There are many reasons why people should avoid 3 Mobile and instances like the above is one of them.

Other reasons?

- Dodgy reception (even in London)

- Dodgy call centre staff (ones that speak English with a strong Indian accent and who call themselves 'John' or 'Peter')

- Dodgy handsets ( Hold them next to your head for more than 2 minutes and you start getting headaches)

use the email address to complain

Long story short, but in April 2007 my 12 month contract with Three came to an end. I already had another contract phone, also with Three, so I didn't need the old one. I wrote to them asking them to cancel my contract with immediate effect, instructing them not to contact me asking me to keep the contract open. Predictably, and against my wishes, they contacted me asking if I would consider keeping the contract open.

I explained that I already had another contract with Three and that I didn't want to keep it open. They said that if I kept the contract open it wouldn't cost me anything as they would credit my account with a years worth of line rental. If figured this sounded like a good deal, and expressly said I would only keep it open if it definitely didn't cost me anything. They assured me it wouldn't, so agreed.

I didn't really check my bills for the next few months as I had sold my old phone and wasn't using the sim card, only to check it occasionally on my new phone in case anyone called my old number.

About nine months in and I started noticing that the credit on my account was getting really low, with only enough for about another month and a half. This worried me so I got in contact with Three to ask why. I was furious when I was told that my credit had gone down faster because of 'additional items' on my bill. It turns out there was an 'Internet 10' service which was £2.50 a month, which I had no recollection of ever asking for. Also, because they had credited my account, they weren't taking any payments by direct debit, merely reducing my credit each month, I got charged £3 each month for not paying by direct debit!!

I was furious. Because of these extra charges I was a month and a half short, and have had to pay an extra £56. I wrote letters to Three asking them to refund the charges, only to be told to read the small print, I wrote letters to the mobile regulator who told me there was nothing they could do.

I'm do disgusted and disappointed at Three. It really feels like a cynical trick they use to squeeze some extra cash out of people they think are leaving anyway. Because of this I will never use Three as a service provider again and urge anyone reading this not to either.