BT Late payment charge (merged threads)

jet_pack234

Do people still get their red reminder through the post, I had a call from BT the other day reminding me to pay the bill and that this phonecall replaced the old red reminder. Needless to say I forgot about it and have been charged £5 for late payment. Atleast I could pin the red reminder up and I'd have to look at it everyday.

I have now gone on direct debit to avoid this massive charge in relation to the cost of my calls!

ahrimaniac

'I have now gone on direct debit to avoid this massive charge in relation to the cost of my calls!'

I find this a bit...odd. You get the original bill every quarter, usually around the same time of the month. Why not stick that to the fridge? Or, failing that, stick the reminder bill that gets sent out after two weeks?

I don't think a £5 charge after two bills and a phone call is that excessive, esp. as it is in your contract to pay your bills within a reasonable time.

jet_pack234

Thats just it I dont get a reminder any more - just the phonecall

ahrimaniac

BT send out a yellow reminder bill two weeks after payment, I'm sure of it - I got one myself when I moved house and lost my bill!

gordon74

I don't think a £5 charge after two bills and a phone call is that excessive, esp. as it is in your contract to pay your bills within a reasonable time.[/QUOTE]


Do you work for BT by any chance?? A company who made .. and I quote... " BT's profits up 5% at £2.18bn " Check out this link......!

http://www.channel4.com/news/content/news-storypage.jsp?id=1247866

ASK FOR THE MONEY BACK OR SOME FREE CALLS. BT MIGHT BE BIG, BUT THERE ARE STILL ALTERNATIVES TO EVEN THEM. JUST REMIND THEM OF IT.
:wall:

Go to direct debit as you say and sign up online for paperless bills aswell. You can access all your accounts in one place. I have 3 accounts and can access them all at anytime, see calls to date etc etc. !!!!, now it sounds like I work for BT...:D

ahrimaniac

Don't work for BT, but I don't immediately think they're being a rip-off when they charge an admin fee after three attempts to get money for services provided.

They're a business, after all.

ahrimaniac

'Go to direct debit as you say and sign up online for paperless bills aswell.'

Direct debit is also cheaper.

crossleydd42

Those signing up with BT for direct debit get £1 per qtr off the rental, so after five quarters, you'll have got your £5 back! And they still don't take your money until about three weeks after you've received the bill.

gt94sss2

jet_pack234 wrote:

Do people still get their red reminder through the post, I had a call from BT the other day reminding me to pay the bill and that this phonecall replaced the old red reminder. Needless to say I forgot about it and have been charged £5 for late payment. Atleast I could pin the red reminder up and I'd have to look at it everyday.

BT started replacing the paper based Red Reminder with telephone calls a couple of years ago.

They also introduced a late payment charge in January 2005.

I have now gone on direct debit to avoid this massive charge in relation to the cost of my calls!

BT's T&C do say that "The Red Reminder will include a message forewarning customers of a charge as a result of late payment." and if they didn't warn you - you could dispute the charge but is it really worth it? (assuing they didn't warn you, that is)

Also, you have also saved yourself £12/year by changing to direct debit.

Regards
Sunil

gt94sss2

crossleydd42 wrote:

Those signing up with BT for direct debit get £1 per qtr off the rental

Its a £1 per month reduction if you pay by line rental.

Regards
Sunil

clark1982

I work for BT. Just to confirm that once the payment due date is passed, BT will make a courtsey call asking for payment. if their unable to get a response, they will send a reminder by post. You then have 10 days (not working days) to make payment, after payment due date. if payment is still not received on the 11th day they will raise a £5.00 late payment charge (LPC). Should you the set up a direct debit, BT will waive the LPC. I would assume that the LPC has not yet been raised, unless the payment was received after the payment due date + 10 days...