British Telecom unfair charges

davyarcher

BT have charged me £ 4.50 for a " Payment processing fee " because I refuse to pay them by direct debit any more.

I was on direct debit with them for years before I began to exist on incapacity benefit, the problem with direct debit is that companies can take their payments exactly when they wish = sometimes plus or minus 7 days from the agreed withdrawal date each month.

When BT drew their payment a day before my " payday " Abbey would charge me £ 50 for going overdrawn.

Can BT legally charge me £ 4.50 for not being paid the way that they want ?

Why can't I pay them the way that I want, at the time that I want = Standing order or cheque ?

BT are also charging me £7.50 for a " Late payment ".

This was probably a DAY late.

Can BT legally charge for late payments ?

Poppycat

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/apr/26/internetphonesbroadband.btgroupbusiness

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-1310929,00.html


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7319545.stm

BT customer loses case on charges


Ms Fernihough said she was considering an appeal

A solicitor has lost her case against BT over what she claimed were unfair charges for the five million customers who do not pay by direct debit.

Poppycat

Yes she is

normanmark

Is it not easier to leave the amount in the account & get a direct debit set up?

jhp

normanmark wrote: »

Is it not easier to leave the amount in the account & get a direct debit set up?

As recommended by Martin MSE here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/direct-debit#save

bbb_uk

Paying by direct debit offers a guarantee. See here.

What is meant to happen is that BT must provide notice of any change in amount or date of collection if it varies from the set date.

However, if the setdate (say the 1st) falls on a weekend then I think what normally happens is that companies take the money out on the friday before or the monday after the weekend.

You should be able to ask BT to change the date if its inconvenient.

HennyPenny

There is a petition against these charges here
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Processingfees/

BexTech

Why are people complaining now?

People who don't pay by Direct Debit have always paid more than those who do.

All that changed was the difference went from £1 per month to £1.50 per month and they detail on the bill instead hiding it in the line rental fee.

People really need to stop living beyond their means and get some budgeting and money management skills in, they should make sure they don't run their accounts so close to £0.00 or their overdraft limit that they would get hit.

When I was made redundant, we got rid of services until we had a decent buffer zone and from that day on, always made sure we don't have credit if we can't pay it back if we were out of work again, make sure I don't have too many services that I can't cancel without charge etc.

Why should the majority who can budget suffer because of a minority who can't?

billsavings

HennyPenny wrote: »

There is a petition against these charges here
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Processingfees/

Yes so you keep telling us in various threads.

With respect As the Judge pointed out in a recent case ,You do have the option of either starting to pay by direct debit or incurring the charge or leaving BT.

teddyco

What I think is unfair about BT's mode of operation is that they implore folks to switch their bills from 'paper' to 'online', but their 'reward' to the customer is in the guise of 'save the planet'.

Then when the customer pays their BT bill via online payment which bypasses an envelope opener and data processor, and saves BT the cost of overhead, staff, and labor, BT refuses to pass some of those savings to the customer via lower bills.

No, I am not going to get Direct Debit because I have a choice and I don't like Direct Debit!

I welcome the day when I can totally disconnect this dilapidated copper phone line, tell BT on yer bike mate, and switch to Fiber Optic Cable for TV, Phone, and Broadband like they have in Europe and the USA.

deklan99

teddyco wrote: »

Then when the customer pays their BT bill via online payment which bypasses an envelope opener and data processor, and saves BT the cost of overhead, staff, and labor, BT refuses to pass some of those savings to the customer via lower bills.

Does not cost save. With DD any company knows when, how much, who has paid and where the money will end up. Just set it up and of it goes. Non-DD the company has no idea when you are paying, how you are paying, how much you are paying, if it's the right amount, or indeed where to look for it.

No, I am not going to get Direct Debit because I have a choice and I don't like Direct Debit!

I welcome the day when I can totally disconnect this dilapidated copper phone line, tell BT on yer bike mate, and switch to Fiber Optic Cable for TV, Phone, and Broadband like they have in Europe and the USA.

You can already, it's called Virgin, cost for non-DD payment £5.

As you say you have a choice with BT, other companies don't even offer you that.