Hi

I've seen a load of posts referring to this subject and for that I apologise but I could really do with some help on something that hasn't been described as yet.

For starters, I have had nothing but trouble with BT for the last three months but it a solution has been reached - basically they overcharged me, I disputed it, they took money anyway sending me over drawn and many bank charges on top. The 'solution' was for me to pay the debt (that turned out to be right) minus the bank charges I had incurred.

Due to the complete incompetence I experienced, I just want to cut off from BT and not pay them one more penny so I joined Sky. I then realised (after BT had cut me off!) that I was still paying a line rental to BT so I rang Sky and agreed to pay them for my line rental. I then get a letter from BT demanding £80 cancellation fee.

How long is a contract with BT? We have been in the house for three years and with BT for that long at least. From reading on this site, I know there are 12 month and 18 month contracts but three years!?! Is it a rolling contract that I'm not aware of? I definitely haven't signed anything in the last two years at least.

Any help or advce would be greatly appreciated as I am at my wits end with them!!!!

Hopefully i can help you out

Firstly, you may be subject to the disconnection charge on one main factor. The fact you have been with them for 3 years tells me that you are outwith any set contract terms and indeed i believe you should be in a rolling contract ( offcom are investigating contract terms as we speak, not literally) which means you would not be subject to any disconnection) but because they have contacted you allready also tells me that they may have tied you into a contract 4 months ago. BT had a price increase around this time but were also offering free 0870 0845 calls which if you accepted would have tied you into an other set 12 months contract thus the 80 (10 x 8 months remaining contract)

Did you receive a call offering you reduced mobile call charges and free 0845 0870 calls? If so you may be subject to the disconnection charge as it was agreed verbally 1 way to get round it is asking for the recorded call off you agreeing to the terms if they cannot provide it and you have no documentation stating your in a contract you could be exempt advice you will be taking it up with offcom for failure to advice ethically you were entering i to a contract.

From that iff you have no luck you could always try sky because the bskyb company is massive they may if asked pay your disconnection charge!!

Hope this helps

Mx

Hi TheSaver09

Thank you very much for your reply.

I do not remember receiving a call to tell me I would be entering a new contract. I will check all my paperwork from them and maybe even risk a call to the crappy 'customer care' centre.

I just cannot wait to be rid of these theiving *** - I will never, ever spend another penny with BT for as long as I live.

Thank you again for your reply

S

No problems, iam glad i could help one other point i will make

Allthough i work for a direct competitor off BT i would now actually start to recommend them and below is the reasons why

1. Due to the LLU market opening up (Talk Talk , Orange,Sky) OFFCOM have now eased BT s restraints on pricing where before BT had to remain one of the most expensive on the market for triple play services because of the introductions of LLU that has now been eased - so now if you are lucky and certainly in the future you will get a good deal from them

2. Allthough stipulation from OFFCOM states that BT openreach cannot hold priority over BT retail customers than say sky talk or talk talk customers this is common practise where you phone up your current CPS and they pass the blame to BT directly and vice versa and in the mean time your left with downtime.

3. BT are at the forefront obviously for upgrading there networks by 2012 and will be one of the first organisations (other than virgin media) to offer youn faster speeds over 8 10 15 mb from your standard ADSL line

Again i do not work for BT but never count your chickens when you say you wont go back to them as in the future they will be as competive to any other CPS just wait (hopefully) untill the VIrgin Media network to get opened up for real value for money

Regards

Mark

letmeout:

There are two startegies you could use. First of all if you have specific grievance, raise the issue stating your expected outcome scrupulously following the BT Code of Practice for complaints. I would recommend you use the written route using Signed For delivery as you (or others) have noticed a tendency to "lie" about contacts. To be fair a common failing with many large companies.

After the procedure is exhausted you are then entitled to invoke the alternative dispute resolution procuured, OTELO I think. This costs BT a hefty case fee but you nothing.

Secondly, if you are prepared to "invest" £10, make a Data Subject Access Request requiring all your records including records of calls made and also the recordings if available. This shows to you exactly what records BT have. BT can no longer argue points not substantiated in the provided records. It also costs BT significantly more than £10 to provide, so a win there.

Unfortunately I not sure there is any telecom company that can truely be recommended for truthfullness and customer service.

Hi, I too am REALLY fed up with BT, so much so that I have cancelled my land line now just to sort the problems out. However I found out on Friday that if you report them to offcom that they give you a BT offcom number to ring (you can only get this through offcom, BT can not give it to you, for some weird reason?!). I rang them and they promise to resolve dispute in 2 days, they have seemed to sort out the problem and have said all call charges etc will be refunded, but I will wait until I have a confirmation of this by post and a cheque before i belive anything they tell me, my dispute has been ongoing for 6 months!!

A rival phone company (tesco homephone) gave me offcom number to ring, they were really helpful :-> I was told if enough people complain to them about same dispute, BT will recieve a fine, so complain! Good luck.