Donegal TD Joe McHugh has warned customers of mobile phone operator 3 who have recently ended contracts to make sure the company has stopped direct debits.
It follows complaints from constituents who discovered bills of up to €675.
The Minister of State says many 3 customers ended their contracts with the company last month after 3 increased charges, making those contracts null and void.
It meant any customer who got a phone as part of the contract no longer had to pay for the balance of the cost of the phone or face a penalising bill for ending the contract.
“However a number of constituents have discovered that they were being penalised twice,” said McHugh.
“In one case direct debits continued after the contract was ended. In another case a constituent discovered plans to take €675 from his bank account, contrary to the agreement. This is outrageous and a clear breach of an agreement.
“The company has since apologised but consumers must be vigilant. You must check any emails you get from 3 and if necessary cancel direct debits.”
McHugh also warned of a ‘minefield’ of complicated new plans being rolled out by 3.
“One constituent went on to a ‘pay-as-you-go’ plan only to discover that he had agreed to a 24-month contract. This information was sent by 3 by email. The constituent insists this was never discussed over the phone,” warned McHugh.
“I will be raising these issues with 3 and the regulator to ensure that those people who were entitled to end a contract are not then penalised for doing so. There is little doubt this is a mistake by 3 as they have apologised, but it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
“I would urge all 3 customers who have ended ‘bill pay’ contracts in recent weeks as a result of 3 charge increases to check their emails and check their bank accounts to make sure they are not still being charged.
“And they should also check to make sure that if they want a pre-pay service without strings attached that they haven’t been added to a 24-month contract like in one case I have dealt with.”
