/Utility Warehouse for over 6 years you wouldnt expect to be hit with a early termination charge. But in our case we were.

Totaling £1406.54 for five lines.
!
!
Line 1 = £25.00
Line 2 = £100.00
Line 3 = £125.00
Line 4 = £370.92
Line 5 = £785.62


At no point did we receive any contact stating we were going to get these charges. We did get 4 letters, 4 emails and 4 txts stating the following

Dear {Salu]}

This email is in reference to your TML account, Account Number:

We have received notification that you intend to switch your telephone service (line rental and calls) on XXXXXXXX to another provider, on 28-09-2018.

If you did not ask for this transfer, please call our Customer Service team right away on 0344 499 0414.

At no point in all these communications did they advise of early termination fees.

If they had I would have waited until the contracts had ended.

Another thing I was not aware of was the following

Your services would have renewed automatically for another 12 months unless notice was given 60 days prior to the end date. As no notice was given, they were renewed for another 12 months in line with our terms and conditions. As advised previously, you were not informed of this.

The following is how they calculate the fees.


-!Line rental (£33.72) x remaining months left (11) - £370.92 in total! (Renewed August 2018)

-!Line rental (£25.00) x remaining months left (5) - £125.00 in total! (Renewed February 2018)

-!Line rental (£25.00) x remaining months left (4) - £100 in total! (Renewed January 2018)

- Line rental (£25.00) x remaining months left (1) - £25 in total! (Renewed November 2017)


Of course we are not happy so read the complaints procedure and email a complaint to TML they even have someone job title which is Corporate and Escalations Coordinator

To date this matter has not been resolved and we now have to write a letter of complaint to the Managing Director Office

Ofcom are investigating this practise so I guess it will end up like PPI.

Two others things that have come to light.

1. They sent me copies of contract signed and the one for £370 is clearly not my signature and therefore this is fraud.

2. As we are in disputed we have cancelled the Direct Debit so they have sent you a letter stating the they are add 10% for each statement sent each month.


TML is the corporate arm of Utility Warehouse. Now I have number of friends that promote UW and Im sure if they used this kind of practise to the public service they would not get away with this.

At the time we signed the contracts 6 years ago we only employed 7 people now we employ 22 as we have opened 3 new stores.

As we were classed as a small business 6 years ago and Ofcom ruled Rolling contracts are ban for small business. However TML are asking for proof that we are now a small business.
 

LiveNetworks Ltd

Free Member
Jan 31, 2018
213
45
According to the UK's Companies Act 2006, a small company is defined as one that does not have a turnover of more than £6.5million, a balance sheet total of more than £3.26 million and does not have more than 50 employees.

However Ofcom restriction on ARC's limits the number of employees to 10.

Are the shops all under the same Ltd Company name or have you got a Ltd company for each shop?

I'd also suggest checking the contracts to see if they ask how many employees you have when you signed each contract. If they don't, then the one size fits all contract that they've got you to sign isn't going to hold up to scrutiny.

The other element I'd consider is there a master agreement which adds the additional lines, or does each line represent a separate contract in it's own right.
 
Upvote 0

Graham Johnson

Free Member
Nov 11, 2018
11
0
According to the UK's Companies Act 2006, a small company is defined as one that does not have a turnover of more than £6.5million, a balance sheet total of more than £3.26 million and does not have more than 50 employees.

However Ofcom restriction on ARC's limits the number of employees to 10.

Are the shops all under the same Ltd Company name or have you got a Ltd company for each shop?

I'd also suggest checking the contracts to see if they ask how many employees you have when you signed each contract. If they don't, then the one size fits all contract that they've got you to sign isn't going to hold up to scrutiny.

The other element I'd consider is there a master agreement which adds the additional lines, or does each line represent a separate contract in it's own right.

Thank you for you help. I will take a look at both of these. Yes the shops are under the same Ltd Co.

The contracts do not ask how many employees I have.
 
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