Advice for scam protection

I wish to pass on a warning to Connexion readers.

I had a cold call from a man trying to sell me a new mobile phone contract. He said he was from TELE2, but other firms may use the same trick. It is apparently widespread in the UK and is known as 'slamming'.

We were working out together whether their new contract would be better than my current one. I gave information including my current mobile phone numbers and the company who provided them.

I also gave my 'code RIO' (a unique number linked to mobile phone contracts - similar to the PAC in the UK) ostensibly so that he could ascertain when my current contract expires.

My intention was to peruse the new contract when it arrived and contact my current supplier to work out the cost of cancelling the contract early should I choose to do so.

The TELE2 contract never arrived. About a fortnight later I received a text message from my current supplier Bouygues acknowledging my cancellation of contract.

They confirmed it had been done by TELE2, without my knowledge or permission, and that they could not stop it as it involved transferring my existing number to a new supplier.

As the current contract was due to run until December 2008, we still owed them €530 for a service we would not now receive.

As the contract from TELE2 had not arrived, I contacted them to complain.

Luckily, I pay Credit Agricole a small amount each month for Protection Juridique; an insurance for domestic legal issues.

I phoned them and they were extremely helpful. There is a legal requirement to have a signed contract and even then the customer should have a cool-off period.

Mme Luc of the Protection Juridique advised me not to accept delivery of the new mobile phones from TELE2 and contacted them on my behalf to get them to cancel the cancellation of my contract with Bouygues.

At least in this case there was a happy ending.

My advice is: Do not give any information regarding your current mobile phone arrangements to anybody on the phone.

Also, think about taking out Protection Juridique, it is worth €4 per month for peace of mind.
Angela Pickles
Oradour-sur-Vayres

A government fraud department spokesman said: “Normally when a contractual arrangement is made over the phone, it is followed by a confirmation letter or email, which must be signed, dated and returned by the client. Companies are not allowed to cancel a contract without the client's agreement.
“By law a new contract has a seven day cooling-off period during which the client can opt out. We are able to assist the public if they contact us (www.dgccrf.bercy.gouv.fr/ contacts.htm or tel: 3939) with a clear chronology of events. We may then make enquiries and contact the companies concerned.”
A TELE2 spokeswoman said although they sent out packs to new customers, including a contract to sign and return, they did not have to wait to receive the signature before proceeding with ordering a cancellation.
She said a seven-day cancellation period started from the date the customer received the pack, and if they cancelled during that it was possible for the service to be resumed with the previous operator. “If you think we made a mistake, we will sort it out and make amends,” she said. Protection Juridique insurance is offered by banks for domestic legal issues.
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