Warning! BT increase charges for non direct debit payers

gt94sss2

Heinz wrote: »

I know my BT bill is due on 12th every 3 months - so I check online on 13th and review the bill. Easy really.

BT will even send you an SMS (free) when there is a new BT bill available..

Regards
Sunil

wantmemoney

BexTech wrote:

If when you receive a bill and it doesn't look right, you simply cancel the DD so they can't take payment.

OK I "simply cancel the DD so they can't take payment".

what's this

http://www2.bt.com/static/i/microsite/help_and_tips/payments/faq/whole_bill_direct_debit.html
What if my bank doesn't make a payment? If there's a problem with your Direct Debit payment, we will present the payment request again 14 days later. If the second request is not paid, a £10 charge is made and we'll write to you and ask you to pay us another way.

Will I be charged if my Direct Debit fails? Yes, there is a £10 charge if it is referred back to your bank for a second time.

BritBrat

I paid last month using online banking and have not had any charge for it so far, just wish I knew about it a few years back.

See my update:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=5432799&postcount=12

Full thread here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=446084

Oh yes my BT bill last month was less than £12 normaly it is £30 - £70.

oap

Hi all, this was in our newspaper today,

quote: Avoid BT's £4.50 charge for not paying by direct debit, by signing up for the Post Office's phone servie. You can pay your bill there at no extra charge so pick up a form and they will sort it out, serves BT right!!
End quote, and signed by a member of the public.

Anyone heard of this? Regards oap

BexTech

The PO has been offering their own phone service for a few years, the tariffs have recently changed once again.

PO Phones line rental is:

£9.95 if paying by direct debit
£10.95 if paying by cash / cheque / at the post office.

BT Line rental £11 by direct debit.
BT Line rental £12.50 by cash/cheque

BT offer Caller Display for free.

PO charge £1.75 for Caller Display.


Only BT are required to allow low cost carriers such as 18185.


So it could work out dearer for you.

oap

Oh thanks for that, I had never heard of it before, so better sort out a d d, hm. I cannot understand if you can pay over the net why you have to pay for a d d, surely its cheaper for them if we pay straight away over the net by credit card? (unless they have to pay a hefty sum to the cc bank!)

Heinz

oap wrote: »

Hi all, this was in our newspaper today,

quote: Avoid BT's £4.50 charge for not paying by direct debit, by signing up for the Post Office's phone servie. You can pay your bill there at no extra charge so pick up a form and they will sort it out, serves BT right!!
End quote, and signed by a member of the public.

Anyone heard of this? Regards oap

Interesting - because one of their website's FAQs (about their £9.95 line rental charge) states:

Do I have to pay an extra charge for paying my bill at the Post Office

Yes. Line rental will be charged at £10.95 unless you pay by Direct Debit.

hurrah

oap wrote: »

Avoid BT's £4.50 charge for not paying by direct debit, by signing up for the Post Office's phone servie. You can pay your bill there at no extra charge so pick up a form and they will sort it out, serves BT right!!

BT will shortly be running the Post Office Phone Service anyway.:D

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=455968&highlight=post+office+homephone

wantmemoney

will one of Ben's BT GROUPies explain this:

BexTech wrote:

If when you receive a bill and it doesn't look right, you simply cancel the DD so they can't take payment.

OK I "simply cancel the DD so they can't take payment".

what's this

http://www2.bt.com/static/i/microsite/help_and_tips/payments/faq/whole_bill_direct_debit.html
Will I be charged if my Direct Debit fails? Yes, there is a £10 charge if it is referred back to your bank for a second time.

will this be applied in cases of disputed bills?

BexTech

hurrah wrote: »

BT will shortly be running the Post Office Phone Service anyway.:D

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=455968&highlight=post+office+homephone

Yes, and you pay £1 extra for not paying by DD, plus you have to pay £1.75 for caller display, free on BT and they can block cheap call access, so really just shooting yourself in the foot or cutting your nose off to spite your face.