BT September price increase

[Onelife]

BT customers will be aware that their TV, broadband, telephone packages are set to rise come 16th Sept.

As l understand it all affected customers will be given at least 30 days notice which allows them to escape their contract penalty without charge.

The price increases would have amounted to about £4.50 extra a month on our BT package. Anyway nothing ventured nothing gained l phoned up BT to ask if there was a better deal while still retaining the same package.

Not sure how this will work out in the long term but we have taken out an 18 month contract which has reduced our total package cost by £18.50 per month.

Anyhow the point of this post is to say it may be worth a phone call before changing provider.

keith

[Whynd1]

We took out a similar package. No price rises during the 18 months.
We have however added BT sports to our phone bill which we watch through Sky as the two men in this household watch an awful lot of sports. Our sky bill has dropped by a third when we rang up to see about our high bill.
We had been customers for years and it seems we were paying for blocks of channels which we don't use ie children's TV. Sky have restructured how they charge you for what you watch and it's easier to drop certain blocks of channels.
All in all its evened itself out nicely.

[Stephen]

We only have BT for the phone line for the internet which to me is a waste of money as we never use the land line just our mobiles. I regularly get information about BT bargain broadband packages, which sound great, that is until you read the small print. The price starts off good, and then you read what it jumps up to at the end of the contract. Ridiculously expensive. I wonder how many people get caught out by the dangling carrot only to almost die of shock when they get either they're 13th or 19th bill!

Yes, you may be able to re-negotiate with the current provider or look elsewhere, but who needs the hassle of doing that every year. They all promise the earth only to let you down with poor speed, customer service and the need to learn the Indian or Geordie language.

I'm currently with Sky (oh dear I hear you say). And you would be right. You have more chance getting through to god than Sky.

[david63]

Been with BT for many years - tried changing to TalkTalk once upon a time and almost lost all connections (phone, internet), just managed to cancel in time.

Just set a reminder when the contract is due for renewal and a quick phone call has always succeeded in getting me a lower price for the next 12/18 months.

The one thing that does baffle me is the constant offer of whatever the current package it is that will give me extra broadband speed which it cannot as we still have copper wire to the house and there is a limit as to what copper can support. The fact that they (any provider) have hi speed fibre is pointless until it comes to my front door.

[oldbluefox]

I've been with TalkTalk and must have been lucky as we have had few problems, nothing to be concerned about. I don't think there is a perfect telephone/internet provider but my experience of TalkTalk has been good. Perhaps TalkTalk are particular about who they let in!!!
Prior to moving we had Virgin and that seemed to work well, probably because access was provided by fibre cables direct to home although service failed when water got into the cables (at least that was the excuse we were given).

[towny44]

We only have BT for the phone line for the internet which to me is a waste of money as we never use the land line just our mobiles. I regularly get information about BT bargain broadband packages, which sound great, that is until you read the small print. The price starts off good, and then you read what it jumps up to at the end of the contract. Ridiculously expensive. I wonder how many people get caught out by the dangling carrot only to almost die of shock when they get either they're 13th or 19th bill!

Yes, you may be able to re-negotiate with the current provider or look elsewhere, but who needs the hassle of doing that every year. They all promise the earth only to let you down with poor speed, customer service and the need to learn the Indian or Geordie language.

I'm currently with Sky (oh dear I hear you say). And you would be right. You have more chance getting through to god than Sky.

I think you need a bit more patience Stephen, I have this morning saved £21.50 a month on my Sky package, which is not to be a sneezed at.

[Stephen]

You must be sleeping with the owner John to be able to talk to them, let alone get a good deal

I personally think Sky's packages are expensive for the speeds they are offering compared to other providers, even for existing customers like me.

[Stephen]

I've been with TalkTalk and must have been lucky as we have had few problems, nothing to be concerned about. I don't think there is a perfect telephone/internet provider but my experience of TalkTalk has been good. Perhaps TalkTalk are particular about who they let in!!!
Prior to moving we had Virgin and that seemed to work well, probably because access was provided by fibre cables direct to home although service failed when water got into the cables (at least that was the excuse we were given).

They let you in Foxy so they're obviously not that fussy

[MaureenB]

Beware the BT deal. I locked into a 2 year deal but was staggered to realise that despite starting at a reasonable rate they still increased the tariffs at regular intervals. Can't think of many organisations who would get away with that. Fixed rate deals for mortgages and fuel would not be allowed to renege on the deal. It has only been very recently that BT have noticeably stated that you can renegotiate your package at each hike in prices. But you are still open to periodic increases!

I have been waiting for the email (received on Friday) that informed me that ,yet again, the are increasing their prices. Now they are compelled to allow you to release yourself from a contract at no cost if you switch to another provider within the notice period stated in the email. I contacted BT and as expected they could not anywhere near match the quote I got from another company to switch. So I have joyfully jumped ship and have got a contract that expressly confirms that they will NOT increase broadband and phone price during the 18 months term I have entered into.I do not have to pay to BT the remainder of my contract with them....AND I will get the refund of the unused portion of the advance line rental I paid to them earlier in the year!

I have more bells and whistles