How to leave PlusNet / get them to give a MAC Key?

In early September I asked for my contract not to be renewed (I joined 7th October 2005) and for a MAC Key to be sent. I thought this would mean there would be no cancellation fees (why would there be one that's the same whether it's after you've been with them a year or the minute after you join?), but they said there were 'deferred costs' that needed to be paid for.

Despite this, they've renewed the contract and withdrawn money from my direct debit. They've given me the option of paying

Once you have completed the first 12 months the contract becomes a monthly contract and from a contract point of view you can give them 30 days notice of migration or cancellation to get out. I assume that they only charged you for another month.

The deferred fees for activation, and hardware if you took that, are part of a you stay we pay scheme which reduce the amount owed by 20% at the end of each of the first 5 years. You signed up for this rather than paying these feed in full up front. You have no choice but to pay the residual of these but they should be 20% less than the amount you were told in early September.

I don't suppose there's any way to get out and not pay them for all them the amount owed, even if it meant not getting a MAC Key?

If you simply cease you will have to pay connection fees with someone else. Best to get a MAC.

You took the deferred route as part of your contract, if you want to leave you have to pay what is owed in order to get a MAC. If you try to cease, the chances are the Plusnet marker will stay on your line until you have paid what you owe. This will prevent any other Company providing you with a service.

Sorry but you can`t have it both ways.

Unless you can prove that Plus.net have broken something on the T's and C's with your contract, you're going to have to pay up I'm afraid.

Or you can stay for the four years left on this and then exit free. This was an evil trick they pulled on many customers.

That is unless you can show that they did not inform you about the 5 years or you responded the Sheffield Wednesday advert on their site which said that activation was free, without saying conditions applied. They got hauled over the coals from the Advertising Standards Authority for that. So maybe tell them you responded to their free ads that was in fact illegal.

Wouldn't that be fraudulant?


Not very good advice to give.

Only if he had not come that way, just reminding people that Pn acted fraudulently in using illegal advertising, some might have forgotten how they got here.

But using illegal advertising does open them up to anyone saying that's how they got here, and if you use illegal advertising you ask for that.