BT refusing to allow payment plan

ali762

Hi everyone - I’m really stuck at the moment and genuinely concerned as to what to do. 

I’ve bought a house so (unfortunately) I’m living with in laws until I can get a move in date as I was renting previous to this. 

I cancelled my BT plan and knew it would be a fair amount of money .. however, the bill has came through at a whopping £400+ pounds. So I’ve rang up as I cannot possibly Pay this in a one off payment and to ask if I can set up a payment plan. 

I was told that I had two options - 1) to wait 6-8 weeks until the debt collectors turn up and pay it then / in between then if I can gather the money (but there’s no guarantee when the debt collectors will buy the debt) 

2) ring up in the next month with a move in date and they’ll swerve the fee and set up a new account - I can’t do this, I’m a month into buying the property in a chain that is moving extremely slow. 

After explaining this, they told me that’s my two options and a payment plan is point blank not going to happen. 

I’m genuinely so so concerned at the thought of bailiffs and a debt collection agency. I’m a student paramedic with a 1 year old son - the rising price of living has effected me greatly, this is just impossible for me to do. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,
Ali

littleboo

Assuming your in laws have a broadband service, is it cheaper for them to cancel and for you to move your service to their property and come to some arrangement with them?  Or can you move your service to their property on a second line, and then move again to your new home when available?

ali762

Unfortunately they do have BT and have just upgraded theirs before we got here (maybe a week or so beforehand) so that’s been a killer! The second option I never thought about giving a go so I’ll definitely try that with them and see how far I get! I didn’t even know that was a thing! So thank you! Much much much appreciated 

ali762

littleboo said:

Assuming your in laws have a broadband service, is it cheaper for them to cancel and for you to move your service to their property and come to some arrangement with them?  Or can you move your service to their property on a second line, and then move again to your new home when available?

Unfortunately they do have BT and have just upgraded theirs before we got here (maybe a week or so beforehand) so that’s been a killer! The second option I never thought about giving a go so I’ll definitely try that with them and see how far I get! I didn’t even know that was a thing! So thank you! Much much much appreciated

littleboo

Just be aware that trying to transfer a service to a property that already has a BT service could cause confusion. However, its perfectly possible to have Openreach based broadband services at one address, I do, its just a bit unusual.

ali762

littleboo said:

Just be aware that trying to transfer a service to a property that already has a BT service could cause confusion. However, its perfectly possible to have Openreach based broadband services at one address, I do, its just a bit unusual.

Perfect thank you - I’ll give that a go 

penners324

Just them payments when you can and regularly.

Though the costs of buying and moving are substantial (far more than £400).

Can't you take the money you set aside for solicitors fees and then save those up over 3 to 6 months before completion?

Olinda99

as with any debt, they cannot force you to pay it. They can go to court and if you offer a payment plan it is likely the judge will look favourably on it.

meanwhile pay a bit as and when you can.

F1shyFingers

Olinda99 said:

as with any debt, they cannot force you to pay it. They can go to court and if you offer a payment plan it is likely the judge will look favourably on it.

meanwhile pay a bit as and when you can.

The problem here being that BT DO report to the CRA's, and someone involved in a house purchase doesn't really want late payment or default markers, given they're trying to borrow money....

macman

If you've bought your first house (congratulations) then frankly you are going to need a lot more than £400 in your emergency fund, an absolute minimum of £1000 is advised. No property is defect free, and if you find on day one that the boiler or shower is not working, or the roof leaks, then you are going to have to find the funds to fix it.
It does sound like you may have overstretched your budget.
DCA's are not your concern, as they have no powers of entry, and nor do bailiffs on private property, but getting a CCJ will potentially wreck your mortgage application for the next 6 years..

Emmia

Are you paying rent to your inlaws? Surely you're saving (some?) rental/housing costs whilst you wait for the chain?

As macman says, if you're about to buy and in a position with a slow chain,  but still can't afford £400 then you may have wildly overextended yourself - how will you deal with the autumn energy price rises?

Have your circumstances changed since you got the mortgage... but you've not mentioned it to the bank?

Given you're living with "in laws" does your spouse / partner know?

Edit: Will the new job in a bank on your other thread help? Sounds like with a 1 yr old, working in a bank, and being a trainee paramedic you're going to be very busy