BT Misleading 18m packages

tiffa

I am very unhappy with BT Broadband and I think they are being very misleading about their BT Broadband long term packages. I am sure there are many others in the same position as me?

In March 2018 I signed up for an 18 month Unlimited Infinity 1 and weekend calls package for £29.99 a month with price increasing to £41.99 after 18m. I assumed, and there was no indication otherwise, this was a fixed price for the 18m. However, I got a letter today to say the price per month is increasing by £2.50 in September this year and I have to act now to stop this happening! They gave a Bt.com reference which does do this but the price after 18 month would increase to £52.99 a month. I rang to complain but just got offered the same deal, which is essentially a new contract.

I was definitely under the impression that was a fixed price 18m contract and I can't believe BT have now changed the terms of this contract and are essentially forcing me onto a new contract.

Is it just me!

[Deleted User]

Yes it's just you.


And everybody else who doesn't bother reading the T&C's that they blithely agree to and then claim they "assumed" and were "under the impression" that it was something else entirely. How can you be "under the impression" of anything if you don't actually read them?

BT haven't changed the terms and they're certainly not "forcing" you into anything. If you don't like it then use your option to leave for another supplier, of course the majority of them will also raise prices within the minimum term.

ValiantSon

They can increase the price and you are then free to leave without penalty within 30 days of being notified. Lots of companies do this, and BT are notorious for it.

Even at £20.99 per month you are overpaying, so take this opportunity to switch to a better deal.

JJ_Egan

Its been on every signup page and every package deal for the last couple of years .
Every time i have renewed the advisor has stated subject to price rise within contract .
Subject also well posted on the forums for a couple of years .


!!!916;We may change any prices and terms during your contract. If this affects you, we'll tell you about important changes in advance, and you'll be able to end your contract without any fees.

iniltous

Talk Talk are currently running a 'no price rise during your minimum term' guarantee advert for their phone/broadband contracts, the reason they are doing this, is it gives them a unique selling point , compared to other large competitors.
Almost everyone else , (not just BT) put their prices up at least annually , but , as that affords you the option of changing provider penalty free , you could just migrate to someone else,even though you are only 3 months into an 18 month minimum.
BT are offering you the option of keeping your current price ( albeit starting a new 18m term) , if you accept , it's only three months longer than the deal you were presumably happy with in March, you could migrate to someone else (TT the exception) and find in a short time , they too, put the price up

JEC

Having received the letter today telling me to renew my currently 3month old 18 month contract I have contacted BT to ask then why. their customer service advisors cut the chat on two separate occasions when I asked them what I was renewing to.

though the second one did mention contacting the Value Team - does anybody know who they are? The phone number given for them was different to the one on the letter

iniltous

JEC wrote: »

Having received the letter today telling me to renew my currently 3month old 18 month contract I have contacted BT to ask then why. their customer service advisors cut the chat on two separate occasions when I asked them what I was renewing to.

Presumably , they have notified you of a price increase, that gives you the option to start a 'free' migration within 30 days if you reject the change in terms , the offer to not put your price up, is in return for a new 18m term as you are 3 months into the previous minimum then in 18 months , instead of 15 months, your current discounted price would end.
If you take their offer, in 18 months ( instead of the 15 months you were presumably happy with) you could negotiate a new deal, or move somewhere else

molerat

About time the regulator put a stop to mid contract price rises.

mije1983

molerat wrote: »

About time the regulator put a stop to mid contract price rises.

From a selfish point of view, I hope they don't. I enjoy cashing in with new customer offers and cashback every 4-6 months with different suppliers!

But I agree that it would be more beneficial for vulnerable people, or people who are not financially savvy for whatever reason, and just stay and pay the increased price with no negotiation.

[Deleted User]

mije1983 wrote: »

But I agree that it would be more beneficial for vulnerable people, or people who are not financially savvy for whatever reason, and just stay and pay the increased price with no negotiation.

I'd love to know what percentage of (say) Virgin, Sky or BT customers pay full price for their services without any clue that they could be paying probably 50% less. I doubt these people would even notice a mid contract price rise let alone the possible big jump at the end of minimum term for the BT restructure.

I've always had this impression that the figure is larger for Virgin and BT over Sky as Sky customers seem more liable to cancel it down. Absolutely no numbers or links to back that up before anyone asks, just a gut feeling.

boatman

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

I'd love to know what percentage of (say) Virgin, Sky or BT customers pay full price for their services without any clue that they could be paying probably 50% less. I doubt these people would even notice a mid contract price rise let alone the possible big jump at the end of minimum term for the BT restructure.

I've always had this impression that the figure is larger for Virgin and BT over Sky as Sky customers seem more liable to cancel it down. Absolutely no numbers or links to back that up before anyone asks, just a gut feeling.

Clearly it's worth them increasing the price, they probably only lose 1% of their customers by doing it so are more than happy with the result.