Hi, my girlfriend has just gotten out of a mental health hospital after having a manic episode from bipolar. 3 days before getting sectioned, 18th January, she went into an EE store in a town centre in her pyjamas and in a childlike state, very clearly not well ie behaviour and speech. She was talked into a phone contract for an iPhone 13, no credit check was done because if it had she would have 100% failed. From what she remembers she was out of there in 20 minutes. She was taken advantage of to get rid of old stock.
Her abusive daughter stole the phone from her 2 days after getting it and now 2 months later she has no phone and owes nearly £200. Her daughter's also empty her bank account when she's unwell so there's been no money in her account to pay her bills. It's a messy situation and if I put the whole story on her it would be hard to believe.
I have the IMEI for the phone so I know it can be blacklisted but my question is is what they did in the store legal? It not only feels morally wrong but also criminally wrong to take advantage of a vulnerable and mentally ill person this way!
I went into a different EE store and was told nothing could be done because the insurance she was sold was only for damage. And said although morally wrong they are forced to sell contracts to vulnerable people otherwise would get accused of discrimination. I don't know if this is true but what I do know is that my girlfriend was severely mentally ill and has spent 2 months sectioned. Now she is coming out to this that shouldn't even be a thing, she should never have been given it in the first place.
Could I please get some advice?
Thanks, Michael.
