Help stuck in BT contract

canoegirl

I recently moved out of my own flat and back in with my parents after relocating from across the country for a new job. I'd been in my flat 6 months and had signed up for a BT Home phone and broadband package. I understood the cancellation charges when I signed up.

My gripe is that I'm quite happy to continue my contract with BT when I eventually move out into my own place but its not going to happen for a few months yet. In the meantime, in order to avoid the enormous cancellation fee I've had to leave my BT facilities live at my old flat in Cheshire, with a £3 a month charge on top to block outgoing calls as they will not allow me to suspend my account and contract and continue it when I get a place of my own.

Is it fair that I cannot cancel or suspend my contract when I have moved to a place where I cannot move my contract with me because there is already a contract in place here - with BT!:mad:

Does any one know if I'm missing a trick to get round this? Any help would be appreciated.

King_Of_Bling

canoegirl wrote: »

I understood the cancellation charges when I signed up.

Sounds fair to me, a contract has been signed and you have to keep your end of it.

Heinz

You could move your contract to your 'new' residence - but your parents would have to cancel theirs. Don't think they'd be too happy with that.

macman

Yes, it's perfectly fair, you agreed a 12m contract, which if you move requires that you take the contract to the new address, it's your choice not to do that.
'Suspension' of contracts is not possible.

poppasmurf_bewdley

What is the 'enormous' cancellation fee BT are demanding?

Shotgun_Rider

I'd have thought that it would have been cheaper for you to cancel the contract and pay the cancellation fee than to keep paying for the contract in full, especially if you are paying an extra £3 to block outgoing calls. What length is the contract?

Aren't the tennants in the old flat a bit miffed that your account is hogging the line and they can't use it?

Nutisbak2

Yes you are missing a trick,I had the same issue a few years back mind with a company who wouldnt let me leave their broadband and insisted we took it with us inspite of the fact that we were moving to my parents where there was already an internet connection.

They threatend us and everything, in the end I told them that my partner (who was the one that took out the contract) had left the country and would not be coming back, obviously they would be unable to provide her the broadband out of the UK and theirfore the contract would have to be null and voided.

Unfortunately for BT if you move abroad or to an area where they can't offer you the connection they have to allow you to leave as they cannot full fill they're terms and conditions.

Furthermore if you move to someone elses property a property you do not own they can not force you to take the connection with you especially if you are moving in with your parents permanently because it is down to the home owner who they get their broadband from and if they insist on putting a 2nd line in for you well again this is down to the home owner and they can refuse!

So yes there are things you can do.... best way is to write a letter explaining that you are moving and will no longer have a residence of your own and the reasons why and that they will no longer be able to provide you with broadband!

They have to reply within a certain amount of time (check with Offcom or tel or whatever they are called) if they do not they have breached they're contract anyway, if they do and the outcome is not satisfactory from your point of view then speak to offcom and escalate the issue into their hands..... best to check the procedure with Offcom and make sure you do it right but you should be able to escape if you play your cards right.

macman

That is complete nonsense, leaving the country does not void your contract at all. It's your choice to move or emigrate, Obviously if you move abroad they will be unable to chase the debt, but they may still place a default on your credit record for 6 years, which may still be there when you return to the country.
If 'going abroad' or 'moving to a property with existing broadband supply' were valid reasons, then everyone would be trying that.

Shotgun_Rider

macman wrote: »

That is complete nonsense, leaving the country does not void your contract at all. It's your choice to move or emigrate, Obviously if you move abroad they will be unable to chase the debt, but they may still place a default on your credit record for 6 years, which may still be there when you return t the country.
If 'going abroad' or 'moving to a property with existing broadband supply' were valid reasons, then everyone would be trying that.

I have to agree with this. We got BT to cancel my partners broadband contract when she moved in with me but that was only because I couldn't get broadband at the time because I lived in a not spot. Luckily my phone line contract period was coming to an end when she moved in so we didn't have to pay any extra.

poppasmurf_bewdley

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

What is the 'enormous' cancellation fee BT are demanding?

As you've not come back onto the forum and answered the question, I think we can take it that your original Post was a load of bull.