Move house and cancel BT 5 days later = no cancelation fee?

buddabudda

Hello All,

I'm about to move house to an area serviced by Virgin media meaning I could get up to 50Mb net connection. BT are only offerin 7.5Mb so Im tempted. The bad news is Ive got 14 months left on a BT contract, getting out of which will cost me 199 quid.

I know that an upcoming price hike provides me with a get out clause (quite literally) but i was worried that the house move might complicate things.

So I was wondering if this would work:

I move house BT put me on a new 18 month contract (which they INSIST on doing), I then cancel within the "cooling off period" provided by the new contract and therefore avoid the 199 pound charge for early termination.

Is that do-able?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Buzby

You will be making extra work for yourself, as you have no need for BT at your new address, so little point in involving them at all, other than to use the price hike as your reason for leaving. If they agree to keep the price unganged (you'd be stuffed) but your lock-in will be waived due to the increase anyway. Unless you have plans to retain (port) your old number to Virgin, I see no reason why you need to do anything other than tell BT you are unhappy at the increase and are giving notice of termination due to the increase.

buddabudda

Thanks, I appreciate the response. I think my alternate route to escaping the contract came about because I was concerned (maybe Im paranoid) that somehow theyd either put me on a contract with the new charges when i move (14 days hence) or the "notification" would get lost in the post.... that way I couldnt cancel without charge.

Plus as the notification may not be received untill October (MSE website) then I cant switch till October.

But as they will put me on a new contract, I can effectively ge tout immediately using the cooling off period.

Does anyone know if the cooling off period applies to contracts commenced as a result of an existing customer moving house?

Buzby

For mobile customers, the answer to that question is no - with an upgrade, there is no cooling off period required (although some networks do provide this as a goodwill gesture). As an existing customer, you do commence a new contract when you move, and you are then bound by those new terms they stipulate. However, it there is already a working BT line in place, the minimum term drops to 6 months, unless you have previous baggage to carry forward from an earlier minimum term.

As to how BT will view it, I would assume they'll try for the longest they can, hence it may be better to keep the old line running for the period, telling the new owners the line is incoming calls only (and ask BT to do it). Some are happy to provide this as an obligement when a move is underway. Good luck!