BT Calling Plans Rip-Off ?

Nashboy123

I am currently contracted into the BT Unlimited Evening and Weekends calling plan. The cost is free except for the usual £11.25 monthly line rental fee and the contract ends on 5 November 2010.
I was recently attracted to the BT Unlimited Anytime plan at an extra cost of £4.95 per month. But, on making enquiries with BT about how I could do this I was told that I could not do it without incurring a penalty charge of £7.50 per (plus VAT) for each unused month of the 12 month contract. That is, it would cost me a penalty charge of around £95 to upgrade the calling plan.
Needless to say I told BT to leave everything as it now stands, and I will definitely be looking elsewhere from next November. Considering I also have BT Broadband as well, BT will lose a lot of business from me.
I know the term "Rip Off Britain" is often quoted but this seems a ridiculous way of doing business.
Has anyone else had a similar experience

DonnyDave

More or less all landline telephone services have contracts lasting 12 months or more. Whilst that's bad enough, I'm concerned that you cannot even upgrade to a higher priced tariff whilst in contracted to a lower priced tariff.

Heinz

I could swear (but can't find any link now) that upgrading a call plan is OK but downgrading is not allowed within the contract period.

Inactive

DonnyDave wrote: »

More or less all landline telephone services have contracts lasting 12 months or more. Whilst that's bad enough, I'm concerned that you cannot even upgrade to a higher priced tariff whilst in contracted to a lower priced tariff.

Not all, mine is a 30 day contract.

gt94sss2

Heinz wrote: »

I could swear (but can't find any link now) that upgrading a call plan is OK but downgrading is not allowed within the contract period.

You would have thought so as it appears logical - and I recall it being the case previously.

However, looking at the current BT Price list, it states:

2. Customers may not upgrade to Unlimited Anytime Plan, within the 12 month initial minimum period or any renewal period, nor may they downgrade to Unlimited Weekend Plan.

here

Regards
Sunil

Le73Uq86Uv

Deleted post

DonnyDave

Le73Uq86Uv wrote: »

So BT T&C are turning away income.

I disagree with this statement. In general moving to the Anytime inclusive tariff will actually result in less income to BT.

If the cost of chargeable 01/02/03 (and 0845/0870) calls made is less that the price of getting all calls inclusive (£4.95) then the customer will be worse.

But, if the customer is making more than £4.95 worth of chargeable qualifying calls, then they will get better value and hence BT will receive less.

BT_company_representative

Hi folks,

I just want to clarify that if you are on the Evening and Weekend Plan 12 month special offer you can upgrade to the Unlimited Anytime Plan without incurring any penalty charges. This would entail a new 12/18 month contract. Please refer to the terms and conditions of service on bt.com for more information.

“If you would like to move onto the Unlimited Anytime Plan you may do so by taking up an Unlimited Anytime special offer or deal but a new contract term will apply. If you decide to end your contract within the 12 month minimum period, you will incur a single charge of £7.50 for each month left of the minimum period.”

Cheers

Shane.

JustPassingBy

gt94sss2 wrote: »

However, looking at the current BT Price list, it states:

2. Customers may not upgrade to Unlimited Anytime Plan, within the 12 month initial minimum period or any renewal period, nor may they downgrade to Unlimited Weekend Plan.

But at

http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/current/Cust_Opts_Res_boo/FrameworkImpl187873.htm#FrameworkImpl187873

2. Customers may not upgrade to the Unlimited Anytime Plan within the 18 month minimum period unless they start a new contract term with a special offer or deal, nor may they downgrade to the Unlimited Weekend Plan.

which is more in accord with the T&C for Calling Plans.

One despairs. A large multinational company which, with the all resources it has available, cannot even keep its key public facing documents consistent and accurate.

Ypaymore

The OP indicates he is on the 12 month E&W renewable contract ,so these T&C should apply.

" If you would like to move onto the Unlimited Anytime Plan you may do so by taking up an Unlimited Anytime special offer or deal but a new contract term will apply. If you decide to end your contract within the 12 month minimum period, you will incur a single charge of £7.50 for each month left of the minimum period."


http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/dynamicmodules/pagecontentfooter/pageContentFooterPopup.jsp?pagecontentfooter_popupid=24641#UEWP

JustPassingBy

Ypaymore wrote: »

The OP indicates he is on the 12 month E&W renewable contract ,so these T&C should apply.

The OP said:

I was recently attracted to the BT Unlimited Anytime plan at an extra cost of £4.95 per month.

and the advice received was correct.

If you would like to move onto the Unlimited Anytime Plan you may do so by taking up an Unlimited Anytime special offer or deal but a new contract term will apply. If you decide to end your contract within the 12 month minimum period, you will incur a single charge of £7.50 for each month left of the minimum period.

The "special offer", which does not appear to have been mentioned in the advice the OP received, is the way forward (as they say).