Final demand from an ISP

[kiethton]

So without naming names but am having an issue with an ISP chasing me for cash...

The situation:

- Bought my flat and completed in May
- Previous owner with the ISP in question
- Was originally intending to continue the previous owners contract but decided against it following advice on here and the fact I wouldn't be moving in for a while
- When I eventually moved in I had satellite TV with associated broadband installed
- Last month I noticed that the ISP in question was taking money directly from my account and had been for months since I competed, not a huge amount - c.£70 total
- I didn't know what they were about and did a chargeback under the DD guarantee after not being able to contact them - couldn't without a phone number (as a reference) which I didn't have....and still don't
- Had a final demand come through for £230 yesterday
-Tried calling but still couldn't as I have no telephone number as have never had any paperwork or even seen a contract, price plan or anything to identify myself
- Ended up on an online chat and the operative basically said there is amount in your name and therefore it's your bill, will only go away when paid (this wont be happening any time soon)
- Got nowhere on there as was going around in circles.

So how do I stop this process and any impact on my credit history (I'm an FCA approved person so can't have any bad credit etc)

They won't talk to me or even tell me what contract or information I have and just send letters. I've never signed a contract or requested a service, can only think that they got my DD information from the bundle of docs sent through the solicitor for rent, water, tax etc. (shared ownership). I'm tempted to let it progress as they can't enforce a contract I've never seen or terms ive not agreed to just worried about my credit rating and defaults etc.

[kiethton]

Thinking the form was amongst the 5 or so DD mandates I did on completion.

There was no contract or pricing etc with anything though so probably assumed it was water or somethibg

[kiethton]

Not my idea or area but no amount or anything was stated or known which is a bit of an issue...

[kiethton]

They did in fact, just for utilities, sent by the previous owner

[kiethton]

Only became regulated a few weeks ago and this historic, think this was borne from confusion - first place

I just don't understand how they can just randomly decide how much to charge without me knowing, they advertise £2.50 a month, happy to pay them that and no more - £10 tops... £230 is a bit much really!

[kiethton]

PurpleMoonlight said:

kiethton said:

I just don't understand how they can just randomly decide how much to charge without me knowing, they advertise £2.50 a month, happy to pay them that and no more - £10 tops... £230 is a bit much really!

Perhaps their charges were outlined in the correspondence that accompanied the DD mandate that you didn't sign and return to them!

If you are so worried about a CCJ I suggest you pay up and learn from your mistake.

I can only hope you take greater care with your clients money that you do your own ....

There was no accompanying correspondence, no terms, no letters, nothing, just the DD form sent by the previous owner which just have been included within the others as outlined above.

[kiethton]

bhstewie said:

kiethton said:

Only became regulated a few weeks ago and this historic, think this was borne from confusion - first place

I just don't understand how they can just randomly decide how much to charge without me knowing, they advertise £2.50 a month, happy to pay them that and no more - £10 tops... £230 is a bit much really!

I think the point that people are making is that companies can't just magically and randomly start taking money from your bank account - they have got the details somehow.

The paperwork you think you might have completed appeared somehow.

For it to be in your name something will have happened at the ISP.

Are you honestly saying that if you call the ISP they are disavowing any knowledge of having you on their system as a customer whilst they're conceding that they have a direct debit mandate in place and they have sent a final demand for non-payment?

Respectfully something just doesn't sound right about your version of events.

The only paperwork I sorted for the flat came from either the solicitor or the previous owner, all just DD forms with no supporting documents.

When calling it requires you to input your home phone number before they put you through (I have never asked or used this so don't have one). So I can't talk to them.

When on the online chat they have no details of anything bar my name, the flat address and the previous owners contract starting in Jan and finishing in Septemer when I got my sky contract. I've never used a service from this ISP as I only moved in a little while ago (refurb).

When I noticed that money was being taken by them I got all charges reversed by the bank as I could get no help on the Internet chat (can't phone) - (c.£70 to when I noticed about 8 weeks ago) and have now got a demand for £230....I've never requested or used the service provided and now there in my name.

I know that no contract is valid without the terms of that contract being disclosed, a signed DD can't mean that they are free to take what they like without prior warning or notification of conditions. I'm now struggling to actually tell them to go away, can't get past the monkey at the typewriter to get to somebody with authority/a brain.

Very tempted to let it run and sue me as they won't get anywhere owing to the above.

[kiethton]

To be fair I'm normally rather anal, was just in the middle of half a million things so utilities and DD's weren't the most important thing at the time.

Happy to nane them, just didn't know if it was against N&S, Talk Talk

[kiethton]

Moonhawk said:

kiethton said:

I just don't understand how they can just randomly decide how much to charge without me knowing, they advertise £2.50 a month, happy to pay them that and no more - £10 tops... £230 is a bit much really!

£2.50 per month sounds like a very basic BB package - which probably has data limits that you have exceeded by watching streaming video. Going above your data cap normally involves additional charges (will have been in the T&Cs)

That's the thing, I never used it or even knew it was running...

I was saying the £2.50 to just to pay away the confusion based on their advertised cost