Cancelling BT internet + phone Contract charges.

RustedKnight

So I am 12 months into an 18month contract with BT, and frankly I cannot stand it any longer.

I was promised 8mb download speeds (and recieve 3mb on average) and my router dies on a daily basis.
My ping makes the connection as slow as dial-up on some days.

After complaining to BT about this they said the problem was that the cables in this area could only take the amount i'm recieving.

So I went ahead and signed up to TalkTalk. I got installed and up and running and have been recieving 8mbps download speeds constantly and really good ping speeds, this is on the same line. So BT was lying to me.

I go ahead to cancel my BT contract, and following their own information it shows I should be paying back £14.75 every month for the remainder of my contract.

This I will gladly pay.

But I am informed that I must pay a £30 disconnection fee, which I did not know about, and pay £46 for the router.

They also told me they want this all as one lump sum in my next Bill.

As said above, I was under the understanding that I would be paying this monthly, not as a lump sum.
Frankly I cannot afford to cough up £165.12 in one lump sum, and I think the £30 termination charge and £46 for the router is rediculous.

So, is there a way for me to pay the charges monthly, as they appear they should be, and any way to avoid those rediculous fees?

When I spoke to this person over live chat they threatened Debt Collection agencies if I don't pay up the whole amount next month. This honestly doesn't worry me as Debt Collection agencies fees would cost them far more than the £165 they'd be getting from me. But feel free to tell me i'm wrong.

So all in all. Help?

-=-=-

Edit to say it appears after searching thoroughly through this site i'm screwed into paying this stupid fee. Please feel free to tell me I don't.

If not, then is there a way to pay these as monthly installments instead of a lump sum. I am currently out of work and my Partners wage barely covers us for food and bills without coughing up a £165 lump sum.
There are 6 months left on our contract, if I must pay them these redicukous charges I would like to find a way to pay £165.12 divided by 6 = £27.50 a month for 6 months.

Mark_In_Hampshire

The cease fee and the charge for the router will probably be in the Ts and Cs of the original offer you took up, so without looking any further these would be due as would the balance of contract.

The £30 termination charge: is the new broadband on the same physical phone line as the old? If not, the charge is to disconnect the broadband on the "old" line (yes, you even get charged to disconnect as well as connect!).

As you're terminating service the supplier is under no obligation to request payments monthly, and as here, can and will demand them in one go.

RustedKnight

Mark_In_Hampshire wrote: »

The cease fee and the charge for the router will probably be in the Ts and Cs of the original offer you took up, so without looking any further these would be due as would the balance of contract.

The £30 termination charge: is the new broadband on the same physical phone line as the old? If not, the charge is to disconnect the broadband on the "old" line (yes, you even get charged to disconnect as well as connect!).

As you're terminating service the supplier is under no obligation to request payments monthly, and as here, can and will demand them in one go.

Same physical line, the openreach guy told me this when installing the new router.

I've been advised to let a debt collection agency take it over and offer them monthly payments, as BT won't accept them.

Buzby

When did BT 'promise' the 8Mb...? This wasn't the usual 'Up to 8Mb service? If it was, then they're in the clear (unfortunately). I don;t believe BT are reporting customer to Credit Reference agencies yet, so the worst you'll get is hassled by the DCS, but I can assure you, if you electronically credit your account number with funds, BT will accept it - the money will not be rejected at any stage.