Bills

[Woodmill]

Not sure if this is the right section but we will be heading back to the UK (probably) in around August. When we arrived all we could get were 2 year contracts on foxtel and internet. We will be leaving 11 months early. What do you do? Will they let us off and release us from the contract - anyone with any experience?

[Proud Pom]

They won't release you early from the contracts. Normally, if you walk away from utilities bills or contracts, the contract keeper will sell your debt to an agency for a fraction of its value. The agency will then try to trace you and if they catch you, will pursue you for the debt and add on very hefty service fees. They can and would pursue the debt in the UK courts.

In any case, you signed the contract so you have a moral obligation to deliver your side of it.

[Woodmill]

I didn't mention about doing a bunk. I asked if anyone had ever negotiated a get out quick/reduction.

[The Pom Queen]

I know foxtel can reduce the payment to $5 I think, not sure how long they will do it for. I can remember when we first arrived everything was on 2 year contracts, thankfully Foxtel do 12 month ones now. The internet, not sure I suppose it depends who it is, may be worth writing them a letter explaining the circumstances, or you could maybe ask the people who mnove in to the property if they want to take it over, although make sure that if they go over the limit it just reduces the speed and you don't pay extra.
Good luck with it all.
Kate

[Cerberus1]

Don't think Foxtel will let you off,as it were, but the maximum early cancellation fee is capped at $290 (it's $290 or Get started package price x number of months remaining (which ever is the smaller).
For something like Bigpond, then it's worked out based on $360 pro rata - A Member who cancels their contract 9 months into a 12 month contract for example may have to pay a termination fee of $360 x 3/12 (where 3 is the number of months left to run on the contract, divided by 12 months) = $90.