Warning! BT increase charges for non direct debit payers

IanRK

The simple question underlying many comments here is why should ANYONE who pays all their bills on time be penalised in any way at all by anyone?
Looking at u-switch they're all at it now but at least gas & electric companies offer a discount for DD payments which is a much fairer system. I will still pay by their automatic phone lines on receipt of the bill and decline the discount (for reasons stated above) but I know it is useful to many other people. There is a world of difference between that system and charging a payment processing fee penalty for non DD payments.
Am I am wrong in thinking this seems to be a peculiar trait of telecoms companies?

littleboo

I dont see any difference at all - whatever you call it, if you pay by DD it's cheaper. Regardless if you dress it up as a discount or call it a charge, it all amounts to the same.

albertross_2

Look at it from the other angle, we get a discount for using their preferred payment method, you don't because you prefer to have control and go to the bank with bits of paper, or do it online.

You can pay by DD quarterly without going on a monthly budget scheme. You get notified in advance what amount they are going to take, so you can go into offensive mode and stop it beforehand if you disagree with the amount.

The DD guarantee is dealt with by the bank, one phone call to most banks is all it takes to get it stopped or refunded.

Most utilities give a big discount for paying by monthly DD, which has been happening for years without complaint.

BritBrat

Look at it this way, I pay as I have done for a few years and I pay the same amount as a DD payer ie. I don't get charged the £1.50 and I pay using online banking.

Yes, I told them I would use DD but only have the once.

I don't know why people keep saying a discount is the same as a charge?

If you went to a shop and negotiated a discount would you expect to pay more or less.

DD payers do not get a discount now, they used to but now everyone else gets a charge.

Anyway just get even like I did, and if you think the bills wrong cancel the DD on your online banking.

I win BT lose.

IanRK

BritBrat wrote: »

I don't know why people keep saying a discount is the same as a charge?

Neither do I, it's financial sophistry.

albertross_2

BT could have worded it as a price increase with a discount available for DD payers, same effect, different wording.

Bottom line is DD's are easier and generally cheaper. I used to do it the hard way too. Since I changed, I've saved loads of time and money, and sofar never had a problem.

wolvesinwales

When it comes to wording a bill BT are worse than SKY. I only pay my line rental to them now so expected a straight forward 3 x £10.50 bill but with the charge for 1571 , a phone call that cost 0.063 and VAT i have had a bill for £39.24.
This is the bit that got me a, masterclass in how to complicate a simple matter :

IanRK

albertross wrote: »

BT could have worded it as a price increase with a discount available for DD payers, same effect, different wording.

Same effect - similar but not the same, maybe different people would have gone for DD if they were rewarded, rather than penalising non-DD customers. Different wording - yes, but to argue that after the event is a little cynical from these organisations.
Discounts and chargs are in no way similar and sorry it does smack of sophistry. I do appreciate many people have no issues with DD but please be aware that many of us do. We're not all doing this just to be awkward which is what many people here seem to be insinuating.

littleboo

So what you're saying is that if BT ( or any other organisation ) put it's charges up, but gave DD payers a discount of the same amount, you'd be happy ?

IanRK

littleboo wrote: »

So what you're saying is that if BT ( or any other organisation ) put it's charges up, but gave DD payers a discount of the same amount, you'd be happy ?

No, what I am saying is that if people like British Gas still use a reward system why have BT chosen to go in the other direction?. Over the years BT have gone from a reward system to a penalty system and no matter how you dress it up they can not justify that cost under the payment processing fee smokescreen. I pay on-line so exactly how does that justify a £4.50 fee?
It may be old fashioned and simplistic but in my eyes it is just not acceptable to penalise anyone who pays bills on time. What's so revolutionary about that idea?