Beware Direct Debit abuse & the out of contract broadband price hikes

Thrugelmir

Martin999BRFC said:

Firstly, if the contract term is over, how the hell is it still a contract? 

What then, would be the point of the length of contract term??

The contract will contain a service continuation clause. Better that than a cliff edge where the service is immediately terminated.

With modern technology should be no issue to diarise reminders for oneself to take the appropriate action before the contract term expires. Personal responsibility should be taught at school. Something sadly lacking these days. 

Martin999BRFC

Is anyone seriously suggesting that when switching providers one should continue to allow unrestricted access to one's

bank account because otherwise it may adversely affect one's credit rating.?

Maybe that's why....
The recent Uswitch survey reveals..

"Switching Survey Claims 7 Million UK Broadband Users Overpaying"

Would be great if we could get Martin Lewis' opinion.

.

k3lvc

The_Fat_Controller said:

What a load on nonsense from the OP.

@Martin999BRFC by all means trash your own credit by cancelling a DD but it is not correct advice to do so.

Careful - at least one member seems to have disappeared already for suggesting similar to the OP - interesting shouty (& wrong OP) is allowed to stay though 

donnac2558

Martin999BRFC said:

Is anyone seriously suggesting that when switching providers one should continue to allow unrestricted access to one's

bank account because otherwise it may adversely affect one's credit rating.?

Maybe that's why....
The recent Uswitch survey reveals..

"Switching Survey Claims 7 Million UK Broadband Users Overpaying"

Would be great if we could get Martin Lewis' opinion.

.

You will not get it here, as he sold the site some years back.

Try contacting him through his newspaper column and do come back and tell us his reply.

400ixl

Martin999BRFC said:

Is anyone seriously suggesting that when switching providers one should continue to allow unrestricted access to one's

bank account because otherwise it may adversely affect one's credit rating.?

Now you are talking a different scenario, if once you have switched providers and have done the full and final settlement of the account so that there are no more debits to be taken, it would be acceptable to ensure any DD has been cancelled. Not that you really need to, but if you so wished you could. However, if you have not terminated the contract and cancelled the DD then that is very poor advice as you still have an ongoing contractual obligation to keep paying them until you have terminated and settled outstanding bills.

You are accusing people of being apologists, when it is in fact those people who actually have an understanding of how the contracts you are complaining about work. Just because you did not take the time to read the headline (not even the small print) details of the contract does not change the fact that those terms exist and you signed up to them.

Those terms will have included things like what happens when the committed term ends, what the price is then payable (also are there any mid term increases such as the CPI + x% each April). Pretty much every broadband contract turns into a rolling contract (usually with 30 day notice periods) once the committed term is complete and moves onto the standard variable contract rate at the time.

What did you think happened at the end of your committed term? That they would just switch off the broadband supply and your telephone line? If they did that, you would then need to pay for a reconnection fee with the next provider and would have to request a new telephone number.

Neil_Jones

Martin999BRFC said:

I am reliably informed that it is standard practice for broadband providers to hike the price considerably once you 

are out of contract.

Furthermore, some will not even inform you as I recently found by checking the direct debit to my bank account..

Some will even threaten you with extra charges should you intend to leave them.

How do I stop this dodgy practice? I hear you cry!

Simple, as soon as your contract term is up, CANCEL THE DIRECT DEBIT. 

Then a new contract will need to be agreed or switch to another provider.

If enough of us do that, this sharp, rip-off practice will stop.

What "rip off practice" would that be then?

You get a new deal which is discounted for 12/18/24 months in return for you stopping for 12/18/24 months and after 12/18/24 months you are free to go somewhere else to rinse and repeat, or re-contract for a new discount.  If you don't re-contract you pay full price.

That's how the system works.  It has always worked like that and you get told upon joining that the price of your broadband will be <whatever> a moth and will increase to <whatever full price is> after 12/18/24 months.  If you don't read that bit then that's your own fault.

However cancelling the direct debit will not actually fix anything and all it'll do is cause further issues down the line.

Martin999BRFC said:

FOR ALL THOSE RIP-OFF APOLOGISTS OUT THERE

Firstly, if the contract term is over, how the hell is it still a contract? 

What then, would be the point of the length of contract term??

1. The contract term was already passed.

2. The contract was already at an end as confirmed by new provider

3. There was NO out of contract price agreed or informed.

4. There was NO discounted price period in the original contract.

5. Unexplained increased charges had been attempted earlier during the contract which were reversed when challenged.

6. The broadband provider had ample time to adjust their invoice to reflect that they had been informed of the switch 

by the new provider. 

