Plusnet FREE setup.... ??

One for the legal bods perhaps-

How can Plusnet advertise Free Setup, yet levy a deferred charge for
cancellation?

The fact that this charge occurs can only be discovered if the correct
links are followed on their web site, and is not apparent (that i saw)
when simply following the sign up process.

Plusnet want to skin me for close to £85 to leave their shoddy service
after just a few months, which I find quite ridiculous.

Free means free, not deferred - and they want to charge me for a modem
which i'm certain was also shown as being free if I paid the 11.75
activation for a monthly contract-

I've reported the matter to "Lee" at East Sussex Trading Standards, and
also completed the online complaints form at ISPA, so will await the
outcome of these before my next move.

On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 02:24:49 -0800, tx2online wrote:

> How can Plusnet advertise Free Setup, yet levy a deferred charge for
> cancellation?
>
> The fact that this charge occurs can only be discovered if the correct
> links are followed on their web site, and is not apparent (that i saw)
> when simply following the sign up process.

Are you saying that this wasn't in the terms and conditions of the account
you signed up to? If so that is very naughty.

--
Regards
Tony
(Take out the garbage to reply)

Tony Hogarty wrote:
> On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 02:24:49 -0800, tx2online wrote:
>
>
>>How can Plusnet advertise Free Setup, yet levy a deferred charge for
>>cancellation?
>>
>>The fact that this charge occurs can only be discovered if the correct
>>links are followed on their web site, and is not apparent (that i saw)
>>when simply following the sign up process.
>
>
> Are you saying that this wasn't in the terms and conditions of the account
> you signed up to? If so that is very naughty.
>
No, he's saying that on the page with details about the product there
was "Special Offer! Free setup now available - save up to £80 [Find out
more]". Because he didn't click the "Find out more" link he didn't get
to the page where it says:

<quote>Congratulations, you’re almost there - you’re on your way to one
of the best broadband experiences around.

Don’t want to pay a penny for setup? No problem, we’ll take care of it.
All we ask is that you stay with us! Let’s face it, with a service as
good as this, why would you leave?

With our new improved set-up option, which enhances our previous
connection and modem offer, you now have the choice of a completely free
set-up option.

You'll always be better off when you choose PlusNet - just look at the
table to see how much you can save.

Service Provider Cost in 1st Year
Savings with PlusNet
1 Year 2 Years 3 Years
Pipex 2000 £407.88 £228.00 £456.00 £684.00
AOL Platinum £359.88 £180.00 £360.00 £540.00
BT Broadband £299.88 £120.00 £240.00 £360.00
Wanadoo Active £275.88 £96.00 £192.00 £288.00

*Compared with PlusNet Broadband Plus 2Mb (Cost in 1st year £179.88)

Want the detail? ‘You stay we pay’ explained.
For every year you stay with PlusNet we’ll guarantee that the
cancellation cost decreases. What does this mean? If you cancel within
the first year, then you will pay £47 for the activation. For every year
you stay we’ll reduce this by £9.40. If you also choose to take a modem
as part of the offer there will be an additional cancellation fee of £25
in the first year and this will reduce by £5 for each year that you stay.

You can choose an annual or monthly contract when you choose broadband.
If you choose the monthly contract option in conjunction with this offer
there is a one-off charge of £11.75.</quote>

--
John

On 1 Nov 2005 02:24:49 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>One for the legal bods perhaps-
>
>How can Plusnet advertise Free Setup, yet levy a deferred charge for
>cancellation?
>
>The fact that this charge occurs can only be discovered if the correct
>links are followed on their web site, and is not apparent (that i saw)
>when simply following the sign up process.
>
>Plusnet want to skin me for close to £85 to leave their shoddy service
>after just a few months, which I find quite ridiculous.
>
>Free means free, not deferred - and they want to charge me for a modem
>which i'm certain was also shown as being free if I paid the 11.75
>activation for a monthly contract-
>
>I've reported the matter to "Lee" at East Sussex Trading Standards, and
>also completed the online complaints form at ISPA, so will await the
>outcome of these before my next move.
Granted thier customer service is worse than Sky but if you persevere
they will give you a fair hearing. I had a complaint about the 12
month contract and they eventually offerred to cancel it without
cancelation fee. Shoddy service though? Not as far as connection and
speed are concerned. Now thier usenet is another matter
(E-Mail Removed)ESScom
Deciper for correct address.

How can Plusnet advertise Free Setup, yet levy a deferred charge for
cancellation?

The fact that this charge occurs can only be discovered if the correct
links are followed on their web site, and is not apparent (that i saw)
when simply following the sign up process.

It is made quite clear what is offered.

Plusnet want to skin me for close to £85 to leave their shoddy service
after just a few months, which I find quite ridiculous.

If by "skin me" you mean that they want you to pay for the agreed
cancellation charges then they have every right to do so. When you signed up
you stated that you had read and understood the T & Cs and agreed to be
bound by them. If you did this without reading them and taking a copy for
your records you have only yourself to blame.

Free means free, not deferred - and they want to charge me for a modem
which i'm certain was also shown as being free if I paid the 11.75
activation for a monthly contract-

See above.


Peter Crosland

In article <43676938$0$63089$(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...

<snip>
>
> Peter Crosland

Please aquaint yourself with how to quote a previous poster, or it makes
it nigh impossible to decipher what you've written and what you're
quoting. Probably just a bum setting in your newsreader

Alex

(E-Mail Removed) wrote

> One for the legal bods perhaps-
>
> How can Plusnet advertise Free Setup, yet levy a deferred charge for
> cancellation?
>
> The fact that this charge occurs can only be discovered if the correct
> links are followed on their web site, and is not apparent (that i saw)
> when simply following the sign up process.
>
> Plusnet want to skin me for close to £85 to leave their shoddy service
> after just a few months, which I find quite ridiculous.
>
> Free means free, not deferred - and they want to charge me for a modem
> which i'm certain was also shown as being free if I paid the 11.75
> activation for a monthly contract-
>
> I've reported the matter to "Lee" at East Sussex Trading Standards, and
> also completed the online complaints form at ISPA, so will await the
> outcome of these before my next move.
>
>


Grow up, any company who offer a free 'whatever' have set their prices
so you pay for the item over your initial contract period.

Peter Crosland wrote


> See above.
>

I did. It's indecipherable bollocks.

jelv wrote


> Don’t want to pay a penny for setup? No problem, we’ll take care of it.
> All we ask is that you stay with us!

There you go. Couldn't be plainer.

I didn't say it wasn't there, but it isn't on the main page, and can be
*completely* missed if you simply click the "sign up" link. I don't
believe it is mentioned in the T&C's that you *are* presented with
further on in the sign-up process either.

The fact remains, unfortunately, that it is within their web site, and
as such, they aren't breaking any rules, despite the fact that it
*isn't* plain to see unless you click through a link.....courtesy of
Trading Standards.