Distance Selling Regulations - apply to Three network?

[dancingmatt]

Hi all

Just bought a brand new N95 on Three (only been out for about a week or 10 days). Three have a 14 day money back guarantee - I can return everything boxed and cancel the whole contract, but only if I haven't used the handset or the SIM at all.

Now with other networks, I've been able to activate the phone, use it a bit, and if not happy then return it within a (limited) time period and only be charged for the calls and data I've used.

With Three, I can't even put the SIM in the phone and turn it on to receive calls and so test their network coverage in my area.

This doesn't seem at all fair. For example, before this I was on T-mobile and it was fine everywhere except at my parent's house in Southampton where it has absolutely zero signal. If I lived there, I would've sent that T-mobile back once I'd turned it on and found out. What if I had the same problem in my flat on Three - I'd be tied into 18 months of a contract for a service that I can't use?

As it stands I have no way to test their service to me without accepting their contract. Is this legal? Do the Distance Selling Regulations make any difference?

Your thoughts, expertise, etc. very welcome and appreciated!

DM

[Welsh Thunderca]

Contact trading standards for your answer.I thought it was seven days and it didnt matter if you use it or not.I would expect to pay useage and delivery only.

[dancingmatt]

Yeah. I even bought it online from Three's site. But I think some things don't come under DSR...?

[Bilbob]

AIUI, you CAN use the phone etc, and still return it under 14 days... you just have t opay for what you've used.

A word of warning though.... once you have done this and they have agreed to the return, cancel your DD... 3 can be a nightmare to deal with...

[DrPhil]

I will likely be returning my new 3 phone to the store tomorrow, and I have used it. The store have already agreed to take it back and just charge me for the use, although that may be because they lied their arse to me and told me I would definitely get network where I lived, and also failed to tell me that 3 phones all have the manually select network option disabled, which means that I cannopt stop it roaming onto various Irish networks and getting me charged a fortune.