BT overcharges

JDDecca

Wasn't exactly sure where to post this but here goes...

Currently the small company I work for is in contract with BT for our phone lines and broadband, but ever since I took control of telecoms in our business I believe we have been getting ripped off. We are stuck in contract till december 2015 (since dec 2010), and been paying direct debit since the beginning of our contract but since I have disputed a few items I have had to cancel this.

My main issue is our quarterly line rental (includes call plan), which has increased by about 20% since the beginning. Our original contracted to pay £404.88 per quarter for line rental, but has flown up to £488.60 (with a bit of trickery they managed to charge £505.12 in dec 2013). When I asked them to show a summary of what we currently have on our account, they had our line rental at £440.88 (actually split up £330.66 & £110.22), which I presume why our contract flew up so much.

Is there anything we can do about this? Currently only have complete breakdowns of our bills from June 2013 - June 2014, and I have asked for earlier ones but they are dragging their feet with that (the bills we have only show recurring charges as a grouped header). I want them to give us a full refund of that, or even better be able to leave our contract FOC, before they increase their prices again in august. I am aware that any contracts joined after Jan 2014 you can leave upon price increase FOC, but that wouldn't apply to us.

Any help will be much appreciated.

John

JDDecca

Can someone please give me some advice please.

macman

On what basis are you seeking to leave without charge? Since it isn't a fixed price contact, they can increase prices at any time they wish.
I wasn't aware that BT offered a five year minimum term on it's business contracts, so you must have resubscribed to a new minimum term since 2010?

Browntoa

single line ??

multiple lines ??

broadband ??

phone system ??

need more info

JDDecca

It was a bit of a long shot really, I wouldn't have minded a slight increase to match inflation etc, but a 20% increase surely can't be right? What stops them from charging any price they want after the contract begins?

Our contract is signed in December 2010 for the length of 60 months.

The costs relate to our 3 ISDN2 lines with call plan (One of these IDSN2 lines is for our fax line/broadband on a separate number). We also have broadband & maintenance costs, but I don't really have an issue with the price increase with these.

macman

JDDecca wrote: »

It was a bit of a long shot really, I wouldn't have minded a slight increase to match inflation etc, but a 20% increase surely can't be right? What stops them from charging any price they want after the contract begins?

Our contract is signed in December 2010 for the length of 60 months.

The costs relate to our 3 ISDN2 lines with call plan (One of these IDSN2 lines is for our fax line/broadband on a separate number). We also have broadband & maintenance costs, but I don't really have an issue with the price increase with these.

Nothing does....which is why signing a five year minimum term is unwise.

JDDecca

I see, there wasn't much I could do as it was signed before I started.

Are you sure there's no legislations or trading standards rules that are against the unjustified increases in contracts? 20% increase within 4 years considering the price index has only risen by about 7% or 8% since then?

If not, I guess we're tied in for another year of unlimited costs.

Thanks for your help so far.

macman

I repeat, it's not a fixed price contract.
I think your figure for the RPI are way out BTW-inflation was 4% or so just a couple of years ago.
Telcoms contracts have never been fixed price.