MSE News: TalkTalk announces price hikes

SueAMS

Lucky me received an 'Important Update' letter from TT this week offering the option to pay £114 up front for 12 mths line rental thereby saving £51.50:j

Can I get through by 'phone - NO
Can I get through by email - NO
Can I log into my TT account -NO

mr-gidd

Please bear with me I’m new to the forums.
Could anyone please tell me if the cancellation of TalkTalk covers just the line rental or would it cover complete packages i.e I’m on TalkTalk pro (but have had poor broadband since joining).
I took my contract out in April and so far from looking (before I found out about price change) they wanted about £23 for each month remaining on my contract.
This could be the perfect time to bail out and go to a different supplier.
Thanks in advance

2010

mr-gidd wrote: »

I took my contract out in April and so far from looking (before I found out about price change) they wanted about £23 for each month remaining on my contract.
This could be the perfect time to bail out and go to a different supplier.
Thanks in advance

No matter what you decide you still have to ring their retensions on 0870 444 1820 option 4 if you want to leave.
There is no other way to do it.

You could tell them that you reject their price rise and want to leave without penalty.

TalkTalk

Hi All,

In regards to the price increases these are as a reflection of wholesale increases in line rental.

With regards to any cancellations these should be discussed with the retentions teams regarding individual termination charges as these vary depending how long is left in the contract term, the package you are subscribed to etc.

In terms of MAC codes these are only relevant if you are on a IPStream service. If your line is connected to TalkTalk's LLU network then MAC codes are not applicable to this type of service, rather the process to disconnect is to cease the line or request a return to donor via BT.

With respect to the VLR this will be alongside a 12 months contract term. during this time the price of your line rental could not be increased as you have paid this in advance, therefore for 12 months you will not be billed for line rental. In regards to any cancellations during the 12 month period any cancellations fees would only be applicable to the package cost, no charges relating to line rental would be applicable as the line rental has been paid in advance. This however would not be refundable as stated in the T&C's for the VLR.

Finally in terms of discounts any discounts to Line Rental would be lost if taking advantage of the VLR, however this does not state package or monetary discounts will be removed, only those applicable to line rental (*and if you pay 12 months in advance the line rental charge each month is 0.00 so it cannot be discounted further, hence existing discounts are removed)

Regards

mel12

With regards to any cancellations these should be discussed with the retentions teams regarding individual termination charges as these vary depending how long is left in the contract term, the package you are subscribed to etc.

Are you aware that

Under TalkTalk terms and conditions, as a price rise is considered to be to your 'detriment' you have 10 days from receiving notice of a price rise to terminate your contract without incurring an early termination fee.
The terms state: "If you object to a change that we believe is to your material detriment you may terminate your contract without charge provided that you notify us in accordance with the provisions of clause nine and within 10 days of our notification to you of the relevant change." http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/phones/2011/09/talktalk-announces-price-hikes

I shall be complaining to offcom if I'm illegally charged for cancelling.

rcf100

I joined up to TalkTalk 3 months ago, so tied in for another 9 months. My choices are Sky, TalkTalk or anyone using a BT line. I have broadband and phone with TalkTalk comprising of:

Line Rental = 12.60
Essentials = 6.50
Broadband = 0
12 month half price call plan = -£3.25

So here are my questions and I'd love anyone to answer some or all of them:

1. Can I get it cheaper elsewhere - are there any good offers I should know about?

2. If I can and decide to leave, can I cancel my whole contract under the clauses of material detriment quoted above for no charge at all? (I appriciate this may be difficult, but technically can I?)

3. If I can't get cheaper, then if I do nothing then it will stay as above until Oct when the only thing will change is line rental will go up by £1.20 to £13.80, so the remaining 9 months will be 13.80+3.25=17.05 yes?

4. My final choice is to take the VLR. This would push my contract to 12 months. My contract would now be 3.25 for 9 months then 6.50 for 3 months and a one off payment of £114. So would I then be charged for broadband at any point? Would I be liable for charge after the 9 months is up? Does the 12 month discount def still apply after I take VLR?

5. Am I missing anything? Are they all my options and hidden extras?

2010

1 no
2 no, because the price increase is a "wholesale" one.
3 yes and probably your current best option.
4 As things stand at the moment if you go for the VLR on 1/10/11 you would lose your £3-25 discount and start a new 12 month contrcat, making you only slightly better off but having to fork out £114 upfront.
I have asked virtually the same thing on the TT forum and they are awaiting clarification about losing discount by going onto VLR.
5 Stay as you are until things become clearer.

dazza.mk

Rather than doing a return to donor directly with BT (and signing up for a 12 month contract) there is an option to transfer the line to Plusnet (as a BT subsidiary) online for a 12 month contract. Effectively it can also work as a simultaneous provide so that line and broadband both switch to Plusnet within a short period.

TalkTalk

Hi All,

To clarify any promotions relating to "Line Rental" would be lost if customers choose to talk the VLR offer. This is because the upfront payment would mean there is no monthly charge for line rental, as such there is nothing to "discount". £0.00 line rental at half price for three months is still 0.00 therefore any existing line rental offers would lapse from accounts, if taking VLR.

In terms of the detriment clause yes we are aware of the Terms and Conditions and the clauses set out in this. As previously advised any customers wishing to cancel be this due to material detrimental or otherwise still have to contact the Retentions Team regarding this.

Regards

Mark

alexlyne

I have only just negotiated a new 12 month contract with TalkTalk, getting the esserntials package at a reduced rate for the term. The Line Rental wasn't discounted.
Can I now phone them back up again and ask for the VLR and can they do it even though I've just started a new contract with them?