Query about switching from BT

lbc

Hello, I'm new to MSE Forum and very inexperienced in using any forum; please bear with me.
My home phone and broadband contract ends on 28th January - I'm on BT Infinity 1. As we're all encouraged to shop around for better deals, I did just that and decided to switch to TalkTalk (I know,
rubbish customer service etc).
I thought the new provider did all the heavy lifting and technical stuff, following Ofcom's look into switching process. TalkTalk contacted me and confirmed the switch is in progress.
I then got an email from BT saying they had been contacted about my intention to change provider, but I have to pay exit charges. I phoned them and the call centre person was adamant that charges apply because I haven't given them 30 days notice.
This seems completely unreasonable. My contract is ending, I'm not leaving early. TalkTalk use BT's Openreach equipment as I understand it, so if I have to pay BT and TalkTalk I'll be paying twice for my service. I thought because switching has been made easier and quicker and my contract is ending, there'd be no switch charge. Is this BT's sneaky way of making money out of departing customers?
Thanks so much for your help in advance.

Jonny88

Speak to talk talk about this, they've probably experienced it before. If they won't help then tell them you're no longer wanting to switch - you're in a 14 day cooling off period anyway, then call BT and tell them you'll switch to talk talk unless they price match them.

If you hold out you'll get a price match, if you don't get one then ask about cancelling and the notice period - that will either get you the price match or the rules about switching, allowing you to go to talk talk - although I don't imagine it will get that far

iniltous

If both your broadband (infinity) and phone minimum term expire on the same date ?, and that date is 28th Jan, if your new provider takes over after that date, then obviously there shouldn't be any early term charges, but you do need to give notice (in effect TT give notice on your behalf) and the takeover date has to take the 28th of Jan, and any notice period into account
I recon you need to check what date TT have said the takeover takes place and have they given the necessary notice to BT, if necessary you should be able to adjust the date if they have not taken the notice period into account
You also may need to read the communication from BT carefully, it would normally say another provider has asked to takeover the line, obviously this gives you the chance to stop the takeover if it's something you never agreed to, and says ETC's 'may' apply , not that they are inevitable

lbc

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply; I appreciate it. I just wish I was better at negotiating, haggling etc!

lbc

Really helpful, thanks very much. Blimey, my head is spinning - it perhaps seems trivial to haggle over a relatively minor issue, but it really cheeses me off when it feels like Goliath is taking advantage of David!

macman

Your contract doesn't end, your minimum term does. Sounds like you applied to switch too soon. The ETC will be minimal though, a fraction of a month..

Legendary_Aced

According to BT's terms and conditions when you switch to another provider through an approved switching scheme you only need to give 14 days notice (which is the time required to migrate). Might it be possible that your activation date is just on the last day of your contract with BT or earlier?
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/static/terms/
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/static/terms/broadband.html

I was asked by BT to pay cancellation fees when I applied to TalkTalk, because my contract would end two weeks after the activation date. Therefore, I cancelled my order with TalkTalk free of charge and phoned BT to cancel the migration process and leave the contract as is for now. I will re-apply at a later date.

lbc

Thanks for this. I need to get in touch with TalkTalk again, and BT I suppose, because I ordered the switch more than 14 days before the actual switch date. If this is the simplified version of the switch procedure, I dread to think what it was like before!