BT charging to leave please help!

LucyLu_75

Help! I have recently decided to move from BT to Sky for my home phone as they offer a lot more and customer service is 100% better. Sky sent a letter to BT (who i have been with for about 4 years) and they in turn sent a letter to myself advising there would be a £57 cancellation fee. I called BT and spoke to the scottish call centre who advised there was nothing they could do and put me through to their Indian call centre. I advised the operative of my concerns and that i have obviously been a customer for a while so i was not going to pay this and he advise i am on a AUTO-RENEWAL contract?!!?!?!!? And i have to pay this. I asked to speak to a manager to which he put me on hold for 10 mins and then i cut off.
I have no idea how i have an auto renewal contract? I didn't sign anything but they advised they sent me a letter which i don't remember?

Any advice on how i can not pay this fee?

Thanks

Mr_Oink

Simple - just don't pay them. IANAL but the 'Unfair terms of contract' rings a bell - but the square to that is 'ignorance to the law is no excuse'.

Ultimately charging you £57 -v- collecting it are two different things* Personally £57 to be shot of BT is money well spent. It will, most likely, be the last £57 they will ever take from you given that this will sour your relationship with them and mean you never spend money with them ever again. When will they learn that people don't do business with terrorists (that is, those companies that seek to hold customers hostage and demand a ransom to release them)?!

*There may be implications to your credit history and data if you fail to pay - this is commonly 'dodged' by shifting provider, then telling the previous provider to whom you owe money that you have moved (usually to a derelict or demolished physical address that exists in the Royal Mail database). I don't advocate this - but it is surprisingly common.

OldGreyFox

Amazing number of people who have the inclusive Bt Evening and Weekend Call package who say they are not aware their on a rolling contract.:)

If you do not wish to renew the rolling contract you just let them know before the renewal date, then your pay the standard monthly price for the Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan, currently £14.53 per month including line rental if you pay by Direct Debit or monthly payment plan and opt for paper-free billing, and you can leave a standard contract without any penalty.

McKneff

If you dont pay it, BT wont release it to Sky until you do, as far as I am aware.

Mr_Oink

McKneff wrote: »

If you dont pay it, BT wont release it to Sky until you do, as far as I am aware.

Pay it - take BT to Court for the £57 claiming 'unfair terms' ? Summons sent to Sir Michael Rake's posh mansion near Henley works rather well with BT disputes ;-)

OldGreyFox

Things will improve shortly http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2010/06/17/cheaper-charges-for-uk-consumers-to-end-phone-contracts-2/

Mr_Oink

So a BT exodus in October then ;-) I wonder if they will celebrate that at BT Towers too!

Steveseven

Mr_Oink wrote: »

Pay it - take BT to Court for the £57 claiming 'unfair terms' ? Summons sent to Sir Michael Rake's posh mansion near Henley works rather well with BT disputes ;-)

noted..