BT Late payment charges

RUNNERBEEN

We were caught out by a BT late payment charge, because we were away on holiday and then a little slow in paying the bill. However, a large element of the BT bills are 3 month advance charges for line rental. We questioned how we could be penalised for "late payment charges" for a service for which we have not yet had the benefit. BT say that their charges are in line with "industry standards". How legally can they make late payment charges for something which they have not yet provided ? Does this set a precedent for other service providers ? We are home owners, and therefore dare not challenge BT in Court

BritBrat

Stinks don't it.

hurrah

Discussed here:

Woops wrong subject !!!!

katieburkitt

BritBrat wrote: »

Stinks don't it.

Why should we be dictated to by BT. I do not want any more DD out of my bank. I already have too many..there are more DDs than ordinary transactions!! Now according to BT, there is no getting out of it. Either pay £4.50, on top of the already scandalous charges, or change.. but I cannot change in time to pay this bill, as it states that on my online bill. So consider this. MILLIONS of BT customers @£4.50 a time = another few hundred million in BT coffers. Is that so they can change the name of their company to Outreach 2. Anyway I have just opted to change my provider to the Post Office. If it wasn't for my broadband, I would choose not to have a landline at all. I use my mobile for most calls, cos its cheaper. £15 per month for £90 worth of calls. Sorry I am rambling a bit now, but I am furious with BT. Feel a bit better now tho.:mad:

BritBrat

Did it sound like I love BT?

OMG I must hate them more than anyone, I used to like the phone service untill the DD charging now I don't like any BT.

I went a different route to you, I am taking most of my calls and other charges away from them while still retaining the BT line as I think that's the best option and at same time I am reducing my bill.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=5076608&postcount=74

tosca5

Not relating to BT late payment but i cannot wait until Sept this year so that i can change my provider.
Usual Bt phone bill in January which i paid straight away, around a week later i noticed i only had incoming calls. I phoned Bt from my mobile asking why my service was cut and they said i had an outstanding amount from my bill to pay. Totally confused as i had paid it!! Turns out they sent out a £75 instead of £101..i said i would pay the remainig £26 if they send me a payment slip..whilst waiting for one they totally cut my line and then had the cheek to charge me a £20 reconnection fee. Grrr!:mad:

Heinz

Welcome to the MSE forums RUNNERBEAN.

hurrah's link is to a discussion on a different subject (the increase - from £1 to £1.50 per month in BT's 'non-DD charge'). It take the (money-saving, MSE) pragmatic approach to that - it saves me money on the line rental, so I use DD. As a point of interest, I'd also recommend Virgin Media customers do the same rather than pay their £5 per month fee!

I also view the late payment charge in a pragmatic way - I avoid having to pay it because I don't like giving BT (or any firm for that matter) more than I have to. However as with paying by DD, that's easy to say if you're in a position to use 'their rules' to your own best advantage. Some people can't and I have every sympathy with them - but others won't for one reason or another. There's a difference between can't and won't.

BritBrat

But as you can see by others BT are losing custom over their corporate decision.

Serves them right.

Heinz

BritBrat wrote: »

But as you can see by others BT are losing custom over their corporate decision.

Serves them right.

Agreed, but I'm concerned that people are making knee-jerk decisions (about handing over their line rental) without realising they're cutting off their nose ......

BritBrat

Yeah I know, I have not made that mistake thanks to you.

It's easier to retain customers than to attract them back.

And to attract them back normally cost quite a bit of money.

billsavings

Hasnt their always been a late payment charge if you pay your bill late?