trying to leave BT

catamber

I had BT broadband in January (Massive mistake - incredibly slow speeds - impossible to stream video. Took me 8 hours to download an hour programme on I player). I live in a rented house and am now having to move. Phoned BT and they said that as I had an 18 month contract I will have to pay two hundred and and fifty pounds to finish the contract early. My new house has virgin all set up with speeds of 30 mb and my new landlord wants me to just take over that contract. Can anyone give me any advice? Thanks

timberflake

I'm assuming the charge they're imposing is your monthly payment x the remaining months on your contract?

Not really much you can do as you've entered into a contract, but why would you enter into an 18 month contract if you weren't commited to staying in the accomodation??

spikyone

timberflake wrote: »

why would you enter into an 18 month contract if you weren't commited to staying in the accomodation??

AFAIK it's the only kind of contract BT offer. I'm having a bundle of problems leaving them at the moment, even if you're out of contract you still have to pay a disconnection fee. I was told this isn't their charge, it's Openreach. Cue much anger as I pointed out that they're part of BT and trying to shift the blame is therefore a bit stupid.

Not to mention that for some reason they seem to have started a new contract for my phoneline when I last moved, even though I kept the same number/account and just wanted them to move it across, and they're trying to charge me an early exit fee for that.

Had loads of problems while I was with them too, wouldn't go near them again. @catamber - I wish you luck...

timberflake

spikyone wrote: »

AFAIK it's the only kind of contract BT offer.

Still, if you're not 100% commited to staying in the accomodation for the duration of your contract why take it out? I recently renewed my VM contract, and at the same time tied myself into a 12 month contract on the property I'm in. I can't understand why you would do this unless you're having to move for a reason that's out of your control.

catamber

Yes, unfortunately, it is beyond my control. I'm in private rented accomodation. I explained this when they phoned me up to entice me away from Sky Broadband. They told me not to worry that if I move I could take it with me. Of course at that time they also told me that it would be really fast connection - 7 x faster than my Sky one. It wasn't any faster at all. So my dilemma is that I can pay them the two hundred and fifty and then go and have decent connection in my new house OR take it with me and be condemned to another 12 months of painfully slow internet.

macman

The cease charge is a standard charge made by all ISP's if you cease without a MAC. It's in your T&C's. They are charged by Openreach, and they pass the charge on. BT Retail are an entirely separate company to BT Openreach.

spikyone

macman wrote: »

The cease charge is a standard charge made by all ISP's if you cease without a MAC. It's in your T&C's. They are charged by Openreach, and they pass the charge on. BT Retail are an entirely separate company to BT Openreach.

From this link:

BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

Different line of business, same company.

In any case, burying that kind of charge in Ts & Cs does not, in any way, justify making inescapable charges to someone who is out of contract. It's legitimised extortion - I have to pay money to end a service that I'm under no contractual obligation to use? I'm amazed it doesn't fall foul of unfair conditions in contracts.

macman

You would have received a revision to your T&C's of service from BT Retail about 3 years ago advising of this change. Every ISP now passes on this charge.
BT Retail is run separately from BT Openreach, that is a regulatory requirement, although they are under the same holding company.

DCodd

catamber wrote: »

Yes, unfortunately, it is beyond my control. I'm in private rented accomodation. I explained this when they phoned me up to entice me away from Sky Broadband. They told me not to worry that if I move I could take it with me. Of course at that time they also told me that it would be really fast connection - 7 x faster than my Sky one. It wasn't any faster at all. So my dilemma is that I can pay them the two hundred and fifty and then go and have decent connection in my new house OR take it with me and be condemned to another 12 months of painfully slow internet.

If I could make a couple of suggestions.

If your new landlord would like you to take over the Virgin contract, can you not ask him/her to meet some or all the costs of your early exit from the BT contract?

Is your new rented property in the BT infinity area? If so, would it not be cheaper to move your current contract with you to the new property and ask for an Infinity upgrade? They are offering free connection and I assume the disconnection fee would not apply?

catamber

Thank you, everyone. Guess its my fault for not thinking carefully before agreeing to the contract. Ahh, well. Live and learn!!!