Avoiding BT disconnection Fee.

Bronnie

17th Nov, I applied online to transfer phone and broadband from BT to the current Talk Talk deal. I am out of my minimum contract period with BT and am transferring for cost reasons.

Have received a welcome letter from TT and a voicemail from BT re leaving them. TT mentions in passing a BT disconnection fee.

Further research today, I've found threads that indicate that BT T&C mention a £30 disconnection fee unless you request a MAC code and you should not mention to them the word cancel to them.

Can anyone advise, please.
1. Is it too late for me to request the MAC code now? Should I have done it before applying to Talk Talk?
2. If it's not too late, when I phone them, what's the 'correct' thing to say if they ask why I want the MAC code?
3. Don't TT need this MAC code for me to transfer to them? They haven't mentioned it, but presumably they don't want new applicants being talked out of leaving.

I can still cancel my TT contract without penalty , if necessary.

My heart is sinking at the thought of getting embroiled in all this again. TBH my experiences when I started with BT a few years ago were so bad, it has put me off changing providers ever since.

Thank you very much, advice much appreciated.

kwikbreaks

If you are moving to TalkTalk then the disconnect fee may well be the least of your worries.

I'm surprised TalkTalk didn't request a MAC even if they do intenty LLUing your phone line as well as broadband - I could be wrong but I though OpenReach would need one before disconnecting your line from the BT kit but I may well be wrong.

You can call BT and ask for your MAC at any time - if you don't use it then your contract just continues unchanged. There is no need to say anything other than you want the MAC.

I'd suggest you call TalkTalk and ask them about the MAC and why they haven't requested it. If they don't use one then I think the disconnect charge is automatic and will appear in your final BT bill.

espresso

Bronnie wrote: »

Can anyone advise, please.
1. Is it too late for me to request the MAC code now?

If you have simply applied to TalkTalk online and not instructed BT that you wish to cancel, then yes.

Should I have done it before applying to Talk Talk?

Yes normally you would ask for your Migration Authorisation Code before applying to the new provider and the old providers would normally offer you a good deal to stay with them - in this case that would be good!


2. If it's not too late, when I phone them, what's the 'correct' thing to say if they ask why I want the MAC code?

I am looking to get a better deal elsewhere.

3. Don't TT need this MAC code for me to transfer to them? They haven't mentioned it, but presumably they don't want new applicants being talked out of leaving.

The problem with signing up with TalkTalk is that they will most likely put you on their own equipment in the exchange (LLU) making it more difficult for you to switch providers in the future when you find that they are not what they are cracked up to be - you have been warned!

I can still cancel my TT contract without penalty , if necessary.

I would think so if they have not provided anything yet, but cancel immediately.

..............

Bronnie

Thanks both.

Filled with dread now and wishing I'd left well alone.

My bb requirements are merely just for surfing the web, emailing etc and I believe with my current payment to BT for line and BB at £90 per quarter (don't use the landline for calls) I could save money. My area has very slow bb speeds anyway.

espresso.....I presume TT have notified BT, I haven't contacted BT yet, but BT did leave me a voicemail saying they are aware I am leaving.

Do you think BT would offer me a better deal? I don't want any further "benefits", just a lower quarterly bill.

Humph, don't know what to do now.

espresso

Bronnie wrote: »

Thanks both.

Filled with dread now and wishing I'd left well alone.

My bb requirements are merely just for surfing the web, emailing etc and I believe with my current payment to BT for line and BB at £90 per quarter (don't use the landline for calls) I could save money.

espresso.....I presume TT have notified BT, I haven't contacted BT yet, but BT did leave me a voicemail saying they are aware I am leaving.

Do you think BT would offer me a better deal? I don't want any further "benefits", just a lower quarterly bill.

Humph, don't know what to do now.

Contact BT and tell them that you will stay if they can offer you a better deal - this is very common as they don't want to lose customers.

If only you had asked on here before jumping as TalkTlak has a bad reputation!

Bronnie

espresso wrote: »

Contact BT and tell them that you will stay if they can offer you a better deal - this is very common as they don't want to lose customers.

If only you had asked on here before jumping as TalkTlak has a bad reputation!

Yeah. Me too.

Seduced by :money: detailing the deal last week on here

I can cancel TT any time up to the going live date, according to their letter. Will steel myself to ring BT in the morning and see what they can offer.

Anyone else done this with BT and managed to have charges lowered, as opposed to benefits added-in though? I am only interested in reducing the quarterly cost.

:eek: how I hate all this stuff!

macman

Stay on BT for line rental and calls and maybe migrate your broadband to Plusnet for £6.49 per month (if on a Market 1 exchange)? What BT broadband tariff are you paying over £15 a month for?
The £30 charge is the cease charge levied on your ISP (BT Retail) by BT Openreach for disconnecting your broadband. If using a MAC this charge is not made.
espresso is correct, as soon as you ask for your MAC, you will be put through to retentions and offered an incentive to stay, in return for a further minimum contract term.

espresso

bronnie wrote: »

yeah. Me too.

Seduced by :money: Detailing the deal last week on here

i can cancel tt any time up to the going live date, according to their letter. Will steel myself to ring bt in the morning.

:eek: How i hate all this stuff!

Don't delay - Do it today!

Bronnie

macman wrote: »

Stay on BT for line rental and calls and maybe migrate your broadband to Plusnet for £6.49 per month (if on a Market 1 exchange)? What BT broadband tariff are you paying over £15 a month for?

The £30 charge is the cease charge levied on your ISP (BT Retail) by BT Openreach for disconnecting your broadband. If using a MAC this charge is not made.
espresso is correct, as soon as you ask for your MAC, you will be put through to retentions and offered an incentive to stay, in return for a further minimum contract term.

BT Total Broadband option 1 £17 per month

Bronnie

thanks for your replies so far! have to go to work now, will check back later.
Appreciate your advice so much!

macman

Current equivalent BT package is about £13 (lowest BB package, including evening and weekend calls), plus line rental.
So plenty of negotiating room if you really want to stay with them (why would you though)?
Do a exchange search on https://www.samknows.com and look for your other LLU options.