Being ripped off

ASKrangers

Hi I've just received my  bill for my business which has been closed since 23rd  March due to the coronavirus where I have just noticed they've been charging me for my phone line and broadband which totals £30/mt for a service I can't use. I contacted Clearbusiness and there reply was sorry nothing we can do it's a fixed service charge ABSOLUTLY DISGRACFUL shame on you clear "RIP OFF" business...I'll be leaving as soon as I can. Please make your viewers aware of the CON

JJ_Egan

What viewers ?? this is a forum .

Consumer forum so unlikely to be using a business supplier like Clearbusiness .

cymruchris

So you're complaining about being charged as per your contract. The contract stated you'd be charged (in your case) £30 a month and that's what they've charged. So essentially nothing wrong. Of course yes there's the current lockdown situation across the globe, and some companies have instigated some form of payment holiday - but there are no rules and regulations forcing them to do so. How did they know that you weren't using it? You might have been in your premises every day doing your accounts, or marketing for when the business re-opened. They wouldn't know whether you were there or not, and I'm sure many business customers would not want to lose their connections under any circumstances. As an aside - Does your business premises have an alarm system? Is it connected to the phone line? If so, you've been using it. 

Neil_Jones

ASKrangers said:

Hi I've just received my  bill for my business which has been closed since 23rd  March due to the coronavirus where I have just noticed they've been charging me for my phone line and broadband which totals £30/mt for a service I can't use. I contacted Clearbusiness and there reply was sorry nothing we can do it's a fixed service charge ABSOLUTLY DISGRACFUL shame on you clear "RIP OFF" business...I'll be leaving as soon as I can. Please make your viewers aware of the CON

This is a business contract.  The service is being provided and you've had a phone line and internet.  If you have an alarm or a CCTV system you can view remotely, you've been using them.  Business contracts are different kettle of fish to consumers, you'd have had the same outcome regardless of who you were with.

And if you're only paying £30 a month (ex VAT I presume?) for business internet and telephone that's a good price.

giraffe69

One can just imagine the howling if the rental had been stopped, the line stopped and a two week period quoted to get it fixed and up and running again. I've paid for my car insurance and have driven very little in the last three months. It's an outrage! Why hasn't the CE come round to personally deliver a reduction?

Marvel1

Someone paying rent who goes away for 2 weeks, still pays full rent.

DoaM

As per others there's been no rip off here. They've still been providing the service - the fact you've not been there to use it is your choice.

PS - viewers is technically an OK term to use. Unless you're using a text-to-speech app then anyone reading this forum is viewing it.