Warning! BT increase charges for non direct debit payers

creddish

fencer123 wrote: »

I have noticed on my last couple of BT bills that a charge has been added of £4.50 as a payment processing fee.
Two things 1) How long has this been added to the bill and 2) as I pay my BT bill by cheque and not direct debit am I within my right to charge BT £2.50 for my admin and processing fee.
I think its about time us little people started to fight back against the big companies, they seem to forget that with out us they have no business.

Please let me know what you think.

Processing cheques costs BT more than it does to process a DD transfer. Why should customers who pay by DD subsidise those that don't?

Colin

BexTech

creddish wrote: »

Processing cheques costs BT more than it does to process a DD transfer. Why should customers who pay by DD subsidise those that don't?

Colin

...and what a lot of people who are complaining now forget is that they have always paid more than those who paid by DD, just previously the Line Rental charge was inflated by £1 and hidden in that.

bountiful

I was shocked to see my BT online bill showing £20.82 - when I was expecting £11 something.
Just phoned them - it seems that there is some complicated way of working out that my bill is £11 - then slapping on £1.50 because I don't pay by direct debit (no rewards for being paper-free then?) plus £9 payment charges because I paid last month's bill a little bit late - then VAT - bringing it to £20.82 :mad:

Mary_Hartnell

Pence, BT always have been arrogant barstewards.

BritBrat

My bill was as expected.

If you do not pay on time who's fault is that?

They don't charge me for not paying by DD, but I told them I would but keep paying as I always did using online banking and I have saved £18 over the year, just wish I had done it ages ago.

bountiful

I think it's the way it's worded that sounds so discriminatory - they advertise it as 'saving' £1.50 if you choose to pay by direct debit - and I accept that. However, when I spoke to BT they said they 'charged' me £1.50 'because I didn't pay by direct debit'. It does make it even harder for people on low incomes who find direct debits too volatile to manage. I have paper-free billing and I pay on-line - can't see why I should not also be rewarded in some way for that - it seems to be on a par with direct debit as far as I can see.
I accept the comment about being charged for late payment - but £9 charge for a £13 bill seems a little out of proportion?

bountiful

Oh dear - just bothered to read the whole thread which began in 2007! All the arguments have already been put forward - and there was me feeling all put out!

normanmark

bountiful wrote: »

It does make it even harder for people on low incomes who find direct debits too volatile to manage.

Sorry but thats plain ignorance imo. Budgeting & managing your finance isn't something thats only possible by people who are not on low incomes. Everyone can do it. Direct Debit offers more payment protection than any other method!

wantmemoney

it doesn't

normanmark

wantmemoney wrote: »

it doesn't

What other payment method will refund you anything that has been overcharged on the bill from your own bank??