BT Credit Checks

Vans_101

Hi there Money Saving Experts!

Ive been reading theses posts for a while now but I have not yet posted. Im having a problem with BT and I though I would ask here to see if anyone else has had the same problem.


I have telewest at the moment but I want to go back to BT so I can take advantage of Sky Talk. I called up BT last month and arranged an install and everything was all set. Didnt have to pay a penny to reconnect although they did perform a credit search. I got a call fom Telewest a few days later offering me the world to stay and they managed to match what I was getting so I though I might as well stay where I am seeing as I will be paying the same. Telewest got on to BT to cancel the transfer and that was that.

However, now Sky have come out with Broadband I want to definately switch now. So I called up BT and they started setting things up. They mentioned a credit search although I assumed they would have all my details from last month. They did another search and I was told I would need to pay a £50 deposit which I would get back after 12 months! I was a bit shocked as I hadnt applied for credit since the first time I called BT so I can only assume it was the fact they did another credit search which has affected things. I decided to think about it then came back half an hour later and said that I'd like to go ahead with the order and pay the £50 although I was told that BT would need to do ANOTHER credit search! I was told they dont keep the details of searches so they need to do another one. Im sure this was a lie as something as important as a credit search should be recorded somewhere. What happens if I had called up and then didnt have my debit card. They would have done another search. They dont seem to realise how important a credit score is and each time a search is carried out it is recorded.

I then asked my mum if I could put it in her name as she had the BT account before at that address for 32 years before we moved to Telewest and she was also asked for a deposit! They didnt even ask to speak to her. Im quite alarmed at the fact I was able to call up and run a credit search on someone else without them needing to speak to the person thats having the search!

Ive tried to complain to BT but they were not that helpful. Do you think I should complain to Ofcom about this. Surely they cant just run as many credit searches as they like on ppl? Has anyone else had this problem?

Heinz

Welcome (as a poster) to the MSE foums Vans_101.

Credit checks do not necessarily relate to your credit history - they relate to your available financial history.

An absence of same may be the problem.

normanmark

It also depends if you had any previous dealings with BT & there has been some financial issues

Vans_101

normanmark wrote:

It also depends if you had any previous dealings with BT & there has been some financial issues

My mother was a BT customer for 32 years and she was always in credit. we had quite a problem getting that back from BT when she cancelled. took forever. Also, I myself have a BT line in my flat in glasgow where i stay when Im at uni. I only set it up a few months ago but they didnt ask for any deposit then. Im not bothered at the fact I have to pay the £50 deposit. Im more concerned at the effect it will have on my credit score.