Is BT late payment charge legal?

oldnick

gt94sss2 wrote:

BT only charge the late payment charge if:

1. they have issued a bill and it has not been paid and
2. the reminder has not been paid within 10 calendar days, (for Customers that are billed quarterly), or 7 calendar days, (for Customers that are billed monthly), of the date of the Red Reminder.'

I wouldn't be so fed up if that was the case.

In May bill 23rd due 03/06 reminder on 7th paid 16th june - no penalty
In June 25th due 6th july reminder 10th july paid 14th july - no penalty

so these two bills went along with the timescale you have above. However because three consecutive payments were not paid by the due date the period gets shortened. Now nobody told me that until I got the august bill.

July 24th due 31st reminder 4th paid 10th august LP applied 11th payment credited 15th . furious row 2 hours on phone given credit of LP
august 23rd due 30th reminder 4th paid 7th september LP applied 11th credited 12th
september 25th , due 2nd 0ctober paid 5th october LP charge applied 9th No reminder sent.So these three months the time allowed before penalty applied reduced from 19 days to 14 days.

However because three consecutive payments were not paid by the due date the period gets shortened.
This month bill issued 23rd due 30th will get paid 2nd. late penalty is being applied 3/11 so that is now reduced from 14 days to 10 days

My next bill will be paid 30th so should be credited on the day the LP would be charged so won't be charged nov and dec. Now although I will have made the payment at the PO within 7 days, brcause it takes 3 working days to reach them, they won't have got it by the due date, so in january the period will reduces from 10 days to 7 days so again I will be hit by the LP for the sake of 1day. By February i will be paying it the day after the bill comes out which is just as well because if I paid it 3 days after the bill came out I would get a LP.

I have asked how to stop it. Simple set up a DD. I can choose any date in the month up to the 22nd without penalty. They are already charging me £1 extra on my line rental and £2 on my broadband because I don't have DD, + effectively they will have charged me an extra £25 in LP charges so I am being charged £60 a year for not having a bank account!

oldnick

Debt_Free_Chick wrote:

Whilst I understand your comment about having broadband, you don't actually need to be online to learn web design. Could you switch to dial-up for six months, just to give you some breathing space in your budget? You can switch back to BB after that ...

HTH

Actually I am signed up for a business start up course next month and will become a discharged bankrupt in december so will be able to get a basic bank account.

I am starting a web design business because I need to work from home so I actually moderate a couple of techie boards to do a bit of networking so I am building my contact list for when I do start. Because I have always paid a self employed stamp there is no help available, so the day I start, my only income is what I can make online.

So I actually spend about 80 hours a week online. My background was the pub trade so I look on a normal working week being 15 hours a day 7 days a week. That's why I've never got into TV. Never had the time!

Really the whole Late Payment charge think won't affect me in a couple of months time, But I am totally outraged that they can get away with what is effectively extortion. What they are doing is discriminating against anyone without a bank account. I particularly find the progressive reduction from 19 days to 7 days offensive. It is aimed at those that can least afford it.

I have to admit I had never given it a thought before but through a combination of the company I sold on behalf of going bust, a messy divorce and bad health I find myself on benefit and living in a council house for the first time in my life! I really don't like it. If I thought I was going to have to live like this forever I'd walk under a bus!

gt94sss2

This may be of some help to you - basically its a way you can let BT know that you have paid your bill - it may stop you getting a penalty charge if your payment is on its way..

Regards
Sunil

normanmark

oldnick wrote:

Have you ever tried living on £56 a week ?

yes, im a student.

gogsboy

normanmark wrote:

or you could just pay the bill when its due & save yourself the hassle?

Thats very good but some people work away from home and away from phones and internet, I fell foul of this charge myself last bill, prior to that never been charged for late payment.

Often arrived home to the red letter and just went online and paid right away

normanmark

gogsboy wrote:

Thats very good but some people work away from home and away from phones and internet, I fell foul of this charge myself last bill, prior to that never been charged for late payment.

Often arrived home to the red letter and just went online and paid right away

I'm sure everyone has their own excuses, but away from any form of communication is a poor excuse. If you're a customer you know the bills got to be paid on the date requested, ignorancy towards will only lead towards the late payment charge

Heinz

normanmark wrote:

I'm sure everyone has their own excuses, but away from any form of communication is a poor excuse. If you're a customer you know the bills got to be paid on the date requested, ignorancy towards will only lead towards the late payment charge

The second benefit of setting up Direct Debit payments.

gogsboy

normanmark wrote:

I'm sure everyone has their own excuses, but away from any form of communication is a poor excuse. If you're a customer you know the bills got to be paid on the date requested, ignorancy towards will only lead towards the late payment charge

Who says its an excuse, its a reason! As a customer why should I be forced to set up a direct debit!

So apart from setting up direct debit how would you suggest I pay the bill from the middle of the atlantic?

Like I said I often only arrived back to greet the red letter and paid with no problems so when and why did the change this and add this charge?

I cant seem to recall them making me aware.........not that I'm really bothered to be honest

With regards to direct debit, I refuse with regards to BT, just a pity I have to use BT to get a phone line full stop!

clark1982

gogsboy wrote:

Who says its an excuse, its a reason! As a customer why should I be forced to set up a direct debit!

So apart from setting up direct debit how would you suggest I pay the bill from the middle of the atlantic?

Like I said I often only arrived back to greet the red letter and paid with no problems so when and why did the change this and add this charge?

I cant seem to recall them making me aware.........not that I'm really bothered to be honest

With regards to direct debit, I refuse with regards to BT, just a pity I have to use BT to get a phone line full stop!

well its not only BT that charge late payment charges, its standard throughout the industry. Chasing late payers costs a company money, I feel its fair to pass this on to the customer. all customers were advised of the changes to the terms & cons through the update, that comes with the bill. You can view and pay you're bill any time online at bt.com, also there are automated services avil 24/7, so you can quite easily pay the bill on a quick phone call.

gt94sss2

gogsboy wrote:

Like I said I often only arrived back to greet the red letter and paid with no problems so when and why did the change this and add this charge?

BT originally introduced the charge in January 2005 and informed customers via the magazine it includes with the bills.

The charge is only made, if you don't pay the red reminder bill within a certain time.

BT introduced the charge as many customers were deliberately waiting until receiving the red bill before paying them. However, it cost BT a lot of money in sending these reminders (which I think are only sent a couple of weeks after the original bill)

This also allows BT to improve its cashflow by pushing its direct debit and monthly payment plans where customers save £12/year (more if you have broadband with them) as well.

To be fair to BT, other companies have had such charges for a long time (longer than BT) and who also give discounts for paying by direct debit.

BT have made it 'easy' to find out what your bill is, from posting it to you, putting it online, sending emails and offering SMS alerts to let you know when a bill is ready.

I imagine your position is rather unusual if you spend lots of time in the atlantic etc - however, with any company you use, you agree to use their service and settle your bills promptly and will have to make alternative arrangements if you're not around to pay the bill yourself.

Regards
Sunil