BT automatically renewing 12 month contract

OldGreyFox

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Sorry to disagree on this. In my mind a rolling contract is one which continues after an initial term, without a new contract period being imposed - a rolling contract would be a good thing.

This is what I would call an auto-renewing contract. It is surrounded by deceit - most notably telling the customer that it is rolling when it is auto renewing. It shows the depths to which BT have fallen that they do this sort of thing.

Where do BT call it rolling. They normally refer to it as a 12 month renewable contract.

OldGreyFox

Buzby wrote: »

If you have the free weekend calls only, you are NOT tied to 12 month rolling. challenge it - as you have to agree to Free Evening & Weekend before the lock-in applies.

I think Rikki was just asking for info,he didnt suggest he had been locked in.

DVardysShadow

OldGreyFox wrote: »

Where do BT call it rolling. They normally refer to it as a 12 month renewable contract.

It may not be BT who call it that in print. But it seems to be referred to as rolling, by anyone else - to the exclusion of any other terminology - so I take it that people are using the term that BT gave them.

And it is not just renewable, it is auto-renewing. Again, it is deceit to call it renewable, when it is auto-renewing.

want2bmortgage3

bt are still writing to me for £61.88 even though the line is now cancelled they want payment until late next year. i have phoned several times and the last time i was told someone would call me back after listening to the previous phone call where i was told that bt would possibly waver the charges as i'd already been a customer for a year before cancelling. anyone else having problems? they are saying i must pay immediately or the debt will be passed on to another company.

Mark_In_Hampshire

When we had a BT line we received the offer of free calls, read the terms, didn't like the look of the auto-renewing contract (we were going to change provider anyway) and ignored it. Nobody need sign up for the offer and the consequence of it was explained in the document sent out. I read it, so could everyone else.

That said, given the frequency of this type of complaint, I do wonder whether people are given the information clearly when agreeing to this offer on a new line (I'm thinking about the dates the OP quotes re: initial sign up and what tarriff the OP was placed on) or when upgrading by telephone.

I also find it midly endearing that people rely on the letter from BT to prompt them to cancel to avoid the auto-renewal rather than marking the date in their diary. Letters get lost in the post. Pass the date of renewal and that's the point of no return. Assuming you were made aware of the consequence of taking the reduced offer - and I stress that's what this is all predicated on - it's up to you to cancel, not BT to "offer" to let you cancel.

DVardysShadow

Mark_In_Hampshire wrote: »

I also find it midly endearing that people rely on the letter from BT to prompt them to cancel to avoid the auto-renewal rather than marking the date in their diary. Letters get lost in the post. Pass the date of renewal and that's the point of no return. Assuming you were made aware of the consequence of taking the reduced offer - and I stress that's what this is all predicated on - it's up to you to cancel, not BT to "offer" to let you cancel.

I don't think people do rely on BT to prompt them. I think they are largely unaware of what happens after the year and BT don't seem to go out of their way to inform people.

Beware of phone companies and utilities bearing gifts.

brewerdave

To be fair to BT (????) If you use their online facility it also reminds you that the date is approaching - I think I had a message at least a month in advance of the auto renewal.

BT_company_representative

Hi want2bmortgage3

I am sorry that you have not got the call back that you were promised. I can gladly look into your account and see what charges should have been raised on your bill to make sure they are correct. Please check under our profile were you will find our contact details. Please include your account details and your forum username when contacting us.

Regards David

ic

I recently signed my grandparents up to the free evenings and weekends package over the phone. The guy on the other end had to read a pre-prepared statement that left me in no doubt that the contract would renew after 12 months for another 12 months. I would say they couldn't make it any clearer.

mrtom21

You also get a letter confirming the package when you set up. If you didn't want a contract that automatically renewed you could have called to dispute it when you got the initial welcome letter.

People tend to ignore terms over the phone and not fully read welcome letters that are sent to them. Yet they are the first to complain when they don't like one of the terms of the agreement. I agree auto-renewing contracts are not exactly great business practice... but you had the option of just taking the weekend call plan without a renewing contract.