BT charges after Calling Plan expiry

dauphin

My BT Unlimited Anytime plan ends on 19 February and I phoned them today to tell them that I don't wish to renew it. I told them I want to move to the cheapest plan which doesn't involve a 12 month contract, which they said would be the Weekend plan as it can be cancelled without notice.
The customer representative noted my instruction not to renew the contract (and gave me a reference as proof) but said I cannot ask to go onto the Weekend plan until the day after my Anytime contract expires, so I have to phone them again on or after 20 February to request that. In the meantime, I will be charged £5.99 per month for Anytime calls once the contract has run out.
I wonder by what right BT consider they are entitled to place me on their uncontracted Anytime plan when I have specifically told them in advance that I do not want this. Although the cost amounts to only 20p per day, this is not something I have agreed to and by placing the onus on me to phone again after 20 February they are obviously hoping that I will forget to do so.
At best I think this is very sharp practice and at worst it's quite possibly unenforceable, though without delving into the small print of the current contract I can't be sure.
If I have been correctly advised, then anyone who decides they do not wish to renew their Anytime contract should be aware that they will have to phone twice - once before expiry to stop it renewing, and again after expiry otherwise they will still be kept on an Anytime plan and will actually be paying more than before. Another money-grabbing wheeze from BT!

Heinz

Sounds like you got one of BT's "can't be arsed" employees who decided it was easier to make something up than actually deal with your request.

utilitybroker

Heres what the T&C say.

"At the end of each 12 month minimum period the contract will be automatically renewed for a further 12 month minimum period unless you tell us otherwise before the renewal date. We will write to you the month before the renewal date to remind you of this. You cannot downgrade during the minimum period or any renewable minimum period. 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 £8.00 for each month left of the minimum period.

If you do not wish to renew this deal, all you need to do is let us know before the renewal date. If you choose not to renew your contract with us, at the end of your contract you will then start to pay the standard monthly price for the Unlimited Anytime Plan, currently £17.53 per month including line rental if you pay by Direct Debit or monthly payment plan and opt for paper-free billing, and the standard monthly price for Friends & Family International, currently 99p a month."

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

dauphin

Thanks for setting out the T&Cs for me. So on the face of it, what I was told is supported by the T&Cs.
In other words, the 12 month contract includes a provision that after it's over, you do not revert to the payment basis you were on before, but you are left on an inclusive tariff until you take the initiative to change it.
Very sharp practice I would say, and I question the enforceability of such a term when the customer is given no clue unless he/she actually reads the T&Cs that the 12 month contract purports to have a sort of "life after death".

iniltous

Im at a loss to see what the problem is, you takeout a 12 month anytime calls contract, you obviously dont like the rolling contract part, but you must have been aware of it as you call BT close to the expiry of the 12 month period and tell them you dont want the contract to renew but want to go on a non contract call plan ( the free weekend call plan) the BT person says that although you have advised them not to renew the anytime plan you will have to call back after the 12 month date to move onto the weekend plan, the call to BT is free.
Your complaint seems to be that BT wouldnt diary the fact that on the day after the 12 month deal expires you want to move onto a different plan, perhaps whatever systems BT employ dont allow things like this to be done or perhaps the BT CSR couldnt be ar*ed, but all you have to do is on the 20th of Feb is make another free call to BT and ask to be moved onto the weekend call plan,
Better this than them moving you on the date you originally callled, then charging you for breaking your minimum term contract and charging you a penalty fee,