Breaking contract or reducing package

hellzking

Really hoping someone can help give some advice on what I can do in this situation.

I signed up to BT broadband and BT Sport in the beginning of 2022 with a total package cost of £54 (32+22). It was a manageable price for me then but things have changed since.
Wife is expecting now with the kid due in Jan.
The price went from 54 to 59 with the price rise. Not great but still manageable.
Then I had to switch jobs due to unforseen circumstances and the new role resulted in lesser pay. Suddenly the 59 was not that manageable.
Wife will go on maternity leave soon which means even lesser money coming in so the 59 will suddenly become even more unmanageable.
On top of this BT's 2023 price rise expected to be another 10%-ish which would make the bill 65 almost. 

Here is where my major issue with 24 month contracts comes in. There is absolutely no benefit to a customer of a contract that long if price will increase. A lot can change in 2 years and you don't know what the bill is even going to be by the end of that time period.

I have spoken to BT who have frankly said tough luck. You're in contract and there's nothing we can do. Pay £350 to terminate the contract or pay the higher price. I can't take anything off to reduce price as both BT Sport and broadband are in contract.

I am happy to pay a bit more for the broadband but I really want to remove BT sport as that isn't an essential service for me.

Has anyone ever managed to get their bills reduced while in contract? Is there anything I can do in this instance, any way to get them to remove BT Sport at least, without paying ETCs?

Anything to reduce bills at this time would be a great help so any advice would really be appreciated.

Neil_Jones

Unfortunately that's the risk you take with 24 month contract, that nothing else changes down the line personal circumstances wise.  The price rises are baked in and you agree to them when you join, so the only unknown is by how much (you can have an educated guess by monitoring the news)

The lesson here is only agree to 2 years if you're 100% certain you can cope with it.  Also the £350 will usually be what you would have paid over the rest of the lifetime of the deal, give or take a bit, so if you pay it off now all that'll happen is you'll be free of the contract, but you'll drop immediately into out of contract prices, which are more expensive.

You can throw yourself on the mercy of BT but that's pretty much all you can do, besides like it or lump it.

jojaca

These price rises suck during mid contract and should be illegal. But I would never sign up to 2 year contract. A lot can change in that time from your circumstance can change, price rises, missing out on better deals, technology advancing etc. Before I sign up to anything I always add 10% increase to that bill to see how comfortable I would be with potential rise.

Olinda99

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/dec/04/labour-calls-for-crackdown-on-rip-off-christmas-broadband-and-mobile-ads