Cancelling a broadband contract

[PBancroft]

I ummed and arred about putting this into Electric - if the mods think it is better placed there, please move it.

I've been looking into moving to Virgin Media for a while. I was finally swung when I noticed the prices would give me a basic TV package (a few additional channels, but most importantly iPlayer etc), phone, and broadband for the price that I currently pay for phone and broadband alone but with a faster line.

I phone BT to cancel my broadband. I'm not bound by a contract, so I can cancel on whatever date I choose. All great so far, until the operative drops the clunker. "That'll be £30," he says.

Um, what?

The operative blamed it on Openreach and not BT (last time I checked they were the same group, but hey ho). Digging around, this seems fairly normal when a MAC code is not needed... but why? I understand that some work would need to be carried out to cancel my agreement - but either somebody is vastly overpaid, or BT are making a stonking profit even when their customers leave.

Now lets assume that I am not leaving BT because I am going to a competitor, but because I'm strapped for cash. The Internet really isn't a necessity for many people, so this isn't inconceivable. They are effectively making the hard up pay an additional month and then some just for wanting to leave. But what can you do - its all there in the fine print, even though these charges have only been introduced AFTER I first signed up with them.

Grrdegrr. *shakes fist*

 

[ianrauk]

Virgin Media would charge an amount also. As I think would most companies these days.
I recently swapped my mobile phone to Virgin Media and Vodafone charged me for the privilege even though I was at the end of my contract.

Virgin Media also just charged me £30 just to upgrade my broadband to 30meg. (But they did throw in a new modem/router)

 

[Moodyman]

Ian's bang on.

I work in the sector and all telecoms providers charge a 30-day notice fee.

It ain't right, but there you go

 

[Davidc]

Don't Ofcom do anything to protect consumers?

 

[Slim]

Don't Ofcom do anything to protect consumers?

Protection of customers is handled by OffRip

 

[Over The Hill]

So what are they actually doing for £30.00?

You did choose to shop with them an now choose not to. So how does a cost arise?

Does someone at BT have to phisically go along and unplug something and plug it in somewhere else? Cannot imagne so today.

I would pester them to use up the £30 in costs dealying with you.

 

[accountantpete]

Write and tell them that your budgie has died.


http://www.productsandservices.bt.c...oter_popupid=26823&s_cid=con_FURL_ceasecharge

 

[PBancroft]

Does someone at BT have to phisically go along and unplug something and plug it in somewhere else? Cannot imagne so today.

I can imagine that there is some work involved, actually... but certainly not a long or arduous job. A telephone technician may prove otherwise. I can either be generous and say that at £30 an hour it is a very specialist task or somebody is being really rather well paid... or BT (and others) are profiteering.

 

[swee'pea99]

Beware the small print. I recently had to cancel what - it turns out - was a two year contract, after 8 months. BT now want to charge me £440 for a service I no longer need (and they no longer need to provide) - ie, the full monthly charge for the remaining period of the contract. £30 of that, it turns out, is to cease the service. 'Don't cease it then!' I said. 'But you said you don't want it,' he said. 'I don't,' I said, 'but nor do I want to pay you any more than I absolutely have to not to provide it.' £440! That'll learn me.