BT - why will they not transfer an account?

bazzason

hi,

i share a flat with a friend, and for financial reasons he is moving out. our BT line (which is a basic call package and internet service) is in his name, and the contract is due to expire in december.

upon contacting BT to ask if the account can be transferred to my name and bank details, he was told that the account would have to be closed, a final bill sent and then a new account opened in my name. as he is tied to the contract, he would have to settle the bill for the remainder of the contract if he chose to cancel.

BT say that its "not as easy as just changing the name". not working for BT, i have no idea as to the complexities of transferring an account, but i suspect that it probably isn't as involved as they make out.

i don't want to cancel anything and am more than happy to see the contract out but the only alternative i can see is for my friend to keep paying the bills and i reimburse him. of course, BT will not speak to anyone other than the account holder, so that option adds additional complications which i'd rather not have.

has anyone had this problem before? is it a case of 'go higher up the tree' or are we being unreasonable with our expectations?

cheers
bazza

DMass

BT are amatuers and the CS is terrible, I would suggest avoid dealing with them all together, you and your mate come to some arrangement ad stick to it, BT will probs charge you admin fees of £75, fresh installation of £125 and then a added "!!!!!!! expense" of £100 just cause their BT

Seriously, if you and your mate can come to a agreement, eg you set up a DD into his account for the phone etc i would stick with that

[Deleted User]

I tried to have a BT account transferred into my name once that was not in any contract (20+ year old account!). They would not simply change the name on it. They closed it there and then over the phone, set up a new account in my name, transferred the phone number to the new account and sent a cheque for the refund of line rental from the old account. I should of asked to be put through to a UK call centre. :mad:

Drunkstar

DMass wrote: »

BT are amatuers and the CS is terrible, I would suggest avoid dealing with them all together, you and your mate come to some arrangement ad stick to it, BT will probs charge you admin fees of £75, fresh installation of £125 and then a added "!!!!!!! expense" of £100 just cause their BT

Got screwed over once then huh? No other reason for that out and out crap, not that I can think of anyway.

To be fair I dont know why they wont move a contract into someone elses name, but that said how many other contracts can me moved with names? loans? Mobiles? That said I THINK its so when a bill is produced there can be no arguing over charges between 2 customers who then refuse to pay it. While most people are grown up enough to be able to sort this kind of stuff out you know that a lot are just unable to use common sense. Watch daytime talk shows for proof.

DMass

Drunkstar wrote: »

Got screwed over once then huh? No other reason for that out and out crap, not that I can think of anyway.

To be fair I dont know why they wont move a contract into someone elses name, but that said how many other contracts can me moved with names? loans? Mobiles? That said I THINK its so when a bill is produced there can be no arguing over charges between 2 customers who then refuse to pay it. While most people are grown up enough to be able to sort this kind of stuff out you know that a lot are just unable to use common sense. Watch daytime talk shows for proof.

You could say that apart from the problems in my topic I have had the privilage of BT Trying to up my monthly DD to £83 for basic broadband and phone (Option 1s). As soon as I get my compo Im changing to Virgin

bazzason

spoke to high level complaints department and they said from a legal stand point it doesn't matter which account the bill is paid from. The only issue is that they can't change the name on the account.

i do find it odd that they will not budge on changing a contract to someone else's name but then happily take the money from an account that is not in the name of the contract holder...

one step closer, but ultimately it still means that my mate has to be available to deal with BT should there be any problems between now and december... :mad:

Heinz

My wife has the same problem dealing with (bank, utility etc.) account issues on behalf of her elderly mother.

Although she (the elderly mother) has written to each organisation advising them her daughter has equal and identical power to discuss and alter account issues and each has replied acknowledging receipt thereof, they always come up with the Data Protection excuse if she ever has to phone on her mother's behalf.

She's resolved the issue now - she is her mother whenever she phones.

tiptoe_mouse

spoke to high level complaints department and they said from a legal stand point it doesn't matter which account the bill is paid from. The only issue is that they can't change the name on the account.

i do find it odd that they will not budge on changing a contract to someone else's name but then happily take the money from an account that is not in the name of the contract holder...

one step closer, but ultimately it still means that my mate has to be available to deal with BT should there be any problems between now and december...

It might be possible to get your name added to the account. I've just dug out our old bills, and the first one just has my other half's name on it. Then the second one has both our names on it. I seem to remember he rang them and got me added so I could ring them about the account.

Worth a try?

tiptoe

BritBrat

She's resolved the issue now - she is her mother whenever she phones.

You mean they broke the data protection act, whats the fines like?

It might be possible to get your name added to the account. I've just dug out our old bills, and the first one just has my other half's name on it. Then the second one has both our names on it. I seem to remember he rang them and got me added so I could ring them about the account.

I tried that the other day and they said it could not be done, may have another go speaking to someone in England.

Drunkstar

No, BT wont now put 2 names on the bills. Its down to when people divorce/seperate as often neither will take responsability.