MSE News: BT announces steep price rises for home phone and broadband – how to beat t

milgo

Today I received my letter from BT advising of the price increase. In my particular case the price would have risen from £28.69 to £31.59 I called and spoke with an agent asking what options were available to me and was advised that I could either leave penalty free (no need to advise BT that I would be leaving as the new provider would let them know) within 30 days of being advised of the increase or just accept the price increase!

I've just placed an order with Sky via TCB who are paying £57.75 to receive the same services as I was getting from BT at £21.40 So after paying the off fibre connection charge £35 and Sky router delivery charge £6.95 I work out that I will be £138.08 better off over the next 12 months.

Mavcek

I received an email yesterday detailing BT's price rises allowing me to cancel my contract early without charges. I have a contract for line rental (paid in advance) and broadband (not infinity). I was told that I cannot cancel the line rental without losing the remainder of the money I have paid up front (so that's a 'charge' then surely) and if I cancelled the broadband only they would 'charge' me £31 for the privilege. So surely another 'charge' for cancelling a service that according to OFCOM I should be able to leave without any cost. On top of that it seems they want to start my phone line afresh with another 12 month contract. Is any of this at all legal under the OFCOM rules?

unforeseen

If you cancel ADSL/VDSL with any provider there is a £30 charge. This is charged by the arm of BT that deals with the exchanges and not the bit that deals with customers. Whether the ISP is willing to absorb that charge and not pass it on to the customer is their choice. BT pass it on. Whether you cancel early or cancel at the end of the contract it is payable

As for the lack of refund, that is a function of the contract you took out and is not a charge.

The letter gives you the right to cancellation without any early termination charges. Neither of the things you mention are an additional ETC

JJ_Egan

Phone them up and tell them you intend to leave your broadband contract as per the rules .
You can then try and find a broadband supplier who will accept BT as your line provider .

astralweeks

Just had the same from BT this PM.
However my real concern is that I checked their personalised offer (£10 for Infinity BB & Calls) on the 11th, discussed it with them on the 12th and its gone up £12 per month today....
I'm off after 37 years of the Post Office/BT!

Mavcek

At least you had an offer on the fibre, they couldn't (wouldn't) give me any deal on it, which is what I really wanted but then I guess after 37 years with BT u deserve it!

oscarblue

Hi, in the MSE article in the opening post, its says, under Fibre Broadband "BT says customers who signed up to broadband promotional deals won't see broadband prices go up."
I thought I was on a promotional deal, but have just received my email from them on the price increases, and my fibre is going up £2 a month, so my question is, what constitutes a promotional deal?

JJ_Egan

Ask that question on the BT Community forum .

Did they not give you an offer in the email ??

I got an offer BB about £2 less pm than this years .
Plus line rental .

oscarblue

Apologies, senior moment, didnt see the my offer button, it seems they are offering a new 12 month contract at the price I am paying now, but I have 6 months line rental paid up front, so will have to weigh up the pros and cons, might just pay the £2 extra to the end of current contract, so I can then go elswhere.

JJ_Egan

That is the problem with ALR .
Luckily i tied my services to the same end date .
ALR can be renewed but not until 27 days before current expires .