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BT Cancellation Chargers

scobbieboy
Posts: 11 Forumite
in Phones & TV
6 months ago I moved house and continued with BT.
I had been with BT for several years, on various plans, but had only gave them 48 hours notice.
No charge was levied at me for this.
At the end of July, due to work commitments, I have move abroad and I have subsequently advised BT that I wish to stop my account but again I was unable to give them a full months notice.
They want to charge me for a full months standard chargers plus a early cancellation fee as the 'new' contract had not lasted 12 months.
They advise they have a phone conversation with my partner when we moved house to confirm this but cannot provide me with any written contract that I have signed, advising it is a verbal contract that exists between us, and referring me to their online T&C's.
I suppose my frustration is that it appears they are happy to waiver any fees if they know that you are continuing with their service but if it appears that you are leaving them they hit you with chargers.
Should I just pay up, as don't want a poor credit record if return to UK because not paid, or should I push back to them advising their fees are unfair?
Any help appreciated!
I had been with BT for several years, on various plans, but had only gave them 48 hours notice.
No charge was levied at me for this.
At the end of July, due to work commitments, I have move abroad and I have subsequently advised BT that I wish to stop my account but again I was unable to give them a full months notice.
They want to charge me for a full months standard chargers plus a early cancellation fee as the 'new' contract had not lasted 12 months.
They advise they have a phone conversation with my partner when we moved house to confirm this but cannot provide me with any written contract that I have signed, advising it is a verbal contract that exists between us, and referring me to their online T&C's.
I suppose my frustration is that it appears they are happy to waiver any fees if they know that you are continuing with their service but if it appears that you are leaving them they hit you with chargers.
Should I just pay up, as don't want a poor credit record if return to UK because not paid, or should I push back to them advising their fees are unfair?
Any help appreciated!
0
Comments
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Telcom contracts are invariably verbal and have exactly the same validity as a written contract. You can hardly deny agreeing the contract, as you used the service for 6 months. If you are out of minimum term then a 14 or 30 days notice period applies-it's not a 'cancellation charge'. More to the point, an ETC will also apply if you are still in minimum term, which is probably the case, as a home move normally starts you on a new 12 or 18m minimum term.
'Fairness' is not relevant, those are the terms you agreed to.
If you don't pay then your credit file will be trashed for 6 years.No free lunch, and no free laptop0 -
I am a law student and we have just studied verbal contracts, and find this really interesting. However was hoping someone more knowledgeable or experienced than me could add further.....
Macman - the 6 years to which you refer would this be ccj. Would bt in reality go to these lengths for what I assume would be no more than a £100 bill?
As regards validity of verbal contracts being the same as written I have been led to believe that while many contracts most sensibly rely on oral agreements, there are also types of agreements that should invariably be recorded in writing. Recent case law has identified the dangers of relying on oral agreements. If parties disagree on the terms of an oral contract, this uncertainty of terms leaves the court to interpret the intentions of the parties, and such an analysis on the
facts can be extremely expensive and time consuming. In most circumstances, the most prudent way to enter an agreement is therefore to enter a written contract, which will provide certainty as to the terms agreed between the parties.
Anyone?No Unapproved or Personal links in signatures please - FT30 -
No - it is not a CCJ, but a CRA default on the customer's profile. It is this that does the damage. The companies much prefer this, minimal cost (free) no risk of court action being disallowed or failed due to their incompetence.
You also misinterpret - it isn't a verbal contract. The terms of service are stipulated and the customer has a duty to read. However, acceptance is proved by making a payment - and it is this process that acceptance is based on.0 -
scobbieboy wrote: »
They advise they have a phone conversation with my partner when we moved house to confirm this but cannot provide me with any written contract that I have signed, advising it is a verbal contract that exists between us, and referring me to their online Ts & Cs!
Thanks for your really comprehensive answer Buzby, very useful.
The OP states Bt have confirmed the contract was verbal, however to look at their online ts and cs. Therefore if nothing exists say about cancellation fees or a commitment to pay a full month line rental following cancellation online, the OP is right not to pay such fees?No Unapproved or Personal links in signatures please - FT30 -
The BT information is in error. Incompetent staff in a CS is not unknown, but since T&C's of service are not dictated to customers, the absence of this certainly does not mean no service contract exists! The terms, assuming any payment was made to account, are deemed acceptable to all parties.
Fees are not mentioned in the contract - those are within the tariff, but the minimum term period is. An early termination then means payment of the unused term becomes due.0
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