Wanna leave BT but huge Cancellation Fee!

VenusInFurs_2

Hi guys

I'm new to the forum but swear by the info on the main MSE site. I use it for all my bills and finances etc and recommend it to anyone that'll listen!!

Anyway, I signed up for a good deal with BT back in April 2009, as it was on Martin's list of good deals for home phones. I knew I would be tied in for a year but when they renewed the contract in April this year I didn't know that I am tied in again and will have to pay cancellation charges of more than £55 to leave them.

I've had a look at the home phone page again and there are some good deals but I can't afford to pay BT £55 to cancel this contract.

And to get to speak to someone on their stupid customer service line was soooo frustrating this morning!!! There was no option for my query and I just kept getting passed around and around and in the end I had to send a complaint via email as I was too angry and frustrated to speak to anyone in the end!!!

I probably have no choice but to stay with them until April 2011!! Does anyone have any advice that could get me out of the charges so I can go with someone else?

Thanks in advance!

Emma

steve1980

They can't just autorenew your contract. Give them 30 days notice and tell them to send you the documentation that says you have renewed.

VenusInFurs_2

Thanks Steve, I just sent another email to the complaints dept asking them to send the relevant documents as proof!

*Chattie*

how do you know they renewed your contract in April this year?

VenusInFurs_2

They told me on the phone this morning. I thought I'd signed up for an 18month contract that was due to end in Oct but no....they said it was a 12month contract that they renewed in April.

But I didn't know that I'd be tied in for a whole new term whenever the renewal was due. I'm not happy that companies pull these fast ones and seem to get away with it!!

brewerdave

There has been much discussion in this forum about auto renewing BT contracts, which are (in my view) immoral but apparently are perfectly legal.They send you a letter informing you of renewal - which you may or may not have received.
However you may have an out in that they are increasing the monthly rental from Oct 1st - some people have "escaped" their contracts by quoting the "materially disadvantaged" clause.
If this doesn't work, if you wait to cancel until October they are being forced to reduce their "cancellation" charges as per OFCOM requirements.

Inactive

Make sure that your next provider does not have long contracts.;)

Freddie_Snowbits

The contract does not auto renew, only the initital one

atsoc15

just to add to this if it is due the recent rises then I was offered a £3.50 monthly discount for the rest of my contract as i complained about the rise in monthly cost. £2.50 was offered by the initial call handler and £3.50 offered by his supervisor

aharr

hiya
my friend had just asked bt to transfer the line on the 13th Aug to her name as it was in her ex's, she wanted the same number.
BT disconnected her for a week and a half so the line has only been active for max two weeks and they gave her a new number.
She only stayed with BT to keep the number so now they have changed it she signed up to talktalk last week.
BT have now sent her a letter saying it will cost her 82.74 termination fee!!
She has argued the case as their own t&c's say you can cancel 14working days after your first payment and the clause on of disadvantage which gives you 10days to cancel as they have given her a new number and this is not what was expected.
Bt have said she should of rang when the line became active to request her old number but there would still have been no guarantees she would get it and they wont cancel the fee.
HELP!!!!

VenusInFurs_2

aharr: I'd have her to go to the main BT site. Type 'complaint' in the search box and email them a complaint detailing everything.

She'll get a response within 24 hours and if she's still not happy after exhausting their external complaints procedure (on the site) she can go to the Ombudsman.

I did this yesterday, got a callback today apologising for the terrible customer service I received yesterday. I'm now putting everything in writing in a formal letter and sending it by post. If that doesn't resolve my problem I'll be straight on the phone to the Ombudsman. It's in their best interests to resolve the problem once the Ombudsman take it up as they charge a hefty fee for their time when looking into a case.

Emma