can BT do a credit check if i pay for services upfront

bobby140

i have just been on the phone to BT to have my line rental with them ( i am currently with sky) and i have HAD to give my permission for them to do a credit check on me and also to give them my permission for BT to enable them share that information with other companies, i HAD to give my permission or they wouldnt procede with the order. There are two things that have made me angry 1)why do they have to do a credit check when i will be paying the line rental by direct debit a month in advance, so if anything i should be doing a credit check on them, secondly i am lead to believe every time somebody carries out a check on you your credit rating goes down, in this case needlessly.
2) which other companies and what information are they sharing and are they getting a fee.
i have lived at the same address for 16 years and was previously with Bt for about 12 years of those 16 and i was never in debt to them.
what makes me angry was i was held to ransom, either i agreed or i didnt get the service i would like to know are they in their rights to do this ?

syko29793

BT and many other companies do credit checks before providing services.
The statement you were read by BT advisor is standard for all companies that do a credit check not just BT.
If it makes you feel any better the BT credit check only checks your name and if you owe BT any money elsewhere
The advisor placing the order sees nothing to do with your credit history they just get a yes or a yes with strings (deposit or payment in advance)

Drunkstar

bobby140 wrote: »

1)why do they have to do a credit check when i will be paying the line rental by direct debit a month in advance

But you dont pay your calls in advance on a standard line.

KimYeovil

You apply to a company for a service that carries the risk of hundreds of pounds of credit being spent and you think they should not make a check? Why is that 'needlessly'? You are not being 'held to ransom'. If you do not want credit checks to be made, do not apply for credit. They asked you for your permission in advance. What is your problem?