Cancelling BT Broadband contract

dannymccann

Hi! Im a student sharing a house with 2 mates, we all chip in for BB and phoneline at £36 a month. We got the broadband sorted ourselves when we moved in, under the assumption we were staying for 2 years, so an 18 month contract would be fine. It has now transpired due to circumstances that we are going our separate ways after only 10 - 12 months of the contract. A quote from the BT T&C's:

BT SAYS
BT Total Broadband service terms



Ending your agreement for the service

• If you want to end your agreement, you may do so by giving us 30 days' notice.
• If you are using any services applications or features which are free of charge, these will end on the day your agreement with us ends.

BT Total Broadband price terms

• If you end your BT Total Broadband agreement within the minimum period you must pay a charge by way of compensation to us. This charge will equate to the total of the monthly rental charges left in the minimum period. This charge is not subject to VAT. We may also charge you up to £45 for any equipment we may have provided to you as part of the service.

END OF QUOTE

Now to me that above says one thing then says completely the other? Now I would like to know where I stand on cancelling come May 08, with 6 or 7 months outstanding on the contract?

Also, does the fact we are paying for an 8mb service when our line speed, limited by BT, can achieve a maximum speed of 6.5mb and has only done so since Christmas have any say in this situation?

Many thanks (SORRY FOR THE ESSAY!)

Dan

normanmark

Ok, first of all as you've signed for an 18 month contract you'll all have to pay the remaining months of the contract if you wish to cancel it early.

Secondly you pay for an up to 8mb service, basically the speed they offer is only dependent on the line its put on & as yours can hold 6.5mb then thats the most it will ever hold. Definitely not something that will have any bearing on the former point.

To sum up you guys will just have to pay the remaining months left on the contract should you wish to cancel

HTH

dannymccann

As I ordered over the phone, should the sales operative not have checked what speed I could get and attempted to offer me a slower 4mb/2mb package though? Im no 'noob' at computers and the internet, so it wouldn't have fazed me, but I was never offered a service that I realistically could achieve

I did think any replies would be like this, I have sent a polite email to BT explaining the situation so hopefully I will get an unscripted reply from someone who knows what they are talking about

Dan

normanmark

There are no smaller packages, the only difference in packages is the bandwidth allowances. They're all up to 8mb so that argument would be flawed some what.

Realistically you guys committed to the 18 month term & used the service, because you're moving out isn't the fault of the service provider, so I'd say it'd be a minor miracle if you didn't pay the remaining months whilst cancelling the contract

dannymccann

Yer, and we can see why they are doing it, worth a try though I suppose. If they really dont want to make an exception I just wont ever use them again for anything, I know they wont care but it will make me feel better lol

[Deleted User]

On a regular ADSL line, 6.5mb is excellent. I have ADSL2 and i only get that (hence i'm downgrading my 24mb package to 8mb)

Forget thinking you're a special contract lawyer, i remember what a smart !!! we all were at uni. You will have to pay the remaining term of the internet, or a fee.

Have you considered moving the contract to another address? You may only pay a £15 transfer fee and it'd solve a lot of problems.

BTisSHIT

6.5 MB - Thats a dream.

I was told I would *only* get 3.5Mb. After it was installed it was pathetic. I got the line tested .... 135Kb.

BT told me the line was "optimising" for 10 days which is an excuse to use up your cancel window. BT openly admitted 135k was a bit slow, No !!!! sherlock. They expect at least 493k to classify you as a broadband service.

So I cant stand it any more. I am going to get screwed by them again to cancel and I cannot wait to get Virgin back.

Thinking of joining BT - Leave it well alone. Most expensive out there and by far the worst service. £20+ for copper wire or half that for fibre optic 20Mb. No contest