[Dman77]

I received a letter this morning from 3 telling me they're changing their call pricing structure so that any call lasting less than a minute will now be rounded up to a minute.

I'm not fussed about this in the slightest but have just got an iPhone, so the 3 contract is of no use to me any more. Can I get out of my contract due to them changing the terms, albeit ever so slightly?

This is from their T&C's

4. Variations to your agreement or prices

Pay Monthly Customers

4.1 We may vary any of the terms of your agreement, including our Price Plans, on the following basis:

1. any updated Price Plans and new terms will be available on our website and on request to 3 Customer Services;
2. if you are a Pay Monthly Customer, we will let you know at least one month in advance if we decide to:
1. discontinue your Price Plan; or
2. make any variations to your agreement which are likely to be of detriment to you; or
3. increase the fixed periodic charges for your Price Plan (if applicable) by an amount which is more than the percentage increase in the Retail Prices Index Figure (or any future equivalent) in any twelve month period.

You can end the agreement for such variations as explained in Section 10. Subject to the above, you will not be able to end the agreement if such variation or increase:

1. is due to changes to the law, government regulation or licence which affect us; or
2. relates solely to Additional Services; or
3. relates solely to Add-on(s) (if applicable to you).


10. Ending this agreement and Disconnection of 3 Services

Pay Monthly Customers

10.1 You may end this agreement in the following ways:

1. In certain circumstances under our Returns Policy. You may need to get in touch with 3 Customer Services to arrange Disconnection.
2. You can end the agreement during your Minimum Term (if you have one – this will be stated in your Price Plan) by giving notice to 3 Customer Services at least 30 days before the date you want to end the agreement. However, you must pay us all the Charges you owe, plus any Cancellation Fee for your Price Plan (as set out in the Price Guide).
3. On 30 days' notice, outside the Minimum Term. You can end the agreement if your Price Plan does not contain a Minimum Term, or if you want to end the agreement at the end of your Minimum Term or any time after your Minimum Term has expired, provided you give notice to 3 Customer Services at least 30 days before the date you want to end the agreement. (A Cancellation Fee will not be charged.)
4. Within one month of a detrimental variation to your agreement. You can end the agreement within one month of us telling you about a variation to your agreement (which includes your Price Plan) which is likely to be of detriment to you. You must give written notice to 3 Customer Services within that month and your agreement will finish at the end of that month once we receive your notice. (A Cancellation Fee will not be charged.)

[Badger0-0]

I'd say the last paragraph of your post is the one.

IMO, this can be considered to be a "detrimental variation" that is likely to cost you money, if you make short calls.

You have grounds, IMO, but I'm no lawyer

[Serpico]

Looks like an iron-clad get out free to me.

[dunlop73]

I'm in exactly the same boat and would be delighted if I could get out of my 3 contract. Has anyone else had a similar letter? I am on Mix&Match 300 but haven't had a letter yet.

Jon

[stormjai]

desperately want out of 3 contract...

no letter yet...

[Dman77]

Well, I sent them an email and recorded delivery letter yesteday confirming my 30 days notice. They just called me to tell me that it wouldn't affect me as I never use all of my inclusive minutes, but told me I could cancel my contract if I wish.

And I did, it cancels on 22nd September, which is 30 days after the changes are introduced.

I felt bad doing it as I've found them to be excellent in the two and a half years I've been with them, but the lure of the iPhone was too much and this couldn't have come at better timing for me, less than a week after taking out a new contract with O2.

[Badger0-0]

I've just moved from Orange, after about 13 years, to 3.

Co-incidentally, I'm on the 300 mix and match, which does me fine.

I'm waffling, but the point is, my (17YO) daughter tells me the iphone is absolutely rubbish.

Have a good look first, is what I mean

[Dman77]

Originally Posted by Badger0-0

I've just moved from Orange, after about 13 years, to 3.

Co-incidentally, I'm on the 300 mix and match, which does me fine.

I'm waffling, but the point is, my (17YO) daughter tells me the iphone is absolutely rubbish.

Have a good look first, is what I mean

I got the iPhone last weekend and it's anything but rubbish for my needs.

Although to be fair, I only got it because I run Macs and have a .mac (or now Mobile Me) subscription, so I take full advantage of the syncing and capabilities of Mac/iPhone.

Had I not owned a Mac I wouldn't have bothered as the iPhone wouldn't have been of too much use to me.

Oh, and as for 3, if you get the same service from them as I had, you'll wonder why you never switched sooner, they're by far the best operator I've ever dealt with, and I've had all bar Vodafone. It's just a shame they don't do iPhones.

[ghost5]

off topic but thanks for reminding me to get my pac code from three before i buy the omnia

[Badger0-0]

Originally Posted by MoscowFlyer

I got the iPhone last weekend and it's anything but rubbish for my needs.

Although to be fair, I only got it because I run Macs and have a .mac (or now Mobile Me) subscription, so I take full advantage of the syncing and capabilities of Mac/iPhone.

Had I not owned a Mac I wouldn't have bothered as the iPhone wouldn't have been of too much use to me.

Oh, and as for 3, if you get the same service from them as I had, you'll wonder why you never switched sooner, they're by far the best operator I've ever dealt with, and I've had all bar Vodafone. It's just a shame they don't do iPhones.

Glad to hear that

All I know is atm, I get good reception at home, which we never did with Orange.
I had to go into the back garden

Apparently, all the networks do deals with each other, to get the best signal.

[Steven]

Originally Posted by Badger0-0

All I know is atm, I get good reception at home, which we never did with Orange.
I had to go into the back garden

I have a friend on Orange who cannot get reception in uni library. He was the only one as the rest of us are smugly on different networks I do have a spare orange sim for orange Wednesdays though