BT have ruined my clean credit record!

GotToChange

Bit of backstory....

At the end of last year, BT arbitrarily changed the collection date of the DD (which covered the bill amount in full each time). In principle (at them managing to take x2 payments in one month), I cancelled the DD with a plan to pay the bill electronically each time it came due.

I then discovered that there would be a charge for doing this, so reluctantly set up a DD for a monthy amount and would then be billed quarterly (which I also didn't want as I knew they had some price changes coming up and I wanted to be able to keep track and make alterations - esp to 1571 and C/Display).

For some reason, BT cancelled the DD (Bank told me "cancelled by Originator - i.e. BT), which led to me receiving a bill for 3 months advance charges and calls to that date, also a charge for paying the thing. Again, I queried this and was told that I could pay the whole bill in February, no problem.

I had intended to set up a monthly payment but decided aganst it and intended to pay the bill in full in February.

By then though, the next bill cameand they had added on the NEXT three months advance charges - giving me a bill of nearly £300.

After much run-around and gnashing of teeth - oh, and landline and broadband disconnected - I willingly paid the now three months to February and calls in the three months too - and with a plan to set up a new DD monthly payment OR (there seemed to be no problem with this) paying the remainder in May - at which time my 18 month contract would be over and I planned to leave them.

But todayI now find that I have a "derogatory note" on my Equifax credit record (and no doubt with the others.... I'm too disheartened to check) which, according to BT, they "cannot" remove.

[I had more or less decided to stay with them after fnding out about the SmartTalk app. ]

It's such a sttrange world we are in when not paying for something IN ADVANCE lists someone as a BAD DEBTOR!!!!!!

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

GotToChange

And here I am - responding to myself/updating.....

On checking the fuller credit report, I find that they noted me as being 3 months in arrears as of now (March) - but fully up-to-date in February.

Seems as though they are fortune tellers.
= new name for "Communication services".

Buzby

As you've discovered, if you play around with the payment methods, you get a bad mark - and it's all automatic. It is unusual to be put on quarterly billing these days, they do all they can to make you accept monthly.

How did it happen?

GotToChange

Buzby wrote: »

As you've discovered, if you play around with the payment methods, you get a bad mark - and it's all automatic. It is unusual to be put on quarterly billing these days, they do all they can to make you accept monthly.

How did it happen?

So, it went like this....

From Dec 2012 to Oct 2013, I received monthly bill and paid this by DD. All good, fine, dandy.

I then noticed that they had brought forward the collection date and this actually meant that they would take x2 payments in one calendar month.

Peeved at this, I called them up - frustrating in itself - and ended up cancelling the Direct Debit, telling them I would call up and pay the bill when it arrived/was due for payment.

They do not allow much wriggle room with this though and (I think) about a week after the bill date - the calls and emails started, threatening restriction of the service etc. I also noted that they added an amount to pay the bill by these means, in addition to a charge for a paper bill that I didn't ask for....

I did actually answer on of their automated/"threatening" (to restrict) calls and it was suggested to me that I set up a Monthly Payment Plan (which is a set amount vs. the DD, which I now discover, allows them to take ANY amount...), an amount agreed at £34.00 per month, which is the usual full cost of my bill.

But I then received a letter threatening restriction and called them up again (ugh). There was NO Monthly Payment Plan in place! I then checked with my Bank who told me that the one that had been set up had been "cancelled by the Originator", i.e. BT.
I had no choice to pay electronically including the additional amount for paying by these means.

Apparently, going onto a Monthly Payment Plan automatically changes the billing to quarterly - which was not something that I wanted, in the case of BT, I knew that there were price changes coming up and I wanted to be able to keep track of the services that I received at that point, free of charge, becoming chargeable and keeping alert for the increase in broadband charges (doubling) and the plan to switch providers as soon as feasibile. I did not want to be billed quarterly - especially as, almost straight after paying the Oct bill (early Nov), I got the first quarterly bill (22 Nov), the amount "owing" being over 4x a usual monthly bill (£130) -with payment expected within ?5-7 days and all advance charges included and price increases too... It was almost impossible to figure out and beyond what I could and couldn't afford, I really did object in principle.
I asked them to re-bill me, monthly, but they refused to do it. (A "computer says go *** yourself moment", I suppose.)

Somehow in that bill, they included "late payment" charges and a £6.00 (previously £1.50) payment processing charge.

I called them up to discuss it and was told that I didn't need to pay until February - which brings this sorry saga up to date, with THAT bill being paid but now the current bill (March to May) outstanding and classed as in arrears by three months - hence the entry on Equifax - and my Bank (there is NO other reason on my Credit History) refusing to upgrade my account (so I am pretty cheesed at them too!)
And in re-tellling, I have got ****ed at them all over again.