BT Early Termination Charges

Melek

Has anyone had to cancel a BT (internet and landline) contract because they are moving abroad?

BT's Terms and Conditions do not state what the contractual position is for early termination due to this - therefore I am being charged the full early termination amount. As I have 15 months left on the contract, it's a lot of money.

Any help, thoughts.. advice much appreciated.

Cheers

Heinz

Unless the contractor (in this case BT) was directly responsible for the contractee having to move abroad (an unimaginable circumstance, in my mind), I cannot see why moving abroad should be treated any differently to any other breach of a contract.

Mark_In_Hampshire

You agreed to (assumption) an 18 month contract, 3 months ago.

That you're moving abroad and are therefore unable to use the service for the remaining 15 months was your decision (fair enough you may have little choice in the matter) so therefore standard early termination fees apply, because you have 15 months left to run.

It's possible to get services on a month to month basis which is handy if you know you'll move at some point, but the costs tend to be higher. Precisely because things like set-up fees are "front end loaded" because the provider doesn't have a commitment from you to remain for so many months.

iniltous

If you are moving abroad then some may say (not me though) why worry, given that the 'penalty' for not paying the early termination fee, would be a entry on your credit history and being chased by a debt collection company,but neither would be of concern to some, if they now reside in another country...or do you intend to come back ?, morally, you are obliged to pay up, its not BT's fault that 3 months into the contract you want to break it

Buzby

BT cannot tell Credit Refereence Agencies about any financial irregularities unless they have permission from the customer (it's a requirement of the DPA).

The last time I checked, BT's T&C's did not include this requirement, so this will notbe an issue. When it DOES come (as it surely will) it will be a redrafting of the T&C's with this as a requrement, giving the customer an opportunity to object and terminate.

Until then, the info is between you and them alone. However, as others have noted, going abroad is no different to moving or being fed up with the service, it remains an early termination.

macman

If 'moving abroad' was a valid reason for breaking a contract without penalty, then the rate of emigration from the UK would soar overnight...
Death or bankruptcy are legit ways out though.
PS: you can normally get out of your mobile contract if you are called up for military service overseas, however this is not a legal 'right', but a voluntary policy offered by the networks in order to avoid potentially bad PR.

Melek

Thanks for all your posts (I have agreed to pay already - I just wanted to double check).

However, the reason for my question / I would note the following: moving house (which is what I am technically doing even though it is across a national border) is contractually set forth - BT are required to provide you with a service at your new location. If they were unable to do so, then it would technically be BT who are breaching contract. I'm very happy to continue to receive broadband in my new city, sadly BT has not quite got there... I'm confident it's only a matter of time before they lay the necessary cable..

Thanks again.

Buzby

It is your definition of abroad! It would be unreasonable to expect BT to be able to install a line to connect to their infrastructure in every location worldwide. The reality is, of course, that the contract for installation is ONLY af the primary address. They will provide a waiver of the minimum term if you reconnect at your new address, but only if they service it directly. (This makes more sense if you are tied to a cable line, and move out of a cabled area) Virgin may agree to you transferring your service to their 'National' tariff, but that is only an accommodation, not a 'right'.

For a variety of reasons, lock-in's are always bad news for those who wish to terminate early, but that's nothing new and all utilities work this way.