BT switch from residential to business

sandgmel

My friend has suddenly received BT business bills for both his home phone line and burglar alarm line. He is not a business but has a large country house which has a BT inspiration system for incoming calls. He has been on a residential BT tariff for many years. BT have given no notification of this change and have now agreed that the burglar alarm line can switch back to residential but not the home phone line as it runs the switchboard system (so that the phone can be answered throughout the house). He has not yet paid these new bills (which are about 3 times as expensive as before) because he is afraid that if he does, a new contract will be entered into. Can they just change contracts without notification and why does owning a BT inspiration switchboard suddenly change you into a business?

Owain_Moneysaver

Having a switchboard shouldn't make you a business. It's possible if there is more than one line on the same numbner (auxuiliary working) that that is being picked up. It may be that Bt are cancelling offering some service on the line to residential customers, and are changing your friend's account to business status so he can continue to receive the service.

Your friend could tell BT he refuses to accept any change in contract (recorded delivery to BT Managing Director in London) and see what they say.