BT cancel then restart

andyman2303

First of all, apologies if this has been answered elsewhere - I had a look and couldn't see anything.

I'm currently with BT for broadband, calls and TV, and my current 12 month contract expires next month. Rather than just continuing the contract with them, am I able to end my current contract, then start a new one with BT as a new customer? Hoping to do this, as currently can get £155 cashback, and it's also about £3 cheaper than my current deal.

Can't see any reason why not, but just wanted to ask those in the know!

Thanks!

JJ_Egan

New customer in 12 months time .

[Deleted User]

andyman2303 wrote: »

am I able to end my current contract, then start a new one with BT as a new customer?

Not unless you wait for a year or more.

andyman2303 wrote: »

Can't see any reason why not,

BT's Terms & Conditions are the reason why not.

andyman2303

May not have made myself clear, apologies. I'm thinking of waiting for the current deal to finish next month (fulfilling the original 12 month agreement), and then not renew, but take out a new package from then. The same as you do with insurance - not renewing, simply becoming a 'new' customer with the same company.

AndyPK

It doesn't work like that.

Options are

1) Tell them you are going to leave and hope this results in negotiation of a new deal. (unlikely to get cashback) and in BT's case won't be as good as a new customer

2) Put it in a completely different name of someone else in the house. Needs to be a real person with bank account.

I believe if they find you out, you could end up paying full price!

littleboo

You would also have to pay £30 disconnection fee.

AndyPK

Would you, as the line is still going to be used ?

unforeseen

AndyPK wrote: »

Would you, as the line is still going to be used ?

Yes, if you cancel broadband then you pay the £30 disconnection fee.

[Deleted User]

andyman2303 wrote: »

I'm thinking of waiting for the current deal to finish next month (fulfilling the original 12 month agreement), and then not renew, but take out a new package from then. The same as you do with insurance - not renewing, simply becoming a 'new' customer with the same company.

Unlike an Insurance policy which needs to be renewed by the customer at semi-regular intervals, you have a rolling contract with BT which has a 12 month MINIMUM TERM, but the contract does not end after a year and you have to give a month's notice to cancel.
If you do not cancel, the contract does not finish it just continues until you do.

If you cancel and then agree to sign up again you will be treated as a returning customer , not a new one, unless you have ceased being a customer for over twelve months.

Returning customers do not get new customer deals or Cash Back.

In addition, you'd have to pay for disconnection (and possibly) reconnection of your Broadband.

If it were that easy, everyone would sign up as a "new customer" at the end of the minimum term. Obviously they don't.

Despite what others here say about getting someone else to sign up for BT at your property, this isn't recommended either-not least because it would be fraudulent.

If you truly want new customer deals, you'll have to switch supplier completely...

andyman2303

Update.

I spoke to BT yesterday and ran this idea by them. The guy I spoke to said that this was a possibility, although he recommends I call them 3 days before my minimum term has completed to see what deals they can do. Presumably this is to help with their retaining figures, as he didn't say anything about disconnection fees etc, and just said they they'd prefer to keep me as a continuing customer, rather than as a new one.

If it were that easy, everyone would sign up as a "new customer" at the end of the minimum term. Obviously they don't.

It's also absurdly easy to become a new customer for insurance policies, but we know that a lot of people simply leave their policy to auto renew.

[Deleted User]

andyman2303 wrote: »

I spoke to BT yesterday and ran this idea by them. The guy I spoke to said that this was a possibility, although he recommends I call them 3 days before my minimum term has completed to see what deals they can do. Presumably this is to help with their retaining figures, as he didn't say anything about disconnection fees etc, and just said they they'd prefer to keep me as a continuing customer, rather than as a new one.

What the operator meant is that they'll probably be able to offer you a retention deal if you agree NOT to cancel. They won't allow you to cancel and then immediately return as a "new customer".

Obviously you won't be charged for disconnection if they can stop you from cancelling in the first place!

As I already tried to explain in post #9, you won't get a "new customer" deal, nor will you be entitled to Cashback unless you cancel and don't return for at least a year.

Clearly , I've failed to explain succinctly enough (or you've ignored my post) so I'll leave you to it.

andyman2303 wrote: »

It's also absurdly easy to become a new customer for insurance policies, but we know that a lot of people simply leave their policy to auto renew.

Again, insurance policies are renewable yearly, BT contracts are rolling (after the minimum term) and do not expire unless you cancel giving one month's notice.

It's like comparing chalk and cheese.