Niche BT/EE Broadband Related Query

TheReformer

Hi there,

Slightly odd question - understandable if people are not able to advise, but I'm curious what people make of something I have stumbled upon, and if you think it would work.

I have an existing BT Broadband contract, which I have had since August 2023. This is on a 24-month contract, set to expire August 2025.

Currently, EE is attempting to expand it's broadband provision and, as a result, because BT and EE are both owned by the same company, they are allowing people to transfer their broadband provision away from BT and over to EE for free.

This means I am allowed to essentially exit my contract with BT and sign a new contract with EE, which is beneficial to me as I have an existing mobile phone contract with EE and therefore I save money due to their new scheme. 

I however really dislike BT as a provider because the cost is quite significant per month, and therefore I was mostly motivated to switch to EE hoping that the cost would be reduced.

However, because I am still in-contract with BT for another 14 months or so until August 2025, I would still have to pay EE the same price for broadband as my BT contract if I switched provider - albeit with some savings on my phone bill.

Importantly though, by switching to EE I would be starting a new contract with EE. This means my contract would, again, be set back to 24 months from now - ie. until May 2026. 

Again importantly though, by adopting a whole new contract (reminder: by switching I am NOT required to pay the cancellation fee from BT) I would re-activate the 14 day 'cooling off' provision which is required for consumers. I confirmed this repeatedly while speaking to the chap at EE.

Theoretically therefore, do people think I could...
- Switch from BT to EE, thereby not having to pay any cancellation/move fee from BT.
- Therefore activate the 14 day cooling off period.
- After this, cancel my contract within that 14 day cooling off period, therefore ending my contract with both EE and BT for Broadband, without any cost to myself for cancelling the broadband.
- Therefore be free to adopt a cheaper broadband deal with a third party.

I have attempted to clarify this by looking into EE's termination provisions, which seem to indicate I would be right, but I'd like your take on it.

Thanks

Neil_Jones

Cooling off period is designed for when you sign up and expires before the service starts.  Its not a "sign up to Provider X and leave within 14 days if you don't like it" trial.

TheReformer

Neil_Jones said:

Cooling off period is designed for when you sign up and expires before the service starts.  Its not a "sign up to Provider X and leave within 14 days if you don't like it" trial.

I may be wrong, but I'm not sure that is the case.

According to EE's EE Home Network T&Cs for our Essentials, All Rounder, Full Works, and Busiest Home Bundle broadband plans document...

cooling-off period – for your price plan, the period from the date the agreement is made until 14 days after:

a. the loaned equipment (if any) is delivered;

b. the service start date; or

c. the day you receive your order confirmation;

whichever is latest.

for additional services that have a cooling-off period, the period from the date the service is added until 14 day after its start date.

[...]

5. You can change your mind

a. You can change your mind and cancel a service within its cooling-off period.

b. If we've already started providing a service, you'll have to pay us the full cost for

the time you had it (which means we won't take into account any discounts or

free offers) including:

▪ the charges for the service;

▪ anything you’ve used which isn't covered by the charges; and

▪ any connection, installation or activation fees.

c. If you cancel a service within its cooling-off period and we've provided you with

loaned equipment for it, the agreement won't end until you've returned the

loaned equipment. The following will also apply:

▪ You must return the loaned equipment to us within 14 days of cancelling a

service.

▪ If you don't do this, you'll have to pay the full cost of the loaned

equipment.

▪ Once we get the loaned equipment back (or see evidence that it’s been

returned), we reserve the right to charge you if we think the loaned

equipment is worth less than its original value because it's been used or

damaged.

400ixl

I don't believe so, cancelling the EE contract would put you back into the BT contract, not cancel both.

Been a few threads on similar in the past and the outcome has been that you are not then free to walk away.

TheReformer

400ixl said:

I don't believe so, cancelling the EE contract would put you back into the BT contract, not cancel both.

Been a few threads on similar in the past and the outcome has been that you are not then free to walk away.

This was my presumption, but it's a weird grey area.

I don't suppose you remember any of the previous threads? No bother if not, just curious to see what their circumstances were?

Thanks!

flaneurs_lobster

If you "really dislike BT as a provider because the cost is quite significant per month" why did you choose them to supply your broadband?

You'd need to check your new contract very carefully, it may well be written as an amendment to your existing contract which, if you were to cancel, would revert back to the old BT contract. It may well be that there is no cooling off period for this kind of handover deal. There is obviously a relationship between EE and BT, that's why you can change suppliers without an early termination fee,

TheReformer

If you "really dislike BT as a provider because the cost is quite significant per month" why did you choose them to supply your broadband?

Various reasons not worth going into. I appreciate it sounds stupid, in part it is. But that's somewhat besides the point here.

You'd need to check your new contract very carefully, it may well be written as an amendment to your existing contract which, if you were to cancel, would revert back to the old BT contract. It may well be that there is no cooling off period for this kind of handover deal. There is obviously a relationship between EE and BT, that's why you can change suppliers without an early termination fee,

It's interesting because there doesn't seem to be any reference to this within my new contract, nor any of the auxillary documents on EE's website.

I think, having spent a few further hours looking into it, I am probably right - in theory. However, in the end, I'm likely not to bother pushing the subject. It's arguably simpler and less expensive in the long run sticking with BT's services - which I am still allowed to retain.

Anyway - cheers for the input all.