Changes to BT BB Cease Charges

Molescroft

WhoKilledBambi? wrote: »

"If a customer decides to cancel a broadband service ......... they may receive a ‘cease’ charge. This even applies if they have completed their contract. The company is passing on a charge which it has to pay, to BT Openreach. Ofcom’s final guidance is that a cease charge is probably fair, provided:

• the charge is made clear to customers before they sign on the line; and
• it’s based only on the actual costs that come with ceasing a service"

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/addcharges/pes_statement/

"Ending the service
When you end your broadband service and do not request and use a migration authorisation code (MAC) or another recognised transfer process to move to another service provider, you will have to pay a cease charge of £18.11 (£25 from 12th June 2009). "

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/dynamicmodules/pagecontentfooter/pageContentFooterPopup.jsp?pagecontentfooter_popupid=13408#TBST

My interpretation of the notification BT sent out is that it is a change to their terms and conditions and applies to all customers regardless of the terms in place when they signed up. If it had been part of the terms when I signed up then I would not have an issue with it now.

WhoKilledBambi?

Cease fee has been around in one form or another since May 2007, previous cease fee was £6 which was changed last year. This thread from October last year discusses last increase http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1251957 and the period when you could have left free of charge.
May well be cheaper to migrate with a MAC to a new ISP before you move house and take them with you to new property (providing they have a home movers facility).

djohn2002uk

If you are out of contract, migrate to the post office with a MAC for a month then cancel.

btemple

"If you are out of contract, migrate to the post office with a MAC for a month then cancel."

Can you please explain the reasoning behind this?

mrtom21

You just replied to something that's 7 months old :S. They probably don't even remember why they said that lol.

kwikbreaks

Presumably because migration to Post Office broadband is free (and hopefully doesn't involve any more than a monthly contract) and they don't impose a connection charge if you cancel.

I haven't checked any of that BTW.

mrJ_5

kwikbreaks wrote: »

... and they don't impose a connection charge if you cancel. ...

though they probably changed this policy by now, read the terms to check

djohn2002uk

Hmmmm, scratches head trying to remember.:o
kwikbreaks had the answer.............I think...:)

kwikbreaks

djohn2002uk wrote: »

kwikbreaks had the answer.............I think...:)

That's because I hold a first class honours degree in the !!!!ing Obvious (the reason not the idea which I thought was rather smart)