Mother has only gone and had virgin media without cancelling sky...

[GDJJ]

So a salesman came around to sell virgin media to everyone on my street and being fed up of sky’s extortionate prices my mother agreed to have it installed today. When I got home from work, she told me they said they would sort it out with sky and we didn’t need to let them know. I thought this didn’t sound right and told my mother but you can’t tell her anything so she insisted she was right (as usual 🙄). Today when it got installed, the virgin media man said no we have to cancel sky ourselves much to my mother’s surprise. So when I called to cancel the sky man said we could only cancel no sooner than one month before the end of our contract March 2020. She would have to pay the two - virgin and sky till then. She said to the sky man she isn’t going to pay a penny to sky (even though it’s not sky’s fault) and he said they will send debt collectors out etc.

She’s now mad at me because I never wanted virgin and seeing what it’s like today I think it’s pure crap! But I’ve explained to her she has three options:

1. she pays the two together until she can cancel sky.
2. she doesn’t pay sky full stop and has the debt collectors out to take our stuff.
3. she cancels virgin (14 day cancellation period) and tries to bargain with sky.

Oh she didn’t like the last one (my fault again).

So we are in a catch 22. I’m not willing to have my stuff that I’ve paid for taken by debt collectors because I can’t prove I bought it (who keeps receipts?!) but she’s not going to pay both.

No common sense at all. She’s not old either to be fooled into all this. Nothing I say is right even if I’m right and can bring it up online to show her it’s true. It’s still WRONG.

Why don’t you move out?

You have a 4th option, you could move out and let her get on with it. It doesn’t sound like living with her is a pleasure.

I’m saving for a house deposit and looking for a rental in the meantime that will allow pets as well. It’s not much fun no but it is financially better to stay at home.

Have you asked her what he solution is? Or what her plan is when the debt collectors start sending letters?

Really, she needs to cancel virgin and then she can switch when sky contract is over.

She has to cancel Virgin. She’s not in a position to get out of the contract with Sky, and it doesn’t make sense to pay both. Going to debt collectors is not really an option.

Thanks everyone. I left her to it and she came to me to ask me to cancel virgin and put the sky back and “am I happy now” 🙄 well I think she should be happy she’s not having the debt collectors coming to her house. Also found out she’s been feeding my puppy adult wet dog food and that’s why she’s been having diarrhoea every day and I am fuming. I’ve been to the vets and everything to see why and it’s because of her. I’ve told and told her to stop doing it yet she continues to do it whilst I’m at work. Swear she does it deliberately.

This would frustrate me. I could not live with someone who always has to be right even when wrong.

Does she understand that she can get into a lot of financial trouble if she either doesn't cancel virgin or pay both sky and virgin.

She really should cancel the Virgin but if she's adamant she doesn't want to pay Sky until the end of contract you'll have to risk debt collectors, pay yourself or move out.

Cross post.

Life is too short to live with someone who causes so much stress.

You both sound very codependent. Why would you get a puppy when you’re struggling to rent somewhere that allows pets?
Does your mother look after the dog while you work?

Just make sure the puppy has 'accidents' on her bed. She will stop feeding it the wrong food quickly after that.

Or just buy all the dog food yourself (which you should be doing anway) so there isn't any wrong food in the house.

I had the puppy after my dad passed away when we were all getting along. she’s my therapy dog. I buy all the animal food and the groceries.

Five months ago x

We also have another dog who’s thirteen years old that’s why there’s also adult dog food there too.

You can cancel Sky and simply pay cancellation charges, you don't HAVE to pay until the end of the contract.

And buy the correct dog food, no issue then

Were your parents living together at the time of his death? Did your father sort out all the utilities etc? Do you think your mum is grieving? As no doubt you are too? I don’t think you are going to change her, so you have to accept this is how she is as a person. I bet she is spoiling the puppy because she feels she is treating the puppy, much like a grandparent spoils a grandchild. For your sake and probably your mothers (and your dog) you need to work on moving out and support her from a distance.

Debt collectors don't seize goods.

Only registered bailiffs can do that.

A consumer debt, such as unpaid Sky bill won't end up with the bailiffs.

It will blot her credit file, though.

Ring Sky again, tell them your Father has just passed away and your Mum is grieving and doesn't understand what she is doing.

I had to cancel when I was hospitalised and couldn't afford it any more and they were very helpful and nice. OTOH if she has been ranting at them and threatening not to pay then they may feel differently about the situation.

Ring Sky again, tell them your Father has just passed away and your Mum is grieving and doesn't understand what she is doing.

So a salesman came around to sell virgin media to everyone on my street and being fed up of sky’s extortionate prices my mother agreed to have it installed today. When I got home from work, she told me they said they would sort it out with sky and we didn’t need to let them know.

Or rather ring virgin and tell them it was miss sold (if it was ).

I'd send a complaint to Virgin, they have missold that contract as they said they would sort out your contract with Sky which they can't do.
Save up your money and move out asap, ask your Mum not to feed the puppy in future.

I’m sure she can cancel sky and pay their cancellation charges. It’s always quite a sum but then it would still work out cheaper. What we did when we wanted to cancel sky (cancellation charge was £120) was we used a cash back site to take out virgin media so got a £150 cash back which covered sky’s cancellation charge so we didn’t lose anything.