Bt Are Highway Robbers

Janna

I have just changed over to TalkTalk for both landline and Broadband. I signed up to BT in April 07 and swapped to Talk Talk on 3 December. TalkTalk had told me I could leave BT after three months and I called BT to check that this was right earlier in the year. To receive broadband from BT you have to buy their hub at a cost of £100, something they didn't point out when I signed up with them. Now, just before Christmas, I have received a bill from BT for £356! This is because I am apparently signed into an 18 month contract for broadband.

Okay I should have read the small print on my contract but what I object to is that not only are they charging me rental for the months up to September 08 but then they are charging the same amount again as a cancellation fee so I am paying double to them for leaving them and also paying Talk Talk. This can't be right, can it?

And I had to ring India for the privilege of being told this after being told by her English colleague that the "one off cancellation fee" would be withdrawn. Surely Talk Talk should make sure that their new customers are not tied into another scheme. But hey, they're all laughing aren't they?

I've cancelled my DDM with my bank and intend to write to Ofcom but is there anything else I can do. I'm really smarting!

Farway

You were lied to by Talk Talk

Perhaps you should consider if you really want a supplier who lies to you and others

If you search this forum you will find others who have also been lied to

It is in their interests to lie & for you to pay the BT cancellation fee

Janna

Thanks Farway. But now I'm tied into Talk Talk too. And there are no rules to say that they must ask potential customers how long their contract has to run. I think there should be.

Browntoa

so maybe the title should be "Talk Talk are liars"

BT have done nothing wrong here as you had a contract

deklan99

Aslo be aware of the £125 reconnection fee that "might" be mentioned when/if you return to BT.
Moving away from TalkTalk (and other LLU providers) may well incur further costs as new provision orders for broadband involve an activation fee by your new provider. (basically brand new bb connection unlike swapping ISPs with a MAC)
Plus the £70 charge if you leave TalkTalk early.
Sure others can fill in the details but lots of stuff TalkTalk "forgot" to mention.

Janna

I think BT have done something wrong. Not only are they charging rental for the missing months, they are charging the same again in a cancellation fee. Also, I rang BT and they said I could move after 3 months. If this was for the landline only, surely they have a duty to point this out.

cajef

Janna wrote: »

I've cancelled my DDM with my bank

Not advisable until you get something agreed, unless you want to get a bad credit rating and chased by debt collection agencies.

As others have pointed out BT are sticking to the terms of their contract, Talktalk have told you a load of lies, if you had read these forums you would have seen the number of complaints about them.

You do seem to make a habit of cancelling contracts and then complaining about the charges.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=572621

Browntoa

it's there in the smal print

BT cancellation (cease) fee of £40.00 even after 12 months (Before 12 months you have to pay £50 cancellation fee + £40 BT cancellation fee).

on top of that you have to pay any line rental that is outstanding for the remainder of your phone contract plus the outstanding broandband contract that you signed up for

the £356 looks correct so as the other poster points out, expect more fees/charges for NOt paying Bt the correct amount

BT may have a recording of the call where you were told that you could leave after 3 months for nothing, in which case they should waive it

Browntoa

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/dynamicmodules/pagecontentfooter/pageContentFooterPopup.jsp?pagecontentfooter_popupid=13408

If we stop providing the service within any relevant minimum period because you have asked us to, you will have to pay a charge for ending it early, unless paragraph 33 applies or the service terms say otherwise. You can find details of these charges in the price terms.


If you do not pay your bill, we will send you a reminder or call you. If we do not receive payment within 10 calendar days of the date of that reminder (seven days if you pay monthly), we may add a late payment charge of £7.50 to your next bill. We may also charge you £10 for any direct debit or cheque payments which are returned to us because you do not have enough funds in your account.

If you do not pay your bill, we may ask a debt-collection agency to collect the payment on our behalf. If we do, you will have to pay us an extra amount. This will not be more than the reasonable costs we have to pay the agency, who will add the amount to your debt on our behalf (this will depend on the amount you owe us). This paragraph applies even if your agreement with us has ended.

Janna

Well thanks so much cajef. I thought these forums were supposed to be helpful, not judgemental. By the way, see my latest comment on your link. And no, I don't spend my life looking through these forums as you seem to do.

Thanks to the rest of you. It looks like I will have to pay the £356 but I really don't think they should be allowed to charge for it twice. So much to a free market. You're tied into everything you sign up for.

cajef

Janna wrote: »

Well thanks so much cajef.

No problem, Merry Christmas.:D