BT Broadband Fibre with Halo 3

Bertietheviszla

I have had this service since 2020 due to working from home during the lockdown. My contract after renewal last year will end in Dec 27. I have now retired and cannot afford the cost of £74.99 a month especially when the speed is 32 download and 3 upload. I have asked BT if they can downgrade my package for financial reasons and as the speeds are so slow and take out the Halo and complete WiFi set up to reduce my cost. I still wanted to stay with BT as I have been with them for 40 years. They have refused. It’s there anything else I can do.

Ayr_Rage

Change providers, loyalty is pointless in the utility markets.

Exodi

Could you give a bit more detail about their refusal?

Usually people are in contract for an initial term of 12/18/24 months (typically accompanied with a promotional price) after which they can cancel as they please. You can also cancel within contract, but most will charge you Early Termination charges, which can be sizeable (e.g. 50% of the amount you would have paid over the remainder of the contract).

If you have been with them since 2020, it's hard to image you are still in contract unless you renewed with them (e.g. to get a better price), but even then you can still cancel for a fee. I don't understand the grounds for an outright refusal (but I guess companies can do what they want).

Why are you desperate to stay with BT out of interest? I understand you feel loyal to them as you have been with them for 40 years, but these companies rely on inertia, yet look how they treat you when you ask to change package. Not only that, most providers run on the exact same lines (e.g. BT runs on the Open Reach network, as does Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk, Plusnet, EE, etc). It's not too dissimilar to people paying twice as much to British Gas, despite it being the exact same physical gas by virtue of the brand name.

FWIW, your 40 year loyalty to BT costs you £75 a month for 32mb download speeds and they refuse to let you downgrade.

My 2 week loyalty to Sky costs me £28 a month for 900mb download speeds, they're paying my switching costs and I'm getting a £120 giftcard.

Loyalty does not pay with utilities.

southsidergs

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82101865#Comment_82101865

They liiterally say in the OP contract ends dec 27 so this is a case of seeing out what was agreed

Exodi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82101984#Comment_82101984

Oh yes you're right, my bad.

Though I'm not sure I agree they should just wait out the contract - usually you can cancel within contract, but pay early termination fees. It's hard to comment with certainty on whether this makes sense without knowing what those charges are (best to call them and ask), and how much an alternative package might cost. Considering the OP is paying £75 p/m and there is fibre packages going nowadays for £25 a month, even if they charged him half cost for the remainder of the contract, it would still make sense to switch immediately.

I did a bit of searching on the BT forums and it seems this is a relatively common issue.

Seems BT is desperate to not let these high margin customers change service.

https://community.bt.com/t5/Bills-Packages/Unable-to-downgrade-from-BT-Halo-no-matter-who-I-have-spoken-to/td-p/2424136

https://community.bt.com/t5/Bills-Packages/Locked-into-HALO-and-unable-to-reduce-costs-do-BT-ever-try-to/td-p/2394952

https://community.bt.com/t5/Bills-Packages/Escape-from-Halo-3/td-p/2452325

etc

southsidergs

FWIW Sky will be the same, you're on a loss leader deal & they'll be holding onto those paying more

QrizB

My contract after renewal last year will end in Dec 27. I have now retired and cannot afford the cost

I don't want to sound rude, but renewing for 2 years in December 2025 while planning to retire in 2026 was a little short-sighted.

It’s there anything else I can do.

You're stuck between a rock and a hard place.

You can stay until the end of your contract, paying £74.99 per month plus whatever increase comes along in April, or you can pay the early termination fee and switch elsewhere.

iniltous

perhaps you can post an itemised bill , as although Halo is expensive, typically adding £20 , that would still mean over £50 for broadband, and if 32Mb is the limit for your location then taking anything other than the cheapest Fibre Essential (40Mb the most basic package) which is around £25, would be nonsensical, so where does the rest of the costs come from , especially if you renewed in Dec 25 you have only had one £4 increase……if you have Unlimited Minutes call plan , that could add £18 , do you have this or any other extra products like TV , although TV seems unlikely as you would be with EE not BT .

As stated , if you agreed to a 24 month deal 8-9 months ago , the price is what you agreed , you have no reason to complain.

Bertietheviszla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82102039#Comment_82102039

Sadly Ill Health retirement so definitely not planned.