Taking BT to court

goldenwonder1970

Hi,

Long time reader but first time poster here!

I'm just interested if anyone has taken BT to the small claims court sucessfully. I'm about to do that as they are billing me in advance for a broadband service I transfered with more than 30 days notice. They say they'll refund it in 3 months time but thats stupid - why should I pay in advance for something I didn't ask for, and then wait for them to refund it.

Anyway, long story short - in typical BT fashion CS couldn't help/care less so my only option is to use the small claims. I've used it a few times before and won, but I'd be interested to hear if anyones done the same thing and if BT even turned up to the case?

teddysmum

I left BT , phone only, at the end of a pre paid 12 month period. They did charge me a month's line rental as a pay date cropped up within my notice period, but they did reimburse within a few weeks.


As they will reimburse you, there is nothing to take them to court for.

goldenwonder1970

So they can take money for a service I cancelled well in advance that I won't even have - 3 months in advance? Not likely. The cancellation was done well in advance of the billing period - so the mistake is at their end.

This is the sort of BS attitude to customers that makes me sick to death of Bt. Most of them can't even understand their own billing so its not a massive surprise.

kingrulzuk

Well done. someone has to stand up to them

Good Luck

Quentin

How much do they owe you?

VisionMan

They will refund you the money long before it gets to the small claims court.

Buzby

Yes they can, as it all hinges on when you cancel and when your billing cycles takes funds. It can just as easily work out that there is no need to pay anything - you picked the date!

Taking them to SC? It's a waste of your money, as they'll have refunded before it calls, and you will lose the court fee.

eddddy

goldenwonder1970 wrote: »

So they can take money for a service I cancelled well in advance that I won't even have - 3 months in advance? Not likely. The cancellation was done well in advance of the billing period - so the mistake is at their end.

This is the sort of BS attitude to customers that makes me sick to death of Bt. Most of them can't even understand their own billing so its not a massive surprise.

Hi goldenwonder

So it sounds like you're claiming for breach of contract. Have you double checked the contract you agreed to? If the contract allows them to do this, obviously you would have no case.

goldenwonder1970

They are charging me for a service I cancelled well within their T&Cs so I'm ready to pursue this. Its not a huge amount but I'm so sick of big companies treating customers like me as inconvenient dirt that I'll have a go. I've won against easyjet and a holiday company in the past who both billed me incorrectly and argued about the refund.

Quentin

From what you say they have agreed a refund, so you have nothing to sue for.


You are temporarily out of pocket.


If you issue a summons you will be more out of pocket!


A court case won't be heard within 3 months so you will have your original money back by then.


Then you have to hope you win your case otherwise you lose all the court fees you paid up front.


And what have you gained (assuming you win)?

kwikbreaks

The odds are that BT will counter claim for costs defending a fatuous claim. The odds are they'll win too adding £100 or so to the downside.