Ok, so BT cut my line - what are my options?

stevefaedundee

Basically, i had a landline with BT. they wrote to me telling me that my bill was overdue, and it would be cut off on saturday 2nd of may - i dont use the landline its only there as i need it to receive broadband so had no idea the bill was overdue. I had called a taxi on it the saturday 18th april and line was still ok. Usually if its overdue its barred outgoing for a good few weeks so that day i figured, cannot be due yet at least.

I recieved this letter for disconnection/termination of contract on the 25th april. later that night my net stopped working, called up o2 broadband and they told me it seemed like a fault on my BT landline. So i called BT and they tell me yeah, its been disconnected. I told them i couldnt afford to pay it today, i would next friday, and that was the 1st of may, it should still have been fine - that they were out of order for terminating my line.

Anyway a few calls and emails later ive got nowhere, this is the second time this has happened. first time they were very apologetic and sorted the matter. im sick of them, their CS is absolutely stinking....

BUT..... i cannot get virgin in my block, they arent allowed access for some reason. So what are my options? A wireless dongle is obviously one... but as to what else, im currently lost to what i can do, im not aware of any other options. A pal of mine has sky broadband along with the tv package, she terminated her landline with BT months and months ago but somehow her broadband still works, im absolutely mystified by this as apparently the line needs provisioned for broadband, hence they terminated my landline it screwed my broadband too....


Anyway, advice appreciated :beer:

penrhyn

You may not use your BT line for voice calls but unfortunately its still BTs line that you have to rent to get the service. Sounds like your past payment record has caused them to cease your line.
Mobile broadband would seem to be your only option.
With Sky you can pay line rental to them, as you can with other ISPs, you need to start from the position of having a BT line though.

stevefaedundee

They are tryin to say they sent out the wrong due date. as if.....someones botched up and they wont admit to it.

DatabaseError

I guess O2 are gonna chase you for the rest of their contract as well..
If you're on the LLU O2 broadband...and you're now considering mobile broadband, be prepared for a potential huge drop in speed...and a low usage allowance (or a large mobile bill)

Don't BT send out red reminders when bills are overdue (I honestly don't know...I use DD)

stevefaedundee

yeah, i should have got some kind of reminder too... apparently.

Guess im gonna just need to sort BT then, couldnt care less for companies chasing me, join the queue! just wondered if i had a choice elsewhere

bevvy

Maybe BT weren't so helpful as you've said this has happened before, I would have though they would have also sent a reminder for the bill before cutting you off.

stevefaedundee wrote: »

They are tryin to say they sent out the wrong due date. as if.....someones botched up and they wont admit to it.

looks to me that by not paying your bill, you're the one who's botched up.

stevefaedundee

No - the bill was not meant to be due. i had only paid the last quarter not long before.

The same thing has happened before. the reason they fixed it so easily is because they know they totally botched up. i had a dispute on the go and they had not got back to me, once they realised this it was put back on. i wasnt even due money.

This time, yeah ive been due it. times are hard and i recently lost my job - i would have paid it on the friday when i could have afforded to - i had no choice to pay it i didnt have the money - and i would have missed the termination date by a day. it would have been fine...

stevefaedundee

Like i say, i had no bill overdue letter, first one i got was termination for 2nd of may, received on the 25th of april. fine i thought, ahll pay it on friday... was too late by then. they've admitted someone botched up but wont do sod all about it

BT_company_representative

Hi stevefaedundee,

I know how annoying it can be when you line gets cut off, especially when its takes the internet with it! If you want I can take a look at this and see whats what.

Just drop me a PM with your telephone and account number and I'll get to the bottom of this.

Cheers

Craig
BT Support

robt_2

stevefaedundee wrote: »

So what are my options?

How about paying bills when they are due?

They don't disconnect you for not paying for a month, more like three months.

stevefaedundee

robt wrote: »

How about paying bills when they are due?

They don't disconnect you for not paying for a month, more like three months.

I paid my last bill around 6 week before i got that letter..... get the facts before trying to be a !!!!!! eh?