BT 'holding us hostage '

Nihaonihao

Our 24m broadband and tv contract with bt ended recently. Naturally, price went up and it is currently £34 for Fiber 1 only (as I cancelled tv for which  apparently I need to pay for another month because they need 30 days notice even out of contract!). We were offered a new 24m contract for the same speed 49-50mb for £25.99
We had decided to switch to a different provider that was going to cost £20 per month for 67mb.
However, because we moved house in January, we were apparently entered into a new 12 month line rental contract with bt, so if we do switch broadband now we have to pay £99 exit fees eventhough broadband and tv are out of contract term.
We feel like being held hostage where our options are to either take a new 24m contract with bt, pay £99 exit fee or wait till January 2023 and pay a higher out of contract price for broadband. It seems like a lose lose situation either way. Just a rant! 

iniltous

Moving home usually starts a new minimum term, obviously at the time you had the choice to pay ETC to end the contract at your old address, and use someone else at the new address….if you move your account to the new address then expect to be able to cancel penalty free , what’s in it for your provider ?, starting a new minimum term at the new address is standard industry practice, it’s not just BT that do this.
Most things that are on a 1 month rolling deal, and require you to give 30 days notice ,  you continue to be able to use the service during the notice period…. basically, if someone is approaching the end of ( for example ) a 12 month minimum, and want to quit ASAP penalty free, then notice should be given at the end of month 11 , so the 12th month is also the 30 days notice, obviously give notice at the end of month 12 , you effectively will be a customer for 13 months, one month longer 

HaroldWren5

Nihaonihao said:

Our 24m broadband and tv contract with bt ended recently. Naturally, price went up and it is currently £34 for Fiber 1 only (as I cancelled tv for which  apparently I need to pay for another month because they need 30 days notice even out of contract!). We were offered a new 24m contract for the same speed 49-50mb for £25.99
We had decided to switch to a different provider that was going to cost £20 per month for 67mb.
However, because we moved house in January, we were apparently entered into a new 12 month line rental contract with bt, so if we do switch broadband now we have to pay £99 exit fees eventhough broadband and tv are out of contract term.
We feel like being held hostage where our options are to either take a new 24m contract with bt, pay £99 exit fee or wait till January 2023 and pay a higher out of contract price for broadband. It seems like a lose lose situation either way. Just a rant! 

Do you need the BT TV component? Or would you be okay buying a TV recording device separately and just going for Broadband with someone else?

Secondly, can you get FTTP broadband from any Openreach provider (which includes BT)? 

From what you have said, if they price in the temporary contract is not acceptable, then the £99 exit fee and switching to another provider would be cheaper than sticking with them would it not?

phillw

Nihaonihao said:

However, because we moved house in January, we were apparently entered into a new 12 month line rental contract with bt, so if we do switch broadband now we have to pay £99 exit fees eventhough broadband and tv are out of contract term.

I figure your best play here would be to make a complaint that you were not told that moving house would start a new 12 month contract. I always found that BT play hardball with complaints, but if you don't get anywhere then ask for a deadlock letter for the ombudsman.

Of course if they can prove that they did tell you then your complaint is not going to go anywhere.

Be polite, don't rant. It's not the fault of the person who you are dealing with on the phone.