MSE News: Rollover landline contracts face the axe

Former_MSE_Guy

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Home phone deals that automatically tie households into a new contract could be outlawed, under Ofcom proposals ..."

Read the full story:
Rollover landline contracts face the axe

Heinz

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3089062

nzseries1

Hooray! This makes me very happy.

A few years back I had a BT line, and saw that it was an auto-renewing contract. I called up three times ensuring that it was noted that I did not want my contract to auto-renew. Sure enough, when I tried to cancel, they said "you were automatically locked into a new contract". I had to really argue with them and get them to go back through their old conversations with me before they changed their mind.

I said I'd never ever get a phone line with BT again if I didn't have to, and so far I haven't. I refuse to sign up to any provider that automatically renews your contract.

What was worse was they had the utter cheek to make this out to be a benefit. "If you don't do anything, you'll automatically benefit from our great rates for another 12 months!"

Evil, evil BT.

tacotaco

A BT spokesman defends its policy: "BT is disappointed Ofcom is proposing to ban renewable contracts.

The problem isn't that the contract is renewable, BT, the problem is that you've made it opt-out rather than opt-in. :mad:

Premier_2

I suppose that'll be the end of my free evening & weekend calls deal then

This ban can come as late as they like in my opinion ... never would probably be too soon :cool:

DVardysShadow

Heinz wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3089062

Also https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3088242

aerostar

They should also ban contracts which are allied to property (eg landlines/Broadband) which are more than 12 months.

brewerdave

Premier wrote: »

I suppose that'll be the end of my free evening & weekend calls deal then

This ban can come as late as they like in my opinion ... never would probably be too soon :cool:

I, too, will be sorry as I also suspect BT will withdraw the E/W deal and force everyone onto the "standard" rental (inc weekend calls) or offer the Anytime package as the only alternative. Both would cost me ££s !!
All because people can't manage their financial affairs properly.:(

Yorkie1

It's not necessarily a question of mismanaging one's affairs, though. I was with TalkTalk and they rang me up shortly before my renewal date. At no point did they tell me it was a conversation about renewal, they were asking me about something else. When I came to move, they told me I had agreed to renew the contract during that phone conversation. They refused to listen to the recording of it and I will never ever have a contract with them again (there are other reasons including their actions when I moved house, but this was part of it). If they practice sharp practices then they deserve all they get.

duchy

I wouldn't be so sure it's the end of the call packages.
If BT opt out of offering them Sky and Virgin just need to keep doing them and mop up. With such aggressive competition it would be financial suicide for BT to stop them.

brewerdave

duchy wrote: »

I wouldn't be so sure it's the end of the call packages.
If BT opt out of offering them Sky and Virgin just need to keep doing them and mop up. With such aggressive competition it would be financial suicide for BT to stop them.

But presumably the "no rollover" clause would apply to all providers - so no-one would offer the E/Weekend package for nowt any more with just line rental, it would have to be tied in some other way eg B/Band or TV package.