BT broadband Haggling thread

jamesbrownontheroad

jamesbrownontheroad wrote: »

I called again today, with specific packages from competitors to benchmark the package against (namely Virgin Vivid 50 at £20 setup + £27/month). I called saying we wanted to leave, but the initial offer from the BT employee was not competitive so I repeated my intention to leave. I was put on hold for a minute or two, and she returned with a 12-month BT Infinity 1 package (upgraded to Infinity 2 speeds, as per recent publicity) for £28.99.

Hi everyone. Remember me? Just 20 days ago I posted in this thread to report this deal. And guess what? Just 20 days later, BT are exercising their contractual right to change the terms of the contract! :rotfl:

Yesterday I got this generic email:

Hello,

We're writing to tell you that the price you pay for your BT services will be changing from 7 January 2018. We've put the changes in a simple table below for you.

We've been making improvements to your BT services to offer you more than ever before, and you can see more about these below. We're not stopping there, we've got some exciting new developments in the pipeline for 2018.

You can get even more from your BT broadband service

We've put together a personalised offer just for you. Just log in now with your BT ID or Account Number.

...

On 7 January 2018 your monthly price will increase by:

Broadband and Calls £2.50

Clicking on the link in the email presents the bewildering offer...



That's right! I'm lucky enough to be allowed to keep the same price, but for 18 months, instead of 12. Which was the whole point of staying with BT in the first place (because of Brexit and our work situation, we need an exit plan in case we leave the country next year).

So the choice is keep the same price but commit to 18 months instead of 12; or pay £2.50 more every month.

I'm in touch with BT now, and will report back whatever I discover. But beware. BT are pulling no punches in changing the terms of any and all new contracts.

JJ_Egan

<BT are pulling no punches in changing the terms of any and all new contracts.>

Its been in your contract/ sign up for a few years now .

Increase how long is left on your contract ??

jem16

jamesbrownontheroad wrote: »

Clicking on the link in the email presents the bewildering offer...



That's right! I'm lucky enough to be allowed to keep the same price, but for 18 months, instead of 12. Which was the whole point of staying with BT in the first place (because of Brexit and our work situation, we need an exit plan in case we leave the country next year).

So the choice is keep the same price but commit to 18 months instead of 12; or pay £2.50 more every month.

I'm in touch with BT now, and will report back whatever I discover. But beware. BT are pulling no punches in changing the terms of any and all new contracts.

That screenshot seems to say there will be no change from January for you even if you don’t do anything.

Keezing

I'm sick of this company increasing their prices mid-contract. I know it's in the contract, but in my world when 2 parties agree to a contract, important terms such as price should be fixed for the length of the agreement.

So I decided to vote with my feet and cancel.

I must admit it was thoroughly enjoyable to call up and tell them I wanted to cancel. First they cancelled the price increase, then they offered me a bigger discount. I stood firm and cancelled.

I moved my business to Vodafone and got the 76mb fibre (including line rental) for £25pcm on an 18 month contract.

Moving over was an absolute doddle. 3 days before my connection date I contacted Vodafone on their live chat to request my broadband username and password. BT cut me off at 5am on the cancellation day, so I simply updated the username and password on my router to those supplied by Vodafone and 2 minutes later I was back online.

No need to reconfigure any of my devices.

My connection is rock solid and synced at the full 80mb download and 20mb upload - which was exactly what I was getting with BT anyway.

For any of you considering Vodafone, I would strongly discourage you from using their router, and instead use a 3rd party router such as the TP-link W9970. It costs about £30.

jamesbrownontheroad

jem16 wrote: »

That screenshot seems to say there will be no change from January for you even if you don’t do anything.

I didn't grab the whole email - the price stays the same if we change from a 12 to 18 month contract. Others it increases £2.50 a month.

phillw

Keezing wrote: »

I'm sick of this company increasing their prices mid-contract. I know it's in the contract, but in my world when 2 parties agree to a contract, important terms such as price should be fixed for the length of the agreement.

But then we wouldn't have a way out of the contract to get more cashback.

Keezing

phillw wrote: »

But then we wouldn't have a way out of the contract to get more cashback.

Indeed, it's good for those with the mentality to take advantage of it.

It's not good for my Grandma who is too anxious to complain and his been hit with price increase after price increase after price increase.

Fortunately the latest price increase gave us an opportunity to get her out of the contract and into a more competitively priced product.

Quentin

Keezing wrote: »

I'm sick of this company increasing their prices mid-contract. I know it's in the contract, but in my world when 2 parties agree to a contract, important terms such as price should be fixed for the length of the agreement.

When you agreed to the contract that means both sides understood the conditions.

Which didn't include no price increases!


But the terms are better than that by allowing you to leave Scot free and get s newbie deal/ cashback etc elsewhere.

What's the problem??

jamesbrownontheroad

Quentin wrote: »

But the terms are better than that by allowing you to leave Scot free and get s newbie deal/ cashback etc elsewhere.

What's the problem??

BT imposes a price rise, we threaten to walk.

BT acquiesces, says sorry, we value your custom, how about this improved offer?

BT then applies the increase anyway.

:eek:

spud17

jamesbrownontheroad wrote: »

I didn't grab the whole email - the price stays the same if we change from a 12 to 18 month contract. Others it increases £2.50 a month.

I'm on the same package as you and have the same offer.
I switched to BT in the spring on a 12 mth contract, taking advantage of the £200 reward card and due to a glitch I also ended up with £150 from Topcashback.
A net cost of around £58 for the year.
Another 18mths at £28.99 averaged out over the whole 30 mths would still only be around £20/mth.
I get 51Mbps on Infinity 1 and the BB has been perfect the whole time.
I think that I'm going to take up their offer, I don't have time just now to try and get a couple of extra quid off.
Remember, before Infinity I had BT line and Sky(O2) BB, giving 5.5Mbps and paying a total of around £26/mth.