Contracts and none payment

[MeatLoaf]

Just asking advice really for a family member

They have a contract with 02. There around 6 months into it. They pay so much a month for the phone over i think its 3 years. The cash price of the phone was £667 and so far theyve paid £74 of that. And also another amount for the airtime over 2 years.

They are struggling so ive suggested ringing 02 to see if they can help.

The question really is if he stops paying will they disable the device.? It will obviously go to debt collectors if they dont pay but in my eyes if it was me i would steadfastly be refusing to pay for a device which is no longer useable. Yes they should hold there hands up to the remaining airtime term ( and the remaining on the device if it dosent get disabled )

Does anyone have any advice or experience of this with 02?

 

[MeatLoaf]

Ive got a giffgaff sim they can have off me. Should work in the 02 phone.

Im going round in the week to go over there budget with them to see here they can free up a bit of cash before seeing if they can get 02 to put them on a lower tariff.

My dad used to be a manager at a rent to own type store and i was talking to him about this and he was telling me that once a certain amount had been paid off it couldnt be reposessed in the case of none payment. Im not sure this is the same situation, but i cant see how a network can take you to court to pay for a device that they have rendered useless. If the phone continues to be useable then yep crack on. But to brick a device and still expect payment on it then nope in that situation id either fight it and refuse to pay or return it to the operator weather they want it or not.

 

[MeatLoaf]

Ok so ive been round and had a quick look at things.

Things arent perhaps as bad as i was expecting, however he does already have a CCJ from last year so im not sure thats going to worry him so much.

The contract in question is £34 a month, £18 of that is for the device. He also has a second contract with 02 for a tablet. But thats literally only £1 a month airtime and £4.50 for the device. Looking at his bill the issue is it comes out his bank around the 9th of the month - he gets his UC on the 12th, so weve managed to change the due to a date just after the 12th. This should mean he dosent have to leave cash in the bank for weeks. This will mean a slightly higher bill next time but should be ok going forward.
Hes currently paying almost £60 for basic TV and 250Mb broadband. Hes out of contract so ive urged him to call them to get a better deal, im only paying £32 for gigabit and basic TV. If no joy ill try asnd get him to move to a cheaper supplier.
Gas / Elec ive suggested he goes on PAYG as i think he will find that easier too budget.
Water ive got him to apply for the Big Difference scheme that may help reduce his bill