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Cancelling BT in contract - Am I wrong
scotlad1980
Posts: 56 Forumite
in Phones & TV
I got a letter from BT to advise that my line rental will increase on 1st April by £1.00 per month, I am currently 6 months into a 18 month contract. I decided to contact them to say that I am unhappy with the change to my contract and I would like to change provider.
I got a email back saying:
I am very sorry to read that you are unhappy in relation to the recent price changes to BT's line rental and that I did not get the opportunity to personally speak with you today in relation to this matter.
I do appreciate that you have previously received a response to this matter therefore I must refer you to BT's terms and conditions for telephone service - [URL="wlmailhtml:{FD8A2366-2BD8-41D8-A169-1AC744743AB9}mid://00000002/!x-usc:http://www.bt.com/termsandconditions"]www.bt.com/termsandconditions[/URL]. Please see below an extract from the terms and conditions, which clearly states that all prices are subject to change, providing that we notify all our customers in advance;
"Some of our Calling Plans or Special Offers are not applicable to some lines and services. All rates detailed below are inclusive of VAT, unless otherwise stated and all prices are subject to change. BT reserves the right to withdraw any Calling Plan or Special Offer at any time."
"Line rental - From 1st April 2009, we are changing our standard line rental price to £12.50 a month (from £11.50). However you can reduce your monthly line rental by £1.25, to £11.25, by opting for paper-free billing if you are still getting a paper bill, and paying your bill by Direct Debit. To change to paper-free billing, visit [URL="wlmailhtml:{FD8A2366-2BD8-41D8-A169-1AC744743AB9}mid://00000002/!x-usc:http://www.bt.com/paperfree"]www.bt.com/paperfree[/URL]. Excludes BT Basic, Light User Scheme, In-Contact Plus and Pay & Call customers."
I have since written to say:
As per your terms and conditions I will be moving my service to another provider with no cancellation fees as per terms and conditions paragraph 6.3 (b)
"If the Customer or BT ends the Contract during the Minimum Period the Customer will pay BT the early termination charges set out in the Contract. This clause will not apply if: the Customer gives notice to end the Contract within three months of BT notifying the Customer of an increase to the charges or changes to the Conditions in either case to the Customer's significant detriment"
Any thoughts on where I stand?
I got a email back saying:
I am very sorry to read that you are unhappy in relation to the recent price changes to BT's line rental and that I did not get the opportunity to personally speak with you today in relation to this matter.
I do appreciate that you have previously received a response to this matter therefore I must refer you to BT's terms and conditions for telephone service - [URL="wlmailhtml:{FD8A2366-2BD8-41D8-A169-1AC744743AB9}mid://00000002/!x-usc:http://www.bt.com/termsandconditions"]www.bt.com/termsandconditions[/URL]. Please see below an extract from the terms and conditions, which clearly states that all prices are subject to change, providing that we notify all our customers in advance;
"Some of our Calling Plans or Special Offers are not applicable to some lines and services. All rates detailed below are inclusive of VAT, unless otherwise stated and all prices are subject to change. BT reserves the right to withdraw any Calling Plan or Special Offer at any time."
"Line rental - From 1st April 2009, we are changing our standard line rental price to £12.50 a month (from £11.50). However you can reduce your monthly line rental by £1.25, to £11.25, by opting for paper-free billing if you are still getting a paper bill, and paying your bill by Direct Debit. To change to paper-free billing, visit [URL="wlmailhtml:{FD8A2366-2BD8-41D8-A169-1AC744743AB9}mid://00000002/!x-usc:http://www.bt.com/paperfree"]www.bt.com/paperfree[/URL]. Excludes BT Basic, Light User Scheme, In-Contact Plus and Pay & Call customers."
I have since written to say:
As per your terms and conditions I will be moving my service to another provider with no cancellation fees as per terms and conditions paragraph 6.3 (b)
"If the Customer or BT ends the Contract during the Minimum Period the Customer will pay BT the early termination charges set out in the Contract. This clause will not apply if: the Customer gives notice to end the Contract within three months of BT notifying the Customer of an increase to the charges or changes to the Conditions in either case to the Customer's significant detriment"
Any thoughts on where I stand?
0
Comments
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BT are just putting their prices up. Just a standard price increase.
This affects everyone even those not in a contract with BT.£2 Coins Savings Club 2012 is £4
.............................NCFC member No: 00005.........
......................................................................TCNC member No: 00008
NPFM 210 -
Depends i guess on whether its to your "significant detriment"0
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Well I do think it is to my detriment as the price is going up, I already pay £14.14 inc vat per month for line rental for evening and weekend plan so this will go up to £15.14 per month, which is more than all other customers on this plan. The price wont go down as I got a special offer on their connection fee. Well I will fight them to get this sorted.0
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That unfortunately won't be considered detriment enough for you to cancel the contract, because what your saying is that companies can't increase prices if you have a contract with them, when it is to have a package at its normal price not a specific price.scotlad1980 wrote: »Well I do think it is to my detriment as the price is going up, I already pay £14.14 inc vat per month for line rental for evening and weekend plan so this will go up to £15.14 per month, which is more than all other customers on this plan. The price wont go down as I got a special offer on their connection fee. Well I will fight them to get this sorted.
It also wouldn't be considered significant detriment as the increase is £12 per annum (not taking into account the increase of the evening and weekend plan) and you would have prove that the detriment was significant enough to be able to cancel the contract, which would be pretty much impossible as the increase is just £0.0328p per day.If saved £2710 and only spent the interest (Based on a return of 5%), you would have enough money to pay your TV Licence every year. Saving you £7452.50 over a period of 55 years, based on you buying a license from the age of 20 until your 75 at a cost of £135.50.0 -
BT have contacted me and they are waiting on their legal team deciding whether i can or not.0
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scotlad1980 wrote: »BT have contacted me and they are waiting on their legal team deciding whether i can or not.
Sky do this each year with their TV packages and have a similar clause in the contract that allows them to do so... in fact so does my gym membership!
I'll be shocked if you get anywhere however please do keep us posted!0 -
Well I have had a decision from BT and they have agreed to let me go with no penalty.0
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BT are hard work, however, if you keep at them they eventually listen. My experience is that a number of years ago they were sending me bills that didn't add up. On challenging this they fought me for almost 6 months, in one case taking 11 attempts to get me a correct paper bill. It seems the printer in Sunderland had a fault and everyone in the north of England and Scotland were being sent illegal bills. (based on arithmetic law ... Surveyors will know what I mean)
Just goes to show no one checked ... It might only be out by 3p but added up the shareholders were having LOADS of champers on the great british public.0 -
Glad you got sorted scotlad....
I assume most people saying that you "wouldn't be allowed to cancel under that contractual term" are just giving their opinion based on no experience or knowledge whatsoever....
It may well only be £1 a month, but £1 a month on top of £12 per month is over 8% which could be considered "significant detriment".
I'm surprised they didn't try lying to you to keep you from cancelling, but obviously they realised they didn't have a leg to stand on....0
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