We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

TalkTalk application hassle

niklis
niklis Posts: 20 Forumite
in Broadband & internet access
Hi,

I just applied for a TalkTalk (Free Broadband + UK and Int.Callers) package. In order to get the application started, the helpdesk told me to apply for a landline with the BT, as they can not set it up. After my successful application at the BT, I called TalkTalk to start the application with my given number, as they said, they i will be "switched over". This week I received a letter from BT, that I am not under contract, and they will charge me the remaining fee of the contract, if i quite earlier.
I called talktalk to ask, if they will take the charge for me, as they advised me to apply at BT. But of course they did not..
So well, having now a BT line, makes talktalk not attrative anymore. I will properbly cancel the talktalk application and simply choose a standalone braodband provider. Now, before I will do that. Is there anything special, what I need to take into account, as I have no MAC code, because this is my first connection.
Alternatively, is there any way, I can cancel BT without being charged?
Many thanks
«1

Comments

  • normanmark
    normanmark Posts: 4,156 Forumite
    No you wont be able to cancel the BT service without a charge. Whilst Talk Talk told you to get a BT line you should have made yourself aware of the terms & conditions of getting BT to connect a line for you. The question I would be asking is why cannot Talk Talk do this for you? Why go through another company?

    Regarding broadband, a MAC is only applicable to a line that already has a broadband service. As yours currently doesn't all you need to do is approach any provider & they can get it installed on there in 5 working days :)
  • niklis
    niklis Posts: 20 Forumite
    The TalkTalk customer service told me to apply via BT, because they can not activate the line. BT has to do that.
  • DatabaseError
    DatabaseError Posts: 4,161 Forumite
    niklis wrote: »
    The TalkTalk customer service told me to apply via BT, because they can not activate the line. BT has to do that.
    yes, Bt has to activate the line, if you chose to then give the line to another telco provider, expect BT to be upset, and to charge a cancellation fee, seems quite reasonable to me...
    Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant.
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    niklis wrote: »
    The TalkTalk customer service told me to apply via BT, because they can not activate the line. BT has to do that.

    This is bullsh!t1, they could request that BT Openworld do the work in exactly the same way that BT Retail does, however TalkTalk choose not to and expect their customers to pay!
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
  • normanmark
    normanmark Posts: 4,156 Forumite
    niklis wrote: »
    The TalkTalk customer service told me to apply via BT, because they can not activate the line. BT has to do that.

    Talk Talk can activate the line, its just they choose not to as its not financially beneficial to them.
  • TalkTalk
    TalkTalk Posts: 1,948 Organisation Representative
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Hello niklis,

    I am sorry that you feel that TalkTalk have mis-lead you however it is not for TalkTalk to advise you of BT`s T&C`s as we have no ownership over them however it would have been nice if the sales agent advised you that there would be some sort of a contract term.

    We don't provision new lines and in order for a customer to take a TalkTalk service they must have a working/active BT line, this is why you were asked to go to BT.

    Regards
    “Official Company Representative
    I am the official company representative of Talk Talk. MSE has given permission for me to post in response to queries about the company, so that I can help solve issues. You can see my name on the companies with permission to post list. I am not allowed to tout for business at all. If you believe I am please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com This does NOT imply any form of approval of my company or its products by MSE"
  • cajef
    cajef Posts: 6,283 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    TALKTALK_SUPPORT wrote: »
    I am sorry that you feel that TalkTalk have mis-lead you however it is not for TalkTalk to advise you of BT`s T&C`s

    Your company know that BT will charge a cancellation fee, if you are advising people to get a BT line and then transfer to your company you should inform them that BT will apply charges if they leave immediately after getting a line installed, by not telling them you are deliberately misleading customers that know no better, it is just shoddy and downright misleading salesmanship.
  • billsavings
    billsavings Posts: 2,015 Forumite
    cajef wrote: »
    Your company know that BT will charge a cancellation fee, if you are advising people to get a BT line and then transfer to your company you should inform them that BT will apply charges if they leave immediately after getting a line installed, by not telling them you are deliberately misleading customers that know no better, it is just shoddy and downright misleading salesmanship.

    They Talk Talk seem to do it quite a lot.EG:

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=907077

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=888103

    Perhaps MSE might care to spell this out when he promotes the service as the best buy.
  • billsavings
    billsavings Posts: 2,015 Forumite
    TALKTALK_SUPPORT wrote: »
    We don't provision new lines and in order for a customer to take a TalkTalk service they must have a working/active BT line, this is why you were asked to go to BT.

    If you can do it for Home Movers why not new customers?

    http://www.talktalkmembers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40
  • Dick_here
    Dick_here Posts: 1,605 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I certainly wasn't aware that BT would charge me for leaving them when I switched to talktalk. It would be nice if that was mentioned as a possibility by talktalk somewhere !
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.7K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 601.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.6K Life & Family
  • 259.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.
Update Your Picture