MSE News: Escape BT contracts & beat price rises

spike2012

Hi all, got my bill today informing me of the price increase, does that mean its 10 days from today's date? We owe them £28.80 as of the last bill... do they just take this when my regular DD is due next (2 weeks time) or do I have to pay it whilst on the phone, cancelling. I hate their prices and as my mobile is with orange I would like to go with them... (I want to cancel 2 contracts, go on an iphone and ipad contract) and I think I could get it if I was going to say I'll join home BB too, perhaps anyway :P lol

NittyGritty

yes its 10 days from when u get notifacation , if you want to switch to someone else then you need to let bt know that your switching so they remove the penalty charges,once the switch as taken place, they will then send you a final bill, or take it as direct debit as normal

cwmparc

Just had 2 very frustrating calls to BT, I have broadband option 3, BT Vision, unlimited calls and line rental, but they say I can only cancel my line rental and pay an early termination fee for broadband and vision
What are they doing? :mad: :mad:

Mark_In_Hampshire

I wonder what the right answer is to this one.

On the one hand, the customer willingly and knowingly (?) took out services which might have separate contracts, but which are inter-dependent (for instance: can't have Vision without BT Broadband) and is entitled to cancel the line rental, but cannot cancel the other related contracts because the get-out option - the increase - does not impact those. So in effect you have to maintain the broadband and vision contracts even if you don't even have a phone line. And therefore, BT are right.

Or, where contracts are inter-dependent, the customer can exercise the right to cancel without penalty collectively across all the contracts partly because the supplier has introduced this inter-dependency.

Who knows the answer on that one?

NittyGritty

cwmparc wrote: »

Just had 2 very frustrating calls to BT, I have broadband option 3, BT Vision, unlimited calls and line rental, but they say I can only cancel my line rental and pay an early termination fee for broadband and vision
What are they doing? :mad: :mad:

what they say is true sadly, you can ONLY cancel your line rental penalty free, as those are the only prices that are going up

Mark_In_Hampshire

OK - so someone with the Vision box over ADSL can move the line rental elsewhere, but remains compelled to take BT Broadband ADSL because it is required by BT Vision.

Someone with Vision on a fibre based connection can't move anything because Vision requires BT based broadband, which requires that you maintain line rental with BT.

Cleverly done, eh?

Gadgetman

Well here goes. Got the price rise notification email today and been told on chat that it will cost £172 to cancel my contract.

Having tried in vain to find an email option rather than the FAQ Answers/Chat/Phone/Write to address I decided it was logical to respond to the address the notification email came from.

Ok it's probably an automailer/no-reply address but who knows?

I'll wait for a day or two then try another route if no response. Has anyone had any success getting through by email and getting a response? If so I would appreciate the address.

My argument is going to be that they sold me a "bundle" - their words not mine, not separate services. So they can cancel the bundle. I'm trying to think of good analogies I can quote, e.g. If I bought a car with some bundled upgrades and returned the car because it was faulty, I wouldn't be expected to keep and pay for the go-faster stripes, wide tyres etc.

Not a great one, any better examples welcomed!

NittyGritty

yes i used the complaint email got a reply next day, stating i could leave without charge, but not until the 13th of nov, (when i get my paper bill) through post. am planning on moving to sky as i have broadband with them so will save £5 having both

spike2012

We pay line rental plus "option 3?" which is unlimmited BB and 24/7 landline calls, so total bill is about £42 a month.

Orange do all of that for £22 I think it was for all of it including line rental... I have about a week left so am very tempted to try and leave.

Greenow

I received notification of the price increase from BT yesterday.

I had this converstaion with them online:

You today notified me of a price increase. I advise you that I do not accept this increase and wish to exit my contract, penalty free. Please confirm that when an alternate supplier takes over my service, then I shall not be liable for any exit penalties from my contract.
Rahul: Hello. I'm Rahul. Thanks for that information, I'll check it and get back to you in a moment.
Rahul: Hello ****
Rahul: Good morning
****: Hello and Good Morning
Rahul: Please give me a minute, while I check the details for you.
Rahul: Sorry to keep you waiting.
****: No problem
Rahul: I have checked the account and can confirm that you are in a contract for the broadband. As per terms of the changes in the price, if you cancel the service within 15 days after the notification, the charges can be waived off.
****: Many thanks. That is the entire landline and broadband package?
Rahul: Sure.
****: Can you provide me with a MAC code please?
Rahul: Please contact the team on 0800 800 130 for closing the service within 15 days after you have received the notification.
Rahul: This team can only close the account and issue the MAC code for you. It is the customers option team, 0800 800 030 (sorry, not 0800 800 130).
****: Ok, I will do that. Many thanks for your assistance
Rahul: You are welcome.

I've just phoned for my MAC code and also sought additional confirmation that no charges will be incurred.
I have been told that:
- Because I pay the saver line rental (1 year in advance) my line rental price is not increasing (and they would not refund the unused portion anyway!)
- Because I have anytime calls, my call price is not increasing
- Broadband prices will not be increasing on 3rd December

Because of these factors (and despite what I was told in chat), BT insist that they will enforce the contract against me and charge me all the penalties if I switch