BT Disconnection Fee

Ladyhawk

I have just cancelled my broadband and telephone with BT, which in itself was more difficult than it need be.

Anyway - When I was talking to the lady on the phone she said that there is a £25 broadband disconnection fee for BT whether you are in contract or not.

Is this right???? It sounds outrageous and I am considering contacting a friend of mine who is a lawyer at the OFT to complain as well as OFCOM.

Surely this is patently unfair?!?:mad:

OldGreyFox

Its been the case since 2009 and is mentioned in the T&C . Its raised when you end your service and do not request a migration authorisation code (MAC) or another recognised transfer process to move to another service provider.The only exception to this increased charge is when they cannot provide a service to a new address if the customer is moving home.

They say its to cover the engineering work required in exchange.

Ladyhawk

How do I request a MAC then? and when in 2009 as I signed up with them in May 09.

Thanks

kwikbreaks

If they've processed the cancellation request (and that just means placed the works order) then it is too late to get a MAC otherwise you just ask for one instead of saying you want to cancel.

Ladyhawk

Hmm too late - I have cancelled this evening.

Surely they should have told me about this fee when I called them originally o discuss disconnection?

Anyway I have made a written complaint to them and will no hesitate to kick up a fuss about it.

Thanks for your help

Bogof_Babe

I don't understand this MAC code thing. Is it free to leave a service provider if you do request a code then? What's to stop someone requesting a code, whether they intend to use it or not?

brewerdave

If you don't ever use a MAC before it expires (28 days) then your account with your current ISP continues ad nauseam -Its only used f you switch over to a new ISP.
If you cancel then you have to pay the termination charge raised by Openreach when they physically disconnect your broadband line at the exchange

kwikbreaks

Ladyhawk wrote: »

Hmm too late - I have cancelled this evening.

Surely they should have told me about this fee when I called them originally o discuss disconnection?

Anyway I have made a written complaint to them and will no hesitate to kick up a fuss about it.

Thanks for your help

You could always try phoning again but I think they'll just say they can no longer issue a MAC - this is what has happened with other people and various ISPs.

macman

Since the OP is having both her broadband and line cancelled, a MAC would not have been appropriate anyway, as no transfer to another ISP would be possible once the line was cancelled.

kwikbreaks

macman wrote: »

Since the OP is having both her broadband and line cancelled, a MAC would not have been appropriate anyway, as no transfer to another ISP would be possible once the line was cancelled.

Spot on. I didn't read the original post properly.