Cancelling BT contracts

v5twiggy

Hi there

I have a bit of a problem. I moved into a new flat at the end of last year and got a BT phone line nd broadband service installed. Unfortunately I have been made redundent in the past few weeks and can no l onger afford the monthly outgoing for these services and have requested that they be cancelled. Bt informed me that I entered into a verbal 18month contract at the time of taking the services (which I have no recollection of) and that I have to either continue paying monthly or pay a final bill which is hundreds of pounds. I simply cant afford to do either and I am at my wits end trying to work out what to do. I am financially crippled at the moment and they dont seem to care that I have no money to continue paying the,m. I have to add here that My account is up to dat in terms of what I have already paid for.

Please help

macman

Unfortunately you would have agreed to a 12 or 18 month contract when you signed up. The termination fee will be the total of the sum you would have paid until the end of the contract, so terminating will not save you any money overall. Did they offer you the option of downgrading your call and broadband package to a cheaper one maybe?

Buzby

It's cold comfort to know that a contract brings responsibilities on both sides, and whilst I can readily accept that at the time you took out the arrangement you had every intention of completing it, that doesn't hold much water when you try and get of of a minimum term commitment. Incidentally, you didn't have a 'verbal' contract - is is BT's full standard terms and conditions which by arranging and paying for the service initially, you agree to be bound by the terms of service, not just for the phone line, but the broadband commitment also.

The only solution is to try to downgrade any and all services to the lowest possible level to reduce the commitment to the cheapest proce possible - not ideal, but that's the whole thing about contracts. They have their own range of 'gotchas' and it is better NOT to enter into them unless you can ensure the minimum term periods can be met.

clickclash

macman wrote: »

Unfortunately you would have agreed to a 12 or 18 month contract when you signed up. The termination fee will be the total of the sum you would have paid until the end of the contract, so terminating will not save you any money overall. Did they offer you the option of downgrading your call and mobile broadband package to a cheaper one maybe?

This really is your only option, you could also explain your circumstances to them and try to develop a payment plan that would help you long term, they arent monsters and might be able to help you if you ask.

PNPSUKNET

With the climate the way it is, providers including gas & electric has a social responsability to help vunerable customers. Try to agree something with them, golden rule do it in writting and always send via recorded del

Buzby

PNPSUKNET wrote: »

With the climate the way it is, providers including gas & electric has a social responsability to help vunerable customers.

They have 'social' tariffs for that. This discharges their liability, and everyone else has to PAY regardless! BT are now wanting evidence of DWP benefits before they'll consider a change.

Dan_Appleby

I sympathize... I am in a similar situation and have a potential £165 charge to pay out.

My question is... If you downgrade to a cheaper package, does that then start a new minimum 12 month contract?