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BT costing me a fortune.

I have home 'phone and broadband with BT. I went with them because previously I had broadband with Orange, had an issue with the line, for which Orange (crap customer service) had to go through BT (also crap customer service and seemingly unwilling to look at a line problem for a rival).

Now, when I signed up for the package I signed up for the one that has a 10GB limit, costs £7.99 for the first three months and £15.99 thereafter on an 18 month contract. I didn't really pay much attention to the line rental, just went for the basic one, and the rep put free evening and weekend calls at no extra cost. Fine.

I wanted to put a bar on outgoing calls, and the rep told me this could easily be done using the included handset, so I was pretty surprised to find that when the router arrived, this option did not come with a handset. Then I received a bill for £18ish for the router. As the rep had told me this was free, I was quite annoyed by this. I have managed to bar outgoing calls, but found that it incurs a small monthly charge, which is pretty annoying. I have also realised that whilst the broadband was an 18 month contract, the line rental is 12, and has "rolled over" onto a new contract which now features evening and weekend calls at a monthly premium. I don't want these, as I only want the line for broadband.

Also, I have just received a bill which includes a 'payment processing fee' of £4.50 which has sent my anger levels through the roof. I believe the broadband contract runs out in April, and I am planning to switch to someone (anyone) else, but can I get out of the line rental or am I tied in for another 12?
Bank charges reclaimed:
£2160 - First Direct
£415 plus court fee - HFC Credit card
£409 + costs + 8% interest RBS Credit card
PPI reclaimed:
£12541.82 from First Direct.

Comments

  • ds-2010
    ds-2010 Posts: 27 Forumite
    More then likely held to term on the line rental. The rep is supposed to tell you this is a renewable contract. BT also send a letter towards the end of your contract telling you what you need to do if you don't wish to renew. I can only assume you ignored the letter.
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,128 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Calls are included on all BT line rental packages, you can't take line rental without an inclusive call package. There is no extra charge for this over the line rental itself.
    The 'payment processing fee' of £1.50pm can be easily avoided if you pay by monthly direct debit, as can the extra fee for paper billing if you accept online billing.
    All these terms are clearly indicated on the BT website.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • you can have BT line rental without calls. That's what I've got. My calls are with Tiscali
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,128 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    frames1_uk wrote: »
    you can have BT line rental without calls. That's what I've got. My calls are with Tiscali

    Yes, but the price you pay BT includes the basic call package, you can't opt out of calls and pay a lower line rental.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • heavy_t
    heavy_t Posts: 59 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    ds-2010 wrote: »
    More then likely held to term on the line rental. The rep is supposed to tell you this is a renewable contract. BT also send a letter towards the end of your contract telling you what you need to do if you don't wish to renew. I can only assume you ignored the letter.

    Didn't get a letter, still my fault though as I should have made a note of when renewal was coming up. Selling me a 12 month line rental and an 18 month broadband contract seems like a crafty way of ensuring that I have virtually no choice but to renew the line rental.

    Also going to have to bite the bullet on the payment processing fee as I don't think I can trust BT to be taking DDs from my account.

    Thanks for the quick replies. Think I will have to stick with them for line rental but change the broadband to much cheaper O2 unlimited when the time comes.

    Cheers

    Tom
    Bank charges reclaimed:
    £2160 - First Direct
    £415 plus court fee - HFC Credit card
    £409 + costs + 8% interest RBS Credit card
    PPI reclaimed:
    £12541.82 from First Direct.
  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 23 Forumite
    Regarding the Direct Debits don't worry too much as if any company takes a DD that YOU think is incorrect all you have to do is pop into your bank tell them you are invoking the direct debit guarantee and they are obliged to return the cash to you immediately. You can then take it up with the company directly yourself then. Not many people realise this is the case.
  • Jemma-T
    Jemma-T Posts: 1,546 Forumite
    Who else can supply your services? https://www.samknows.com/broadband/search.php
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