BT - "back billing" for broadband service

CV_Play

Hi

I have just assumed the treasurer role at my local voluntary run Playgroup and am trying to establish our rights against BT.

In summary, BT have provided telephone and broadband services to the Playgroup for many years with their invoices settled by direct debit, typically £28 a month. In August BT amalgamated the Playgroups telephone and broadband account into their BT OneBill system which highlighted to BT that they had not invoiced for the broadband services for several years (and possibly ever). BT have therefore invoiced and last week taken by direct debit an additional amount of c £1100 representing their provision of 44 months of broadband services.

I have spoken to BT who are sending me a detailed breakdown of how they have calculated this amount but are adamant that they are within their rights to bill for this notwithstanding their failure to invoice the Playgroup in a timely manner. They did however mention that we can ask our bank to reverse the direct debit payment made last week under the D/D guarantee if we are disputing the invoice.

Having done some research I can see that Energy Suppliers are bound by an agreement with OFGEM not to seek additional payment ("back billing") for energy supplied more than 12 months prior to an error being detected (subject to certain criteria). I can not find anything equivalent from OFCOM for the telecommunications industry and am just seeing general references to companies having up to six years to claim for previously unbilled services. As a Playgroup our financial records are quite comprehensive going back several years although with regular changes in employed staff and voluntary committee members it is easy to see how the Playgroup would not have noticed BT's failure to invoice for providing broadband especially when a monthly invoice was being received with a narrative of "recurring charges"

As a voluntary run Playgroup, our finances are tight and a bill of £1100 will have a direct impact on the services that we are able to provide to the children.

Does anyone else have experience of a similar situation or advice as to what rights we have against BT?

Many thanks

chanz4

Don't confuse the backbill rule that energy providers have, however statutory bar may also not come into play, due to it been a rolling contract.

I would obtain legal advice

Quentin

Whoever signed up for the bb must have known it had not been paid for!

But you have nothing to lose by complaining to the bank and they will immediately credit the account and clawback the money off bt.

It will then be up to bt to show the bank the money was correctly taken before they can take it again.

Alternatively seek to pay it on the drip after they provide the basis for the charge. Looks like you can play the "think of the poor children" card ok!