Haggling with BT

Leard91

I've been with BT for years. They've always been very reliable with good speeds, and I've rarely had issues with the broadband dropping or slow speeds. I renewed with them two years ago and managed to get them to put me on a new customer deal, the Fibre 500 one.

I'm due to end my contract with them at the end of November, and I'm considering my options. I've already phoned and spoken to them, and tried to haggle them down, but the best they're offering me is essentially the same deal. It's also the same thing they offer new customers, which !!!!!! me off. I've been loyal for years now, and they offer me basically the same as new customers. I ended the call not cancelling, but also not renewing.

The chap on the phone was insistent that he is offering me the absolute lowest price he can. Was he being particularly hard or should I phone back and try and haggle again?

I'm wary of cancelling and going for a different provider, as I'm very happy with BT and I've had a !!!!!! time with many other providers in the past and refused to never use them again. But I'm aware many other providers offer a better price for the same speed, and I can get some quite lucrative cashback if I switch to one of them (Vodafone, Fibrely, Onestream, Virgin Media).

What should I do here? Do you think I can get BT to at least throw in some free !!!!!!, or is he being genuine when he says it's the absolute lowest price without extras?

letsbetfair

The same deal as new customers may well be the best you can do. You could phone again and ask again - no harm in trying! Is this deal much dearer than other providers? You can ask BT to match other providers, but may need to switch to get the better price

iniltous

TBH , most complaints are that renewal customers don’t get the ‘new customer’ price , so in that respect you have already been offered something not every renewing customer gets offered , if it’s not good enough , and you can get a better deal from someone else , that’s something only you can decide, personally something like changing email address ( obviously you may not use your  @btinternet.com address ) would not be worth a small saving of a ££ or two .

macman

Quote them Plusnet rates. Same provider, same backhaul, better CS.

Chino

macman said:

Quote them Plusnet rates. ... better CS.

This evidence suggests there's no meaningful difference:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/service-quality/quality-of-service#broadbandtable

Rob5342

Negotiating is a case of who blinks first, they'll always try and make out they can't offer you any more. Phone and cancel and then see if any deals to stay magically appear.

Personally I can't imagine staying with any provider for over a year, I always switch to get a better deal or money from TopCashBack.

PoundingHeadache

I've just had much the same experience as Leard91.  I was paying BT nearly £90 per month for Broadband and Phone.  Phoned BT and now have the same service for £41.99 per month.  I just wish I'd done it sooner.  Why do you have to say that your considering cancelling in order to get the same deal as a new customer?

Ivegotaquestion2

I'm currently in the same boat. I can only get FTTC currently paying @£50pm for Halo3 with a payg landline which I don't use.
I phoned and spoke to a guy who just wasn't listening to me. I was quoting Plusnet £26pm broadband only no phone line and he just kept trying to tell me over and over that I have to pay for a phone line as well wether I want it or not as I'm not on full fibre and the absolute best price would be £49pm. He just wasn't prepared to negotiate further.
My big problem in negotiating is that Plusnet, Now and Sky proper will not entertain me as My correct address is not in their own postcode databases and its down to me to get it sorted!!
Ive found Talk Talk are an option for me @£28pm but a bit concerned re their financial problems.

unforeseen

If you can only get FTTC then you do need a land-line as well, and pay for it

400ixl

unforeseen said:

If you can only get FTTC then you do need a land-line as well, and pay for it

That depends on your exchange status. Many do not now need for you to have a landline to have broadband. If the exchange supports SoGEA then it can be broadband only.

400ixl

Ivegotaquestion2 said:

Ive found Talk Talk are an option for me @£28pm but a bit concerned re their financial problems.

Look at the link Chino posted. TalkTalk are the worst for complaints per 100k customers outside of Shell (who use TalkTalk for their broadband services).

They have been at the bottom for many years and their financial position is not going to help as they don't have the money to invest in customer service (not that they cared when they did).

They are a it works when it works, but don't expect any customer service if you do need it.

As for the OP, there is no such thing as loyalty discounts in broadband, there are too many existing customers who don't switch to not make it worth rewarding, they want the additional new revenues. If you want to stay then you likely have the best offer you will get, but black Friday is coming so you could see what that offers.