MSE News: BT accused of breaking rules on contract tie-ins

nzseries1

Mark_In_Hampshire wrote: »

When cancelling ALWAYS get confirmation in writing.

Nice in an ideal world, but I would bet a tenner that BT will refuse to do so.

curlygirl1971

I was given an 'order reference' number to confirm my cancellation....And I made a note of date/time/person.

Mark_In_Hampshire

Then send notice of your cancellation in the post by recorded delivery. For the cost of less than a pound it could save you a lot more.

I don't get why people are surprised that they're not receiving the "your contract is up for renewal" letters, or not receiving them in time. Your relative don't send you a reminder when their birthday is coming up (not normally, anyway!), yet most people remember birthdays, anniversaries and so forth or put a note in the diary.

While I don't condone for one moment the sharp/unethical paractice of telling people they'll get a letter and then not sending one: people need to take responsibility for their own affairs; if you let a company manage them for you then you can't really complain if it doesn't go the way you want it to.

curlygirl1971

Incidentally if you manage your BT account on-line you can now view and amend your call plan. When I go into mine its still showing as 'Evening & Weekend at No cost' .........so will go on and check on 25th (the end of the current contract period) and double check

Mark_In_Hampshire

emeraldbugle wrote: »

My contract auto-renewed last week. I never received any mail in January informing me of this. I have phoned and after a few arguments, they have put me on the same plan with no tie in, it costs £2.99 more. I am ready to go to O2 now.

If I hadn't managed to sort, would I have been able to cancel under their 7 day cooling off period on an auto renew contract?

No, those regulations do not apply. It isn't relevant whether you received the letter or not, the lock in applies the moment you pass the renewal date and had they not backed down you'd have been stuck for another year.

I_luv_cats

It is so annoying trying to find out answers.......
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumer/consumerProducts/pdf/UKInternationalprices.pdf

15th February 2010

Unlimited Anytime Plan
(12 month non-renewable contract) £53.34

Unlimited Anytime Plan at no extra charge £38.37
for the first 3 months (2)
(12 month renewable contract)

(2) No longer available for new supply

Contridicted by

Unlimited Anytime Calling Plan

FREE for 3 months


£4.99 a month thereafter
plus £11.54 line rental
(12 month contract)

Unlimited Anytime Plan 3 months free - Offer extended to 31st March. Available to eligible residential customers signing up for 12 months to the Unlimited Anytime Plan. Discount via bill credit. Line rental payable at £11.54 a month. Usual cost of Plan (£4.99 a month) applies from month 4. Costs quoted with Direct Debit and paper-free billing. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and may be withdrawn at any time. Exclusions and conditions apply.

forestlands

I received a call from BT, on the 16th Feb. 2010, said I could get my Broadband cheaper, I had been paying 60GBP a year more than other folk, my broadband speed was 1.5mb and my hub was outdated. I have refused to go onto a contract as BT's, broadband is approx 0.5mb, was hoping to get with another broadband provider!! Of course, was told I had been using the wrong speed check, when I said my speed was only 0.5mb.
When I asked for a refund of the extra I had paid, over several year, was told it was my fault I paid extra as I had refused to go on a contract! Concerned at paying so much extra I agreed. I live on a pension and have to watch the pennies - don't we all lol! . Would like to cancel as I felt I have been conned by BT - even if I have to go without a computer for a while. Have not received any communication from BT. what is my right to cancel am I too late?

BT has been charging 10GBP a month for BT Home IT Advisor, have to try and find out when they started to charge me for that, had that service for one month only when started with BT. Did try the service last summer and expected to pay a one off payment - no info. from BT. except that it did not appear when I queried a bill last November!

Queried a bill last Nov. when a very large bill, of 80+ GBP, came through. Was told they changed the way they charged and money was taken in advance - though it was because I phone my sons mobile and had not been charged the Family and Friends rate. Family and Friends was stopped in April 20009, I had not been told, it still shows up on bills!

Would be so nice if BT. had consideration for retired people who are doing their utmost to keep up with computing skills on a low income - many have family abroad who they have never seen, computers are a boon!

acc2007

I_luv_cats wrote: »

It is so annoying trying to find out answers.......
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumer/consumerProducts/pdf/UKInternationalprices.pdf

15th February 2010

Unlimited Anytime Plan
(12 month non-renewable contract) £53.34

Unlimited Anytime Plan at no extra charge £38.37
for the first 3 months (2)
(12 month renewable contract)

(2) No longer available for new supply

Contridicted by

Unlimited Anytime Calling Plan

FREE for 3 months

£4.99 a month thereafter

plus £11.54 line rental

(12 month contract)

Unlimited Anytime Plan 3 months free - Offer extended to 31st March. Available to eligible residential customers signing up for 12 months to the Unlimited Anytime Plan. Discount via bill credit. Line rental payable at £11.54 a month. Usual cost of Plan (£4.99 a month) applies from month 4. Costs quoted with Direct Debit and paper-free billing. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and may be withdrawn at any time. Exclusions and conditions apply.

BT no longer offer a renewable contract on the Unlimited Anytime calling plan it is for 12 months only.

The only renewable contracts are on the Unlimited evening and weekend calling plan.

The 3 months free offer is available by calling BT as it is been advertised on tv. The info you have pulled up might be reffering to ordering the deal on bt.com

Das_2

Good to see this is in the news! These renewable contracts are disgraceful! I received no letter or phone call and assumed I was on a rolling contract after the 12 months expired, like most other contracts!

I'm pretty angry at the moment, they want me to pay £73 for cancelling early but I've cancelled my direct debit and am fighting this one!

Das_2

Just received a call from the exec team already! Only emailed my complaint about 10 minutes ago.