BT broadband cancellation charge??

0820DS

I have been with BT for over 2 years and am cancelling broadband and line rental due to moving house where Virgin is already installed.

I have phoned them to cancel and have been told I have to pay £30 cancellation charge for Broadband. I am not in a fixed term contract, apparently this charge applies to everyone regardless. Can anyone verify if this is definitely a charge I will have to pay? Or is it something it is possible to get out of paying? Is there any way around it? If it applies to everyone I will pay, but I dont want to find I could have avoided it.

Thanks

spud17

Applies to everyone, it is a standard charge because you are ceasing your BB (ADSL) and moving to VM (cable).

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/dynamicmodules/pagecontentfooter/pageContentFooterPopup.jsp?pagecontentfooter_popupid=26823&s_cid=con_FURL_ceasecharge

vdh

On the link that earlier poster has provided, it clearly states that you DON'T have to pay the cessation charge if you use MAC number.

I was just on the phone with BT to challenge that and the operator first tried to pull a fast one that cessation charges are compulsory. On hearing out loud this info on their wesbite, the operator did not debate that and created a service request for me that would now be looked at by their offline service team. I'll keep you guys posted what is the outcome of this discussion.

Disappointed that BT do not seem to follow even their own terms and conditions.

kwikbreaks

You said you are moving. You can't use a MAC if you move as they are tied to the line.

No use of MAC = you get a cease charge.

vdh

kwikbreaks wrote: »

You said you are moving. You can't use a MAC if you move as they are tied to the line.

No use of MAC = you get a cease charge.

That's a great point. I am not moving, so my comment re cessation charges does not apply to the original post.

iniltous

vdh wrote: »

That's a great point. I am not moving, so my comment re cessation charges does not apply to the original post.

MAC , migration authorisation code,migration is the key word here...MAC's can be used when you move between ISP's on a shared metalic loop, as BT/Openreach are going to the exchange to connect you to your new companys broadband they by default disconnect you from your existing provider,so no extra charge for the cease, your new ISP has paid a small charge to BT/OR for connection.
If you just cease your broadband, (not migrate to another provider), then BT/OR send an engineer to the exchange to disconnect the line from broadband and make the line into an ordinary direct exchange line, as this is the only reason to visit the exchange,the cease charge is raised for the visit to the exchange and the associated back office work, you may not like it but OFCOM allow BT/OR to charge coz there is work involved, BT/OR dont charge you, they charge your old provider, its them who, in most cases, pass this charge on to the end user