advice needed how to get out of contract with bt for broadband

clancy

JayTee99 wrote: »

Well done Clancy, i'm very pleased for you
Interesting that you had no reply to your complaint through the normal channels, but it goes to show that there are decent people within BT (i've never doubted it) but they are most likely overwhelmed.
This is a victory for fairness, well done BT!
Nice that they offered you a choice of options.
So good luck with your next ISP

p.s. be sure to check the length of the contract

by the way, you're sure you want to cancel the ADSL and not ask for a MAC, so you can migrate elsewhere?

Hi Jaytee
it was nothing to do with the lenght of the contract, i had no problem with the lenght or the price and would of been happy if i had a trouble free service, but it was far from that.
im not very knowledgeable regarding comps but i remembered when i applyed to jin BT that they asked me to get a MAC code from my old supplier, which i did ask and was informed that they were my phone provider and therefore i did not need a MAC code, i asked the lady today if i could have a MAC code and she said "oh i just thought you wanted to cancel so i cancelled you" me not wanting to push my luck said "ok" i thought that would of been ok and would just see what my new provider would ask me for... so im not sure now if that is the best thing.
She is phoning me back later today or monday regarding changing my house phone number, should i ask her for a Mac code???

JayTee99_2

Hi Clancy, Ok on the length of contract, i realise that it wasn't an issue in your case, but i thought it might be something for you to consider with any future sign up

..well if you are transferring from IPstream with one ISP to another (not cable or LLU), then a MAC means there is usually no charge, although some ISPs, such as AOL don't charge a connection fee for new connections.
But as well as cost, there is downtime of your connection.

With a MAC it is more or less seamless. Usually change from one ISP to another the same day.
However, with a 'cease and reprovide' which looks like what you asked for, then it can get slightly messy, waiting for your current provider to allow your line to be used by the next provider.
(normanmark would be able to fill in the details better than i could )

So, if i were you Clancy, i would definitely ask for a MAC
Cancel your contract, but not the ADSL on the line, ask for a MAC.
Although they have already placed the order to cease, they should still be able to change it at this stage.

i think you mentioned the AOL deal...

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/i/3187.html
(it's a 24 month contract, by the way)

http://shop.carphonewarehouse.com/aol_eligibility.php

clancy

JayTee99 wrote: »

Hi Clancy, Ok on the length of contract, i realise that it wasn't an issue in your case, but i thought it might be something for you to consider with any future sign up

..well if you are transferring from IPstream with one ISP to another (not cable or LLU), then a MAC means there is usually no charge, although some ISPs, such as AOL don't charge a connection fee for new connections.
But as well as cost, there is downtime of your connection.

With a MAC it is more or less seamless. Usually change from one ISP to another the same day.
However, with a 'cease and reprovide' which looks like what you asked for, then it can get slightly messy, waiting for your current provider to allow your line to be used by the next provider.
(normanmark would be able to fill in the details better than i could )

So, if i were you Clancy, i would definitely ask for a MAC
Cancel your contract, but not the ADSL on the line, ask for a MAC.
Although they have already placed the order to cease, they should still be able to change it at this stage.

i think you mentioned the AOL deal...

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/i/3187.html
(it's a 24 month contract, by the way)

http://shop.carphonewarehouse.com/aol_eligibility.php

thanks for your help, i have contacted AOL and im compatable to recieve the offer there doing, i know its a 24 month contract and thats cool, i explained to them about BT and that they were cancelling my broadband fri, they never mentioned me getting a MAC, he said to me it will take approx 21 days to set up my broadband as there is a huge amount of people taking up the offer, which i said was fine, i have to phone them back when BT have changed my phone number which should be by monday, I'm still a bit confussed with what you said above about costs on my connection?? im not very knowledgeable about these things and its gone over my head tbh. so do you think it should be ok for BT to disconnect me on fri and AOL to connect me 2 weeks later???

JayTee99_2

I was referring to a connection charge. If there is no broadband on your line, or it has been cancelled, then some ISPs will make a charge to connect/reconnect.
But not all ISPs, some do waive the charge, but they usually tie you into a 12 month contract or whatever, to recover their costs.

That should not affect you if you are looking at the AOL deal.
On the AOL deal, for that deal price, you have to be in their LLU area and you have to take their phone call package, otherwise, as said in the other thread, they will add surcharges.

Make sure you tell them to email you the exact price you will be paying, so you have a copy to refer back to.

AOL_non-LLU wrote:

These prices are available in selected areas. If you live outside these areas you might still be able to get this offer and pay £10 extra per month on each price plan.

Delivery charge of £14.99 applies on all laptops at point of purchase.

It would be a good idea to just confirm that you are in an AOL LLU area
Just put your phone number into their eligibility page

http://shop.carphonewarehouse.com/aol_eligibility.php

See what prices it comes back with.

If the options start at £19.99 then you are in an AOL compatible are
however if the options start at £29.99 then you aren't

If BT are cancelling your broadband next Friday, then it looks like you will have no broadband until AOL transfer you onto their LLU, so be prepared by having a dialup connection to fall back on

clancy

JayTee99 wrote: »

I was referring to a connection charge. If there is no broadband on your line, or it has been cancelled, then some ISPs will make a charge to connect/reconnect.
But not all ISPs, some do waive the charge, but they usually tie you into a 12 month contract or whatever, to recover their costs.

That should not affect you if you are looking at the AOL deal.
On the AOL deal, for that deal price, you have to be in their LLU area and you have to take their phone call package, otherwise, as said in the other thread, they will add surcharges.

Make sure you tell them to email you the exact price you will be paying, so you have a copy to refer back to.

It would be a good idea to just confirm that you are in an AOL LLU area
Just put your phone number into their eligibility page

http://shop.carphonewarehouse.com/aol_eligibility.php

See what prices it comes back with.

If the options start at £19.99 then you are in an AOL compatible are
however if the options start at £29.99 then you aren't

If BT are cancelling your broadband next Friday, then it looks like you will have no broadband until AOL transfer you onto their LLU, so be prepared by having a dialup connection to fall back on

thank you i have checked with the link you gave me above and it starts at 19.99 so thats good.. you've been very helpful

JayTee99_2

Well that's good news, it would have been an awful start to find out too late that you weren't

but as i said, if you do press ahead, it is most likely you will have no internet for some time, so i should give some thought to a backup or whatever.

clancy

JayTee99 wrote: »

Well that's good news, it would have been an awful start to find out too late that you weren't

but as i said, if you do press ahead, it is most likely you will have no internet for some time, so i should give some thought to a backup or whatever.

i will jaytee thanks, but im not to worried about no internet for 2/3 weeks i live in london and have hundreds of cheap internet cafe's near me

Peety

Excellent news for me too which is fantastic. After 10 weeks and still no response from BT's complaints team, I sent Ben Verwaayen an email. He responded within a minute (no lie). He apologised for the problems that I've been having and that he would get this matter sorted immediately. I then recieved an email from his assistant to say she would call me at a time which suited me, which she did. She then agreed that I could terminate my contract at anytime without penalty. She also said I will be receiving a little something in the post as their way of an apology.

I am now BT Free and feeling great about it :j

mattee77

I recieved an email from Bt Broadband today stating that the terms and conditions are changing, but it doesnt state what aspect. Does anyone know about this

mattee77

We've made some changes to your BT Total Broadband Terms and Conditions
These changes relate to a small charge that may be levied if you choose to cancel your BT Total Broadband contract. The changes will take effect on 9th November 2007 and you can review them using the link below – please go to ‘Price terms’ then paragraph 8 of the ‘BT Total Broadband’ section.

Terms and Conditions

(cant find the changes anywhere)