Orange Mobile Price Increases

[Tutonic]

I've just been slapped with this: http://www.itproportal.com/2011/12/01/can-orange-customers-escape-their-contract-following-434-price-rise/

Does anyone with more legal knowledge than me have any idea if I'm able to get out of my contract due to this? It seems thoroughly unreasonable to increase the price of my contract without the ability to cancel it, and I don't fancy paying off 8 months worth of remaining contract!.

I've tried calling them up to have a proper moan, but surprisingly all of their operators are busy at the moment.... :eyebrow:

A strongly worded email to Orange, CC'd to OfCom is currently under construction.

[lionheart]

Apparently its all above board and says in your contract that they can increase prices once a year at a rate less than inflation. There was a big thread on Overclockers forum about it yesterday.

"Can I cancel my contract because you're increasing my monthly service charge?

No, our Pay Monthly terms and conditions allow us to increase charges by up to the RPI figure in any 12 month period. The increase in the price plan charges is less than the 5.4% rate of inflation as measured by the Retail Price Index (RPI) in October 2011.

We can increase prices at any time on giving proper notice. In this case, the increase is less than the current rate of inflation and our terms and conditions state that we can do this without giving you the right to cancel your contract without paying the disconnection fee. "

[Tutonic]

I know that's what they say, I was more interested to know if anyone had any legal insight into this or if anyone has successfully challenged a similar increase.

Even if it's totally watertight, I think it's a pretty shoddy move and it'll create some horrendously bad PR for Orange. None of the other major carriers appear to be following suit, and I've never even heard of any of them doing anything like this before.

[lionheart]

I agree, but if Orange get away with it the rest will follow suit before too long.

[Blunt]

None of the other major carriers appear to be following suit, and I've  never even heard of any of them doing anything like this before.                   

just a matter of time I reckon.
I see one guy in the comments on your link pleaded poverty with some success (downgraded to less minutes)

[T-Bag]

Ring them up and have a moan. I did the same when Virgin Media dropped Sky One and wanted to charge the same price they let me jiggle things around. To be honest for the sake of less than £12? it seems like a lot of effort. Stick it out and change providers when you can.

[OldBloke]

Good article from MSE.

It's all about the definition/interpretation of 'material detriment' it seems.

[Tutonic]

Cheers Oldie.

I've been too busy at work to call them during the day, and the phonelines are pretty jammed in the evening. I'll toss 'material detriment' into the conversation and see if they squeak.

Even if I have to tough it out, I certainly won't be renewing my contract with them.

[Blunt]

Interesting stuff in this twitter timeline

@OrangeHelpers Jon, Clause 4.3.1 relies on a publication that doesn't exist, you lose! Might be easiest if your legal counsel contact me.

Keeping an eye on this fella

[lionheart]

Yes, that is interesting Mr Blunt.

[Blunt]

His argument:

Clause 4.3.1 of the Ts&Cs @OrangeHelpers are using to increase EXISTING tariffs, refers to CSO. 1 problem; the CSO hasn't existed since 1996

[Blunt]

He's set up a web-site
worth keeping an eye on

[Tutonic]

Oh, I am

I haven't called Orange yet - I've been too busy/tired to be bothered to argue with some poor beleaguered customer services monkey.