EE massively overcharging customers once contract ends.

[HamishS]

My 24 month contract with EE has just ended today, and in the run up to the end date I have had texts and emails from EE about the contract price once it ends. 
EE is telling me that unless I take action and choose a new plan they will continue to charge me the existing price of my current plan. Bear in mind that my current plan cost includes the price of the handset, so from paying off and buying my handset over the course of 24 months EE is wanting to charge me the same amount as if I was still paying off a handset. This cannot be in line with consumer rights, surely?  
For EE to say they’ll just leave things as they are for now until I choose a new plan is disgustingly parasitic. For more context, my handset is one from their “Good As New” range, so not even a brand new product that I’ve paid off during my contract. Now EE are fully aware that I own this handset but will continue to charge me the same, hugely inflating the cost of the contract just to balance it out for their sake. 
Now obviously I am not continuing with this plan and will choose a new one to reduce the cost,  but knowing that this tactic is the default for EE is disgusting. It’s set up in such a way to rinse their own customers for huge profit knowing that a lot of their customers who are likely vulnerable and may not be so vigilant in keeping up to date with their phone plan will be getting ripped off by EE who would rather let this kind of thing happen without considering the people affected. 

I have only posted this to alert others who might not realise that their service provider is acting like a parasite and unless you are able to take control they will just completely abuse your position as a customer. Really disgraceful stuff. Change you methods EE because you will likely have lawsuits about this in the future. 

[bristolian]

I stand by the accuracy of my previous post. If your contract ends, so does your network service - it cannot exist without being either on a PAYG or active-contractual basis.

Ofgem is the electricity regulator, you may be confused with the newer FlexPay plans where you have two completely separate contracts with EE. One rolling contract covers your airtime payments, a separate fixed-term agreement covers device hardware finance.

No-one should enter into any contract without full awarenesss of the T&C's.

[UncleJunior]

I said OFGEM who you correctly pointed out is the energy regulator - I meant to say OFCOM.

You seem to be contradicting yourself - at the end of your term you are out of contract so by my take on what you are saying, the operators should cut off the service for anyone who has not entered into a new contract which clearly does not happen.

The introduction of 2 separate agreements is specifically related to this issue as they are aware that OFCOM is looking into these nefarious practices. 

I am not disputing the legality of the process but rather the ethical nature of it which I understand the regulator is looking at as well.  I wouldn't be surprised if in the not too distant future after an OFCOM ruling we don't see a whole new claims industry on the back of these contracts. 

[bristolian]

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@UncleJunior wrote:

You seem to be contradicting yourself - at the end of your term you are out of contract so by my take on what you are saying, the operators should cut off the service for anyone who has not entered into a new contract which clearly does not happen.

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You have an ongoing contract with a minimum term. Popular misconception refers to the minimum contractual term as "contract end date" when that's legally incorrect.

Strictly speaking, any reference to being "out of contract" means you have given and served your 30days cancellation notice - you are then either disconnected or transferred to PAYG.

[XRaySpeX]

@UncleJunior :

1. EE's traditional contracts have no concept of paying off the handset. You agreed to pay the same price for the full duration of the total bundled contract. There will however be a 10% discount 3 months after the end of min. term. You may always choose to upgrade your contract to a cheaper SIM-Only contract from the last 45 days of your contract term.
2. These mobile contracts don't just end, just the min. term expires. They are not fixed term contracts. After the min. term they just carry on at the same price on a rolling 30-days' notice basis until you explicitly cancel, upgrade or port your no. away. There will however be a 10% discount after 3 months.

[AC127]

They have done the exact same with us however have decided not to notify the phone via text, no emails, no notifications via their app. 

[tag1806]

Thy just test me today saying the same it's disgusting 

[Jimbob150687]

Worse when you want to preorder an item and it won’t be available for a month so I’m forced to pay my current price for longer. Theft 

[WelshLady1970s]

This is happened to me. I thought my contract finished this year and it finished last year so I’ve been overpaying for my phone when I already paid it off last year.  EE will not currentlyrefund the years worth of overpaying.

If I bought a car and paid that off every month, I wouldn’t keep paying it after the contract ended.

[XRaySpeX]

@WelshLady1970s : But you haven't bought a car! You've bought a mobile phone bundled with an airtime plan, both under the one contract which is open-ended.

[Chris_B]

@WelshLady1970s  but you was still using what the tariff allowed you to use.  Not being aware of what happens at the minimum term date is down to you to read the contract and understand what happens at the minimum term date.  It changed to a 30 day rolling contract as per the T&Cs of that contract and it was down to you to do something about what you was paying.  Obviously you was still  happy with the device so you could of upgraded to a sim only contract at a cheaper price point.