bt broadband - my father died and they still want outstanding money to cancel it!!!

justpeyton4now

Although it is not technically a complaint, I would contact BT's complaints dept. They often have the latitude to refund inappropriate charges, do a straight cancellation on the remaining term of a contract etc.

I think you should explain that your father was a pensioner, and did not have life insurance to leave his estate if that is the case. As your mother is also a pensioner, they may be willing to waive the payments for the remaining term of the contract which is not going to be used.

I'm sorry for the loss of your father. It's hard enough losing a parent and then having to deal with all the business decisions that have to be taken care of. Please let us know how it works out.

Debt_Free_Chick

sonyamac wrote: »

I am sorry but this is not a debt!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they want to charge us for services that wont be used.

It is a debt, in the sense that it's money owed due to a contractual commitment i.e. signed up for 12 months and cancelled after 6.

The outstanding balance is treated in the same way as a debt, so it depends on the money available in his estate. If there's sufficient money, then it ought to be paid. If not, then the executor should simply write back to BT and explain that there is insufficient in the estate to make the payment.

Alternatively, why not write to BT and ask if they will waive the payment, under the circumstances? The folk in the call centre probably don't have the authority to agree to this, so it may be better to do it in writing.

jackieb

I'm sorry about the loss of your dad. This is something you could do without right now.

Try e-mailing here... ben.verwaayen@bt.com

My mum is a pensioner and last year she got cold called and pestered by a phone firm. She ended up going with the new company as she didn't know how to say no (they were persistant!) She ended up getting a bill from £128 from BT for cancelling her contract early (she didn't know she was in a contract). I tried phoning customer services and didn't get anywhere. I was advised by someone on here to send an e-mail to the link i've posted as he's the CEO or something of BT. I said she was willing to go back to BT but we got it sorted out no problem and they waived the fee.

Try e-mailing and let us know how you get on. Appeal to their better nature and you never know. Good luck.

robt_2

jackieb wrote: »

I'm sorry about the loss of your dad. This is something you could do without right now.

Try e-mailing here... ben.verwaayen@bt.com

My mum is a pensioner and last year she got cold called and pestered by a phone firm. She ended up going with the new company as she didn't know how to say no (they were persistant!) She ended up getting a bill from £128 from BT for cancelling her contract early (she didn't know she was in a contract). I tried phoning customer services and didn't get anywhere. I was advised by someone on here to send an e-mail to the link i've posted as he's the CEO or something of BT. I said she was willing to go back to BT but we got it sorted out no problem and they waived the fee.

Try e-mailing and let us know how you get on. Appeal to their better nature and you never know. Good luck.

Don't bother doing that, Ben left BT quite a while ago now.

OP why do you have three accounts and why use them all on one thread?

Dylan1312

robt wrote: »

OP why do you have three accounts and why use them all on one thread?

OP only has one account, sorry didn't make it clear I am the OP's son and was checking the thread to see if anyone was able to advise. Thanks for the advice so far from various posters by the way.

Peter999_2

Just wanted to say, after reading all the above, how very sorry I am that you have lost your father. I can imagine what you are all going through and how this just doesn't help at all.

Yes, they should waive the bloody bill. I can't believe how insensitive they are, it beggars belief. I work for a company far bigger than BT, but selling similar contract type products.
I once had a phone call from a lady whose father had died, I was very sympathetic but didn't really know what to do. I put her on hold and spoke to my supervisor who asked me to put her through on a certain number.

I found out afterwards that this number was for a team who spoke to people in this situation. They had other work to do as well, but worked in their own room that was very quiet. They would arrange for the product to be immediately cancelled and were the nicest type of people you could meet, and would practically give them councilling over the phone if they thought it was required. There was no pressure on the amount of time they spent on the call.
I asked them if we held people into contracts as surely its binding even if you die, they just laughed and told me I have a lot to learn about life (I was very young) and that you just do not treat people like that. I've worked there over 20 years now, don't think I'd ever want to work anywhere else after hearing stories like this BT one.

moonrakerz

Peter999 wrote: »

I work for a company far bigger than BT,

I asked them if we held people into contracts as surely its binding even if you die, they just laughed and told me I have a lot to learn about life (I was very young) and that you just do not treat people like that.

Can you name this paragon of virtue ? Then we can all shift to this company for our services/goods, happy in the knowledge that any old sob story will get us out of our contract.

Drunkstar

I used to work for BT, when a berevement case came in we were allowed to waive the contract. I only left on the 1st of december...

Peter999_2

moonrakerz wrote: »

Can you name this paragon of virtue ? Then we can all shift to this company for our services/goods, happy in the knowledge that any old sob story will get us out of our contract.

When it is a death it is hardly a sob story. Can you let me know who you work for and I'll make sure I never buy anything from them?

loopy_lass

i beleive that you should send a letter to bt giving them the details of your solicitor and ask them to deal directly with them as you have enought to deal with at the moment, they should settle all debts on your (fathers) behalf without you worrying. thats what i did when my dad died, just refered everyone on to the solicitor.

hth loops