Ridiculous BT cancellation charges!

icclebeccy

Hi, I am looking for some advice!

Last August I took out a Broadband, TV and calls package with BT. Due to the landlord selling my current flat, I will be moving flat in the next month to a different flat. The new flat is not connected to BT, it only has a Virgin Media connection. On speaking to BT, they have offered to waive the £130 connection charge to install a BT phone line into the flat, which I actually thought was very nice of them.

However, my new landlord refuses to allow a BT phone line to be installed in the new flat, so I have to cancel my service. I hadn't realised when I signed up (as the line rental was on a 1 year contract), but the contract for the Broadband, calling plan and TV is a 24 month contract (yes, I know, read contracts more carefully!). I have been told by BT that the cancellation charges will be £360. I simply cannot afford these charges! Has anyone else had a similar experience and has some advice for me? It seems to be so unfair, as both the move and the fact that I cannot install the BT line are completely out of my control!

Many thanks in advance!

macman

The move and restriction may be out of your control, but it is also out of BT's. You agreed a minimum term contract, which they will hold you to. They are not concerned with 3rd party issues.
I suggest you have another word with your landlord-does your STA specifically prohibit installing a BT line? I can't see his objection, as it will not affect the VM line in any way-they're entirely separate.
NB: I think you will find that the broadband and line rental/calls are 18m, not 24 m.

Mark_In_Hampshire

A landlord cannot stipulate which providers supply the utilities at a rental property. The tenant's obligation is to return the property in the same condition as let, minus fair wear and tear.

The arrangement of the utilities is entirely up to the tenant. One possible exception is the fitting of, say, a coin meter. So if your new landlord has this sort of thing in the tenancy agreement I'd be a bit concerned.

On a separate note, while the move may not be within your control (you'd have preferred to stay put) if the new lease is say a 6 month one, you'll be signing up for an 18 month contract to get the free installation (I guess) and so the same thing could happen all over again in 6 months.

It may be wise to look at providers with month to month contracts and an installation charge and compare the cancellation fees in case the whole process repeats again, these leave you much more flexibility.

icclebeccy

Thanks for the replies.

His objection is because he built the block of flats and installed the cable work for Virgin Media himself, all behind the walls. He says that any BT cabling going in would not be able to go behind the walls and would be attached along skirting boards and similarly have more cables outside the property. I don't know enough about the differences between cable and a phone line to be able to know if this is the case.

Fair point that it is out of BT's control as well. I just can't afford that amount of charges and hoped there was something possible to be done about such massive charges!

macman

A BT line install requires one entry point from the external wall and provides one master socket. Any extensions are the owner's or tenant's responsibility. Hardly that intrusive.