BT Broadband Cease Charge

Bowling_Barbie

I'm currently in the process of moving from BT Broadband to Virgin Broadband. I am out of my contract with BT and was therefore not expecting any penalties.
BUT
Apparently, there is a 'Broadband Cease Charge' and it is £30.
There is NO mention of this at all within the BT contract that I have but apparently there is something hidden in their terms.
On the letter that I got re 'Moving your phone service from BT' it does list a web site (which I doubt anyone would stumble across without typing it in or clicking on the link below.
URL(ish) : bt . com / ceasecharge
..
Has anyone seen this before and is there is anything I can do about not paying it as it was not a cost I was aware of and definitely not advertised. BT loophole to extract the last few pounds out of parting customers ?
:(:(:(:(:(

HappyMJ

It's in the fine print when you took out the broadband service.

Bowling_Barbie

Thank HappyMJ, but how far down in the small print are BT allowed to hide this charge ? I've got copies of all the paper documentation they sent me when I joined them in 2011 and there isn't even a hint at the cease charge.
Is there something that can be done to make this charge more obvious to people ? I believe that I am quite financially savvy, but have never heard of this.
To save people trying to find the page, I've copied the details here :

(basically I fail on point 3 - moving to cable)

Broadband Cease Charge
What is the Broadband Cease Charge?
The Broadband Cease Charge is a charge raised in certain circumstances to cover the additional cost to BT of the work required within an exchange to recover equipment and amend records when a Broadband line is ceased.
When will the charge be raised?
This charge will be raised should you :-
1.Switch to another Broadband provider without following the standard Migration Authorisation Code (MAC) process.
2.Switch to another Broadband provider without following another recognised transfer process, when it applies.
3.Switch to a Cable provider.
4.Cease your Broadband completely.
5.Cease your Broadband and move outside of the UK.
When won't the charge be raised?
This charge will not be raised should you :-
1.Move home and you re-connect to BT Total Broadband via the homemover process.
2.Move home and we are unable to provide the service at your new UK address.
3.You are ceasing service due to bereavement or severe illness.
How much will I be charged?
Charge will be £30. This charge is compensatory and not subject to VAT.
Why is the charge increasing?
The charge has increased as the actual cost to BT of the work required within an exchange to recover equipment and amend records has increased.
What is the MAC transfer process?
MAC stands for "Migration Authorisation Code". This code of practice allows customers to move between Broadband providers without loss of service. To follow the MAC process a customer must contact their current Broadband provider to request a MAC Code. This MAC code must then be given to the receiving Broadband provider to enable them to migrate the broadband service.
See your full Broadband Terms and Conditions

penrhyn

Did you ask BT for a MAC?

Bowling_Barbie

No I didn't, as this was all being handled by Virgin. They advised that they would handle the switchover, and within a couple of days got an email saying 'sorry to see you go' so figured Virgin had done their job. Couple of days after that, I got the physical letter with the paragraph nicely tucked in amongst the rest of the information. Do you think I failed on point 1 of their hidden note then and not just point 3 ?

HappyMJ

I'd ask Virgin for a goodwill gesture considering you are switching to them. Although this is normally approved before switching as an incentive to get you to move to them.

cajef

penrhyn wrote: »

Did you ask BT for a MAC?

They are switching to cable so it will be a disconnect from BT.

VisionMan

The £30 charge covers the cost of an engineer to disconnect you at the exchange. VM don't need a MAC from you. If you had switched to another BB provider that did require a MAC, there would have been no charge, as there would have been no disconnection.

macman

As above, a MAC only applies with ADSL to ADSL transfers. No MAC required for ADSL to cable, so the cease charge is payable. Not VM's responsibility.