BT aggressive behaviour ?

squeek

Bt is not what they used to be.
now they keep threatening to cut us right off.
we have been restricted, this keeps happening.
they dont appear to have any patients anymore.
we regulary make small payment through the year but still
they want a large payment each time.
the latest bill payment was due on 22 dec.
a few years ago they would have been more helpful about it,
now we find them ruthless from the indian call centres.

any one else notice this and can anything be done about it ?
also does anyone know a cheap directory enquirey number, weve been using 118247, on average = 75p a call.

brettcta

cheap directory enquiry number = google

i'm not sure what the rest of your post says though.

you're annoyed that bt are getting arsey with you because you're not paying your bills on time?

squeek

we pay on a card each week.
BT used to give more time, but since we have had to deal with india, they put the screws on.

brettcta

i see

we are in a recession, people want their monies quicksmart

mazza111

So is the amount you pay on the card each week not enough to cover your bill? I can't see them putting you on a restricted service unless you owe them money.

dehaani

squeek wrote: »

any one else notice this and can anything be done about it ?

I've noticed that BT don't even try to be competitive. People go with BT because it's what they know and trust, I think some people assume that leaving BT is complicated.

What can be done? Leave BT.

Browntoa

as the earlier question, are you in arrears with the regular payments and are they not covering the total bills wen they come and the amount growing ??

free enquiries

http://www.thephonebook.bt.com/publisha.content/en/search/residential/search.publisha

and business

http://www.thephonebook.bt.com/publisha.content/en/index.publisha

www.yell.com

www.scoot.co.uk

Smiley_Mum

One thing I've noticed about BT too is that when they do their unsolicited calling to quiz you about broadband, plans etc etc they are sooooo keen to know who you put your calls through. If I wanted to change who I was with, I would have done long ago. I'm happy with who I put my calls through and won't be changing. When I told the guy how much my last phone bill was he didn't believe me. He got really annoyed when I wouldn't tell him who my calls went through, why should I. I just BHWB and he got so annoyed he practically hung up. I know he's only doing his job but how many times do I have to tell BT that I'm not interested in changing my plan or taking anything from them. They keep calling and they get annoyed when I tell them I'm not interested.

mikey72

I never use directory enquiries. If you have broadband use 192, or yell.

jb66

If you cant afford the calls, dont call, use a thing called yellow pages. There quite within there right to ask for you to pay for calls that you've made.

Mark_In_Hampshire

Even if a company is supposed to be sympathetic to those for instance who have accrued a debt and need some time to pay it off, there is a difference between that and accepting part payments all the time on a regular basis which don't cover bills.

I think in the past when BT was a state owned company special terms might have applied e.g. to the elderly; for those for whom a telephone is deemed "essential". However in today's privatised world, telephones are not essential things and are subject to the same approach as anything else - don't pay, don't get - these are private companies.

BT do have a social tarriff called "BT Basic" which I believe is for people in receipt of benefits. Perhaps BT can confirm whether you could have that?

Next, you're paying extra to BT because you won't allow them open access to your bank account by having a direct debit (they take the money from you, rather than you pay them).

This is entirely sensible - it's better to pay the extra charges and avoid direct debit every time no matter which company it is, and most especially with phone companies some of whom are not noted for the accuracy of their billing. In the long term paying by direct debit can be an expensive way to pay.

However this is adding to your bill each time, and you could get rid of that extra charge by changing your line rental to the Post Office who do not insist on open access to your bank account else adding a disproportionate, usurious charge.

Next, as another poster says, use www.192.com instead of phoning directories - another saving.

I don't know whether you hand a broadband connection (or a dial up) but if you have broadband with BT, you can get that cheaper elsewhere too. Perhaps if you reply on that people can help you there. Changing the line rental to the post office doesn't mean you can't have broadband.

If you don't have broadband at home and thus don't need the phone line for it, you might consider a Pay as you Go mobile instead, for which there is no "line rental" - you just pay for calls. Whether this is cheaper will depend on who you call and how often. It does however have the benefit that you cannot get "into debt" - if you don't top the phone up you won't be able to use it.

A few options there, let us know what might work for you and people could guide you further.