All your "contract" is is a discount.  That's all it boils down to.  The only "contract" bit is your agreeing to stay with them for 12/18/24 months and if you up sticks and go, they will charge you.

If your discount ends your broadband does not end with it, as you will still have an agreement with Dalek Internet or whatever to provide you serice.

As for your list of bullet points, well 1-4 I've already dealt with, 5 was probably because they were pre CPI built-in, and 6 the system doesn't work like that.

Martin999BRFC said:

Is anyone seriously suggesting that when switching providers one should continue to allow unrestricted access to one's

bank account because otherwise it may adversely affect one's credit rating.?

Maybe that's why....
The recent Uswitch survey reveals..

"Switching Survey Claims 7 Million UK Broadband Users Overpaying"

Would be great if we could get Martin Lewis' opinion.

.

Not an option, Martin Lewis sold the site in 2012.

As for "unrestricted access to one's bank account", well that depends on whether you owe them any money or not.  If you don't, they won't take any.  Or shouldn't take any.

But if you're using the services and you cancel your debit, don't be surprised if you get cut off and have your credit trashed for non payment.

As for the uSwitch article - that's apathy for you, if people can't be bothered to get off their backside and find a better deal but are happy to pay through the nose because they are out of a discount, that's up to them.

Richard_T_

My understanding is that when you sign up to an ISP you do so for a minimum period.

 New sign ups typically get a speacial offer ie X Broadband for just £22/month ( then £48 a month thereafter) minimum term 18 months.

 

As a customer you are tempted in by the special offer, and agree to stay with them for the minimum term, once this minimum term ends you can leave and move to another ISP.

 The contract has not ended, its just the minimum term period has completed and usually any discount period will also expire with the end of this.

 Options available:

1: pay the standard rate ( but this place is about money saving so why do that?)

2: haggle a better offer

3: move to another isp and enter another minimum term/discount period

4: move to an ISP without a lower introductory price - but at the same time one which doesnt hike the prices after a set period - but that will cost more.

Lots of confusion about being in contract, out of conntract etc.

 The reality is that you are always in cotract, just in or out of a minimum term period and out of or in a discount  period.

 Also file under "why am i paying for a landline - but i dont make calls only use the internet" confusion

RogerBareford

Martin999BRFC said:

Flaneurs .. No it doesn't say "cancel your Direct Debit " but I AM & it does say..

"If a quick call to customer service doesn't resolve it, you'll have to go through the provider's official 

complaints procedure."

Try that when they will only deal with your complaint verbally!

Well considering that "verbally" means using words then i'm not surprised they only want to deal with verbal complaints, how do you want to complain, with smoke signals? with pictograms?

Martin999BRFC said:

It also does say..

"If your bill's about to go up - that is, higher than inflation, and not just because a reduced sales price is ending - your provider will inform you in writing, usually by post or email. Once you've received that, 

you can cancel your package without penalty within 30 days of receiving it.

 

Now for all of you with more money than sense maybe it's OK to pay variable amounts for something you are

neither contracted to or have agreed with.. and then try to reclaim the money at some future date!!

JohnnyB70 -- Since when did a contract term become a "locked-in portion" ?
Anyhow, the switch was arranged & service terminated by the switching agent.

Confused ??? No wonder there are so many scammers preying on the ill-informed & vulnerable!!

You seem to be very angry about something that can be dealt with simply by when signing up to contracts put a reminder in your calendar before the minimum term is up to remind you to shop around.

This simple actions results in no complaints being needed and always paying the lowest rate and it's surely the sensible thing to do?

phillw

JohnnyB70 said:
That is absolutely terrible advice. If you want to cancel a contract then cancel it, don’t just stop the direct debit.

Never cancel a broadband contract, unless you no longer want any service on that line, always arrange a switch to a new provider. You can end up with a cease charge, lose your phone number, be without broadband etc.

phillw

Martin999BRFC said:

FOR ALL THOSE RIP-OFF APOLOGISTS OUT THERE

Firstly, if the contract term is over, how the hell is it still a contract? 

The original fixed term contract turns into a rolling contract, until you give notice and the service has ceased then you are still accruing a debt. Not paying your debt is unlikely to be leverage in negotiating a lower price. I have never been offered a better price than just switching to a new provider.

Depending on the supplier you are with, you may have to give 30 days notice. You should check the T&C you signed up to.