BT Rolling Contract problems.

shark_2

BT billing is an absolute minefield to encounter, i also received a letter from BT advising that my evening & weekend 12 month contract would be automatically renewed last month, no it wasn't so on the latest bill i was charged at the higher standard monthly cost. They have today refunded the incorrect amount billed, however i don't have any confidence in their systems as it has also taken them from May 2008 to resolve the issue of why the paper-free discount was not included on my account, and after every bill i always had to request that they refund the over-charge. BT customer service assured me that it was a technical error and the discount would be credited from the next billing quarter, its finally been actioned after 1 year. What is a concern is the numbers of other consumers who are being billed incorrectly so everyone please always check carefully every bill from BT.

Castle_Rock

So when you cancel your contract Im thinking u go on to the basic Plan, however is there a package where you get anything free, ie; free evening calls? Im sure I had this before my unlimited free evening & weekend 12 mth package.

Now im wondering if tehre is a better calls provider out there.

Heinz

Castle_Rock wrote: »

So when you cancel your contract Im thinking u go on to the basic Plan, however is there a package where you get anything free, ie; free evening calls? Im sure I had this before my unlimited free evening & weekend 12 mth package.

Most of us who use a CPS calls provider (i.e. have left our line rental with BT) stayed on the old Option 1 (now called the Unlimited Weekend Plan). That gives us inclusive UK 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 calls of up to 60 minutes each at weekends - handy for making the necessary 2 chargeable or inclusive calls per month to qualify for free Caller Display.

You have to remember to make one chargeable call per month though - or else you get charged for weekend calls.

Castle_Rock

cheers, suppose its just remembering to do that really. How much is weekend plan if u dont make that out of hours call do u know?

Heinz

Castle_Rock wrote: »

cheers, suppose its just remembering to do that really. How much is weekend plan if u dont make that out of hours call do u know?

I think it's the same price (the plan is free anyway) but you'd be charged 4½p/minute for weekend calls which would be inclusive otherwise.

marcosscriven

Just called to cancel BT line, as I've moved to Virgin Media cable service (inc TV/broadband/tel bundle). I never used the line for calls anyway, just for broadband.

The first call was horrendous - the woman on the other end just seemed hell bent on talking me into keeping it, when I've already got my VM connection up and running. Her policy was to just say something, anything, every time I simply said "please could I cancel my contract"

Then came the classic "oh, by the way you'll need to pay until Feb, as we automatically signed you up for a new 12-month contract".

Followed by the "well, it's in the terms and conditions sir"

Went ahead and cancelled, checked OFCOM website, and took advice to call back and complain.

Straight away another operator just simply waived the charges and apologised for any inconvenience.

Saved me £60 or so - but leaves a nasty taste. They shouldn't be allowed to try it on like that.

M

DVardysShadow

marcosscriven wrote: »

Just called to cancel BT line, as I've moved to Virgin Media cable service (inc TV/broadband/tel bundle). I never used the line for calls anyway, just for broadband.

The first call was horrendous - the woman on the other end just seemed hell bent on talking me into keeping it, when I've already got my VM connection up and running. Her policy was to just say something, anything, every time I simply said "please could I cancel my contract"

Then came the classic "oh, by the way you'll need to pay until Feb, as we automatically signed you up for a new 12-month contract".

Followed by the "well, it's in the terms and conditions sir"

Went ahead and cancelled, checked OFCOM website, and took advice to call back and complain.

Straight away another operator just simply waived the charges and apologised for any inconvenience.

Saved me £60 or so - but leaves a nasty taste. They shouldn't be allowed to try it on like that.

M

The consolation is that the mountain they have to climb to get a customer back is always at least as high as the mountain they make the customer climb to leave.

bagpuss

Just spoken to BT who have told me that I am on a rolling contract (never aware of this!) and would cost me £82.25 to leave them as the contract continues until next May. Nice to know Macrosscriven that you managed to get the charges waived - I am annoyed as we have been with BT for 10 years in this property and for 10 years before that and the treatment we have received at first contact leave has always been bad until you fight your way to the top so will be off to see what you found out with OFCOM. Thanks for the advice - any more greatfully recieved!

jamescarl88

Beedubya wrote: »

I see that I'm not the only one to suffer! How come BT can get away with breaching the terms of its own contract? Any solicitors out there?? They failed to send me a renewal letter; when I phoned, they said the contract had been renewed - but they failed to apply the credits; then they said they would credit me £13 - they didn't; they said they wouldn't direct-debit the whole bill amount - but they did. Why don't they issue corrected bills when challenged? They are now going to sit on money that they are not entitled to for another 3 months - then what?? The whole thing is a mess, maybe even a con trick. Anyone going to escalate this to the ombudsman, Office of Fair Trading, or some such?

Beedubya

Ive had a similar problem!! I called BT to cancel my phone and broadband agreement, however BT told me that my phone contract had automatically renewed, not just month by month like a mobile phone, for another 12 months!! this made me extremely angry. I received no letter stating the contract would be renewed but they insisted it had been sent and i could not pull out unless i paid over £85 (i cant remember the exact price) to buy myself out of the contract. Tonight my girlfriend (as i am to angry with the customer service and staff at BT :mad:) is going to call Virgin Media to see if they can buy us out.

I think regardless of whether it is a rolling contract there should still be a 30 day or at least 7 day cooling period to cancel!!!

I also believe customers should not have to let BT know whether we want to cancel the contact as it nears and end, we should only have to let them know if we want to renew the contract.

I don't believe BT are acting in the interest of their customers and they certainly dont have anything in place to protect their customers fair rights!!

brewerdave

Might be cheaper to keep phone until October as cancellation charges are to be reduced following intervention of OFCOM.