BT Sport fiver a month

VisionMan

Paperweight wrote: »

Thanks again Pen1. I understand that the ombudsman will not intervene over BT TV or BT price rises, but believe he might on the basis of BTs clause 57 and my claim that I have been materially disadvantaged

I understand what your saying, but the key word here is 'materially'. It would be difficult for anyone to prove they have been materially disadvantaged over £5 a month.

Even though no one likes it (including me) all providers have within their right the right to alter the terms, conditions and prices of contracts mid-term. The only Ofcom stipulation is that they give contractees the right to cancel. And other TV providers have been conducting this practice for years.

Inhibitor

Whether or not it will be hard to prove is irrelevant.

BT contracted me and others into BB with BT Sports FOC, they are now changing that... end of story.

As BT are unwilling to budge on this I have taken it to the Ombudsman, I'm not even waiting for x amount of weeks, as I have said previously, BT have stated that my complaints 'won't be looked into' and will just 'sit there'. I was also told that my resolver emails would not be replied to as they do not know 'how to'. They would not send me written (email, mail) clarification of their stance on this either.

This is exactly what OFCOM and the Ombudsman are for. I fully dispute that this has nothing to do with a telecommunication issue, BT BB was the main service I applied for, incentivised by free BT Sport. I may not have been in the position I am in now knowing that they would increase the price to £5, and this is exactly what the OFCOM regulations are for.

Jed_Exodus

If this is out of the remit of OFCOM and the ombudsman, then would it be worth complaining to trading standards?

VisionMan

Jed_Exodus wrote: »

If this is out of the remit of OFCOM and the ombudsman, then would it be worth complaining to trading standards?

BT is your only recourse. You can submit a complaint using this link -

https://bt.custhelp.com/app/contact_email/c/7584

But its up to each customer to argue their own case as to why they should be allowed to walk away and leave BT.

marleyboy

VisionMan wrote: »

I understand what your saying, but the key word here is 'materially'. It would be difficult for anyone to prove they have been materially disadvantaged over £5 a month.

Err, no it would be relatively EASY. £5 a Month on top of an agreed contract, is materially in excess of the agreement, of which a customer is disadvantaged by either the extra cost or the contract renewal. Simple really and I (as well as others on here DO know) in that it worked for us quite easily.

VisionMan

marleyboy wrote: »

Err, no it would be relatively EASY. £5 a Month on top of an agreed contract, is materially in excess of the agreement, of which a customer is disadvantaged by either the extra cost or the contract renewal. Simple really and I (as well as others on here DO know) in that it worked for us quite easily.

Your case was different from a complete cancellation, marleyboy. They wrongly told you you had to renew to downgrade to Lite, when you didn't. But thanks to your persistence you were successful in the end. Nice one.

marleyboy

NO it wasn't. The only reason they re-negotiated with me was because WE WERE IN OUR RIGHTS TO A COMPLETE CANCELLATION.

I really do not understand your determination for people to avoid the clause or ombudsman and your determination that they ONLY use the BThelp. EVERYONE knows that BT are not going to help, they will fudge it, blame all but their policy and determined to say that there is no other option, or they cannot deal with such a complaint.

Fact is, no matter how you word it. BT have breached a contract, T&C are not laid out to help BT, its a two way contract, designed to protect both the company and more importantly, the customer.

A breach of this contract can be easily dealt with using the clause, its why the clause exists, failure to adhere to it CAN be escalated to the ombudsman. BT dont have a leg to stand on in this matter.

VisionMan

Have you even bothered to read this thread?

JJ_Egan

Marleyboy
Could you kindly link to this Clause as it may help others .
I am guessing its BTs clause 57 .

VisionMan

If I may, JJ Egan -

If you are still in a minimum contract term for that service and you reasonably consider that you would be materially disadvantaged by the change, then you will have 30 days from the day you receive our written notification to call and tell us you want to end your contract for that service without paying a charge for ending your contract early.

And BT aren't even adhering to that. They are allowing the immediate cancellation of BT Sport.