BT broadband - cancelling and starting again

adonis10

Contract ends 9/9/17 and I want to cancel and start as a new customer due to price. Now, the question is can I apply and set up a new account whilst I have one running, or will they say I have to wait for it to be disconnected first? Obviously don't want to do this as I will then experience a 2-4 week break in service. Ideally, I'll call them to advise cancellation from 9/9 and about 3 weeks time set up a new account so hopefully the new one will be set up more or less in time for the old one to be disconnected.

lee111s

You'll need to cancel the service and wait for it to cease.

Once the service has ceased, you'll need to raise a new order for a "new" line and broadband connection.

You'll be without service for a few weeks.

adonis10

lee111s wrote: »

You'll need to cancel the service and wait for it to cease.

Once the service has ceased, you'll need to raise a new order for a "new" line and broadband connection.

You'll be without service for a few weeks.

As I feared.

Looks like I'll have to work out exactly what I'd pay for a new contract over the year and try to haggle my current one down!

adonis10

New contract:
Unlimited infinity 1, starter & bt sport £125 reward card.

Up front cost: £69.99
Monthly cost: £38.49 (£461.88 annually)

Total annual cost: £531.87 (44.32/month)

Less: reward card (125)
Quidco cashback (125)

Revised annual cost: £281.87
Revised monthly cost: £23.49

Have I included everything or do they have other sneaky costs that are added on?

Looks like the magic number is £23.49/month. Doubt they'll get close to that but I'd probably be happy to pay an extra £5 a month to avoid the hassle of changing contracts, losing service, quidco cashback failing etc.

phillw

adonis10 wrote: »

Now, the question is can I apply and set up a new account whilst I have one running, or will they say I have to wait for it to be disconnected first? Obviously don't want to do this as I will then experience a 2-4 week break in service.

You're not a new customer if you have an account, if you cancel then not only are you without broadband but you will be charged a heft cease fee (which is normally picked up by the company you're switching to, but you're not switching).

adonis10 wrote: »

Looks like the magic number is £23.49/month. Doubt they'll get close to that but I'd probably be happy to pay an extra £5 a month to avoid the hassle of changing contracts, losing service, quidco cashback failing etc.

I don't know what the cease fee is for fibre, years ago for adsl it was £50. You can't really argue with BT that you can get a better deal by switching to them, so you need to include that. You should do a comparison to find if you can do better by switching elsewhere.

adonis10

phillw wrote: »

You're not a new customer if you have an account, if you cancel then not only are you without broadband but you will be charged a heft cease fee (which is normally picked up by the company you're switching to, but you're not switching).



I don't know what the cease fee is for fibre, years ago for adsl it was £50. You can't really argue with BT that you can get a better deal by switching to them, so you need to include that. You should do a comparison to find if you can do better by switching elsewhere.

Sorry, didn't clarify that my partner is currently the account holder and the new one would be me, so would class as a new customer.

Ah yes, exit fee I forgot to add in - it is £30 so that bumps up the new monthly price by circa £2.50.

I did phone them a while ago for a price and I think they said £16/month plus line rental which takes it to a hefty £35, and that was 24 months.

I would save by going to a new provider but I'm a football fanatic so do really want BT sport, hence why I want to stay with BT.

I'll call them and see what they say.

lee111s

adonis10 wrote: »

Sorry, didn't clarify that my partner is currently the account holder and the new one would be me, so would class as a new customer.

Ah yes, exit fee I forgot to add in - it is £30 so that bumps up the new monthly price by circa £2.50.

I did phone them a while ago for a price and I think they said £16/month plus line rental which takes it to a hefty £35, and that was 24 months.

I would save by going to a new provider but I'm a football fanatic so do really want BT sport, hence why I want to stay with BT.

I'll call them and see what they say.

Do you have different surnames? Even if not you could say your wife is moving out.

You should be able to do a working line takeover. Just go online and place an order, indicating you're moving into the property.

I'd advise using different contact and bank details for the "new" account.

There should be almost no loss of service doing it this way (maybe 30 mins when the engineer swaps the pairs over at the cabinet).

adonis10

lee111s wrote: »

Do you have different surnames? Even if not you could say your wife is moving out.

You should be able to do a working line takeover. Just go online and place an order, indicating you're moving into the property.

I'd advise using different contact and bank details for the "new" account.

There should be almost no loss of service doing it this way (maybe 30 mins when the engineer swaps the pairs over at the cabinet).

Yes, different surnames - we're not married.

Good idea, but she has previously given authority for me to speak about the account on her behalf (I deal with this sort of stuff, as you can see). Therefore they will know that I live there. Where would I indicate that I'm moving in?

Working line takeover - is there an option for this during the order process? Would I just go online to order and be given this option?

It comes out of my account currently, but I'd use a different account of mine for the new account.

macman

You'll lose the number, and get a broadband cease charge of about £35, courtesy of OR.
Why not just switch to Plusnet instead? They offer BT Sport, and are invariably cheaper than BT for the same network. And no loss of service.

adonis10

macman wrote: »

You'll lose the number, and get a broadband cease charge of about £35, courtesy of OR.
Why not just switch to Plusnet instead? They offer BT Sport, and are invariably cheaper than BT for the same network. And no loss of service.

Couldn't care less about the number, we don't use it. The charge I have factored in to my calculations but plusnet sounds like an option. To switch, do I simply sign up to plusnet and advise them I need to be switched from bt? Do I still need to call bt to cancel if I do this?

loulou41

Can you haggle with BT am interested as well. The bb is very expensive when the offer ends. Will consider switching to Virgin but BT sports on sky platform is £22.50 also do not want the hassle of switching. There is cessation and installation fees to pay pl let us know if BT offers you any discount