Free BT installation deal discussion

Ypaymore

Gnd wrote: »

Tried this and as I was on a 'present deal' couldn't have the benifit - lost temper - Got out of BT hold-in ('present deal') for £40, went with the Post Office at £107 line connection and £20 per month instead of £32 - a great saving in all and exactly the same (if not a little better) than BT.

Being MoD, I do this a lot and it gets very expencive - thanks GPO (or what ever they are called today)

Post Office Homephone is a 'white label managed service' supplied by BT .

Ypaymore

If the customer decides to end the BT free line connection contract within the 18 month minimum term, they will incur a single charge of £7.50(on the Unlimited Weekend and Unlimited Evening & Weekend plans) or £8.00(on the Unlimited Anytime plan) for each month left of the minimum term.

So if they took the service for say 12 months only they would have to pay a cancellation charge of £45/£48. Which of course is better then paying the normal 12 month contract connection fee of £125.;)

jshalk

I am moving home and have had a BT landline for the last few years. We wanted to simply transfer the account and then do the same with our o2 broadband (which has been brilliant, good quality and very cheap if you're on o2 already!) Toyed with the idea of going with TalkTalk but then heard others had had problems with their broadband quality and didn't want to sign up for 24 months if that might be the case!

After a few back-and-forths with the home movers team and customer service I established that we would be eligible for a reconnection fee of £122.50 (even if they just had to flick a switch remotely!) and wasn't too impressed as we figured it should be the job of the owner/estate agent!

However, thanks to the link on this site I found out about the free connection if you sign up for 18mths. The following ensued:

First call: the woman I spoke to told me that I would need a password to access my account (despite never ever setting one up!) and was unable to give me any hints as to what this might be...mother's maiden name etc. I was told that I could write to an address and request that they post me my password but I declined this. Part of the problem may have been that I initially asked about the offer and said that I wanted to sign up for it.

Second call: Spoke to someone in the sales department as that's where I was put through to. She transferred me and I asked if there was a password on my account as she had not needed one from me. She said that there definitely wasn't, so I took note of this! I then spoke to someone else who also asked for a password. I explained that I had never put a password on the account, and she instead took some of my other details: current address, postcode, name and date of birth. She then was able to put the order through with no problems. Had to make an appointment for an engineer to come out but that's normal.

When I politely questioned the 'password' issue she said that it was simply a security thing but it maybe hadn't been set up properly online. She advised me to email BT if I wanted to complain formally.

I have a feeling that BT may be advising its sales/home movers teams to try and put blocks in your path! If you need to ask to speak to their supervisor, then try, but don't be put off if they ask you for a password you don't have!

My order is now well on its way - took some hard work to get it, but hope this story helps some other people out - I'm very grateful to MoneySavingExpert.com for posting the offer - saved me a bundle!!!

Keep on saving, spenders! :rotfl:

Hawkman_2

Don't get ripped off!

Took out the free line rental + unlim evening and weekend plan after reading this article. after checking prices online and with a sales rep :
"
We are now routing you to one of our chat team...
info: You are now connected with Stephi
Stephi: Hi, my name is Stephi. I'm here to assist you with your BT order.
Stephi: How may I assist you with your order today?
dave: hello, If I take out a new phone line with the unlimited evening plan what will my monthly cost be?
Stephi: £11.25 a month line rental as the plan is £0 a month Dave. Did you want broadband with that?"

I expected to pay 11.25, however BT are billing me £14.20 and say this price doesn't show up in their systems. Indian support guy says their internet hasn't been updated with the uk server yet ( internet sent to them on a cd?) but I'm probably an illiterate liar who can't tell evening & weekend from weekend anyway.

Worst customer service ever. If you want to get this deal make sure you do it online as you'll have physical evidence of the price you've agreed on.

Thinking of going through the small claims court with this one, it's only £ 53 extra over 18 mnths and the court fees are £ 30 but I hate being scammed like this. any advice?

BT_company_representative

Hi Hawkman,
I will have a look at this for you. PM your account details and I will get back to you.

Thanks
Donna
BT Support

Guildford_Girl

I managed to get this connection with no problems, signed up to it on the 30th June, had the line installed on the 14th July.

Only thing i will say is be carefull about is i was not told that under this offer you have to make a minimum call usage within the months line rental you pay. I am paying monthly so have been told i have to make a minimum of 10 calls wether they are charged or inclusive in my plan it did not matter and if i didnt i would be charged around £10 per month ontop of my line rental. It is the same with quaterly bills you have to make 30 calls in the 3 months or get an extra charge ontop of your line rental.

I was not told this so just be aware other wise you may find your bill much higher than you were expecting !!! I found this out after getting a letter after the line was installed

sunnyd47

I think the basic problem with this offer is that no one person that you speak with or email knows exactly what the rules and requirements are.
I have been given contradictory advice and information on here by different BT reps that are supposed to be here to help.

To be honest, I am coming to the conclusion that people may as well pay the full fee for their installation and not have the worry or stress of having to remember certain restrictions and or numbers of call for fear of being charged.
The BT restrictions placed upon the "Free" installation offer are there to catch many out, people will be caught out after the first month or two when the euphoria of "Free" installation and its terms wear thin.

Norman-B

I must say, I am impressed that the BT AND TT reps seem eager to help with issues raised.

Portlandbill

Norman-B wrote: »

I must say, I am impressed that the BT AND TT reps seem eager to help with issues raised.

Not forgetting all the over regular helpful Telecom Posters.;)

Hawkman_2

phew!

Managed to get downgraded to the weekend unlimited plan for free, thanks to the BT company representative:T. As sunnyd mentions there's been some confusion surrounding this offer as the unlim evening and weekend plan is free online for old & new customers but apparently not free for those taking a new phone line. This is a bit strange since the wekeend plan is free for everyone. So make sure you know what you're getting and don't forget to about the 10 mandatory calls a month.