Thinking on it, as its an ongoing and still current billing process that probably wouldn't apply as its intended for old debts. Its a complicated situation tho so you really want proper advice.
Problem with BT phone bill - need advice please!
- Thread starter Haggisman
- Start date
Thinking on it, as its an ongoing and still current billing process that probably wouldn't apply as its intended for old debts. Its a complicated situation tho so you really want proper advice.
Obviously don't know the full facts, but believe me, BT would NOT wait 6 years to contact someone about an unpaid bill. More like 6 minutes would be nearer the mark. If the bill hasn't been paid for 6 years then the line would have gone dead 5 years and eleven months ago.
The bill has been paid for the past 6 years, but by the wrong person. Who has now got their money back from BT.
BT give several thousands of pounds away without contacting the female from whom they hope to re-coup their loss...?
Well, would you?
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2004
- Posts
- 18,423
Really she should just pay the bill. She used the phone for 6 years without paying for it.
Seems like a pretty black and white situation unfortunately.
Seems like a pretty black and white situation unfortunately.
Yes because they had the wrong persons money, and they haven;t gave it away as it wasn't theirs
Sorry but that is a ludicrous accusation tbh
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2004
- Posts
- 18,423
It does sound a little unlikely that neither of the two people would notice this for six years though.
Soldato
- Joined
- 23 Dec 2009
- Posts
- 18,251
- Location
- RG8 9
Phone line in her name. He is paying the bill. They split up. He decides he wants his money back. He goes to bank and says 'I have no idea about this direct debit it is not in my name'. Asks bank to do a Direct Debit Indemnity. They agree as it could be fraud and they HAVE to refund him immediately (under the scheme), as the phone is IS NOT in his name. The bank then pursue BT for the monies. BT then catch up with your mother.
She will have to pay, or go to Court to defend this.
She will have to pay, or go to Court to defend this.
I know which one I'd find more likely , the guy could have been seeing outgoings to BT on his statements assuming it was his bill and only just realised or been notified. There's many possibilities.
I doubt that anyone would think that they could somehow screw someone over 6 yrs from now,
infact it's not even a screwover as it was his money to begin with and he's legitimately recouped it from BT
if anyone was screwing some one over it was her as her bill has been paid by someone else for 6 years , she was the one with the line , how did she think it was being paid?
This sounds outrageous and fishy from the ex. How did he convince them that he shouldn't have paid them, or even realise he had been doing so for 6 years?
It's like I could offer to buy my gf a new phone and contract for 2 years with me paying the bills. We then happen to break up, I go to the bank and say "Sorry, I didn't mean to pay this bill for 2 years. Can I have a refund please? Not my problem where you get the money from."
It's like I could offer to buy my gf a new phone and contract for 2 years with me paying the bills. We then happen to break up, I go to the bank and say "Sorry, I didn't mean to pay this bill for 2 years. Can I have a refund please? Not my problem where you get the money from."
Why would he continue to pay his ex's phone bill for 6 years after they split up? what would he have to gain?
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2004
- Posts
- 18,423
What about the actual paper bill? presumably this got sent somewhere.
No idea if they still send out bill if you're paying by DD, but I would have assumed so.
No idea if they still send out bill if you're paying by DD, but I would have assumed so.
I am not disagreeing with that aspect; they should have sorted it when they broke up. It's more how it has suddenly come up after so many years and as a surprise. Shouldn't the ex have at least come forward and let her know of his intentions to recoup the money i.e. give some notification instead of doing it behind her back?
It could be an online only bill
In any case the only person standing to gain from this was the ops mum, up until recently the ex was actually losing money , now the discrepency or deception has came to light the ex has rightfully claimed his money back
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2004
- Posts
- 18,423
Did they even do 'online billing' 6 years ago? I have paper free on my account too, but they still send out letters to my home. Seems unbelievable that it could go on for 6 years with nobody noticing.
To me it sounds like the ex was intentionally being a bit of a tool, but there's nothing she can do about it because at the end of the day she was using the phone without paying for it.
So 6 yrs ago, just after they split, he decided to pay her phone bill on the off chance that 6 years from then he could claim all his money back and she would have to pay BT what she owes?
nah , that's as far fetched as lizard men in tinfoil helmets
more likely is it was an oversight by him or her to transfer the billing account to her name and he has been ignorant that the money has been going from his account and just found out, where as the ops mum can't have thought the bill pixies were paying for her phone line for 6 years, she must have known or suspected imo
Last edited:
Your mum has had a free phone line for 6 years. I find it hard to believe she was not aware that she was not paying any bill whatsoever for it.
Either way, she owes the money and only chance to get out of it is finding some loophole I guess. Solicitor is best option.
Either way, she owes the money and only chance to get out of it is finding some loophole I guess. Solicitor is best option.
Permabanned
- Joined
- 15 Sep 2010
- Posts
- 260
The payment agreement was made by her ex, the onus is on him.
No, the phone contract was the legally binding agreement, a payment agreement is not a legally valid contract. The mother is liable and the suggestions this was some form of nefarious plan by the ex considering the 6 year gap are kinda silly...