MSE News: BT cuts 'free' evening calls by one hour

Heinz

Exofthecity wrote: »

I am doing what seems logical to avoid the extra costs.

Welcome to the MSE forums Exofthecity.

Do you use 18185?

Searcher2

I have just got the email from BT. I now want to pull out of my recently renewed contract with them mainly because of the sneaky way the off peak times change is put at the end of the email.

Looking at the T&Cs here :

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2239549

I have 10 days to tell them I want to get out of their contract. The thing is that I want to go to O2 (I am a broadband customer). I guess I have to give them notice within the 10 days and then go onto the normal BT rental until O2 can connect me (earliest March 1st)?

EIT : Giving notice within 10 days is only in their own T&Cs. I doubt it would stand up legally. For instance it is not fair on anyone who is away on 2 weeks holiday. When mobile companies change their contracts then I am not aware of any such tight deadline to notify them of cancellation of contract.

Justino_2

I have just had a call from BT following my email to them that I wanted to cancel early.

As well as pathetically trying to justify the change in times, they have said that if I cancel early I will have to pay upto the end of the contract (9th June).

I kept saying I was materially disadvantaged but she just ignored me. Now I have the relevant clause (48) from the T and C's I will contact them again, but the account section on their website is down at present.

As I make most of my calls between 6 and 7pm then I am disadvantaged, but does anyone know the legal definition of materially disadvantaged? Also if I tell them I want to cancel (must do it within 10 days), can I specify an end date so that I am not without a phone until I can sort out another provider (want to wait for O2 in March).

Searcher2

If you only make one call between 6 and 7pm per month then you are disadvantaged if you don't make any between 6am and 7am.

I don't see how they can get out of it. You agreed to a 12 months contract with them and they have changed the conditions and broken the contract. I certainly would have had second thoughts about renewing for another 12 months if I'd known it was going to be 7pm to 7am off peak.

I'm going to apply to cancel just for the hell of it.

I once had BT ISDN fitted (in the days before broadband) and was told as long as I had it 12 months then there would be no charge for disconnection. I had it 18 months and moved house. They charged £50 disconnection fee. I told them I was told there was no fee if I had been with them for over 12 months and they said that was the case but the T&Cs had changed in the meantime.

Since that time I have never used BT for anything other than the landline rental and have promoted the use of 18185 to others to make sure BT lost more than the £50 I believe the robbed from me.

Now it looks like I'm going the whole hog. :j

Justino_2

I would have thought this would have had more coverage on TV by now.

digp

Mark_In_Hampshire wrote: »

Strictly speaking - if you don't agree with the change to the terms, you offer the supplier the opportunity to continue to supply you on the previously agreed terms. The supplier can then choose to do so, or to discontinue the contract.

I wonder if challenged in court whether a court could be persuaded to order specific performance of the agreed contract NOTWITHSTANDING the apparent clause which allows them to alter a contract as they see fit.

digp

Email ian.livingston bt.com replacing the space with an @

he is the ceo

digp

Is a customer on the Anytime package disadvantaged by this?

mike_the_bike_2

Well thats it..all over..the final nail in the coffin for BT with my custom..playing silly beggers with this change to 7.00pm for free off peak calls off to o2 line rental

over and out BT

Searcher2

mike_the_bike wrote: »

Well thats it..all over..the final nail in the coffin for BT with my custom..playing silly beggers with this change to 7.00pm for free off peak calls off to o2 line rental

over and out BT

I am seriously considering going to O2 (customer service very good) but 0845 and 0870 numbers aren't included in their off peak package (with BT they are) and CLI is an extra bringing the line rental to roughly the same amount as BT. It's also a bit more hassle using 18185 with other providers in that you have to ring an 0808 number first and then your number - whereas with BT you just prefix with 18185 (so you can program numbers into your phone).

O2s all inclusive service is cheaper than BT though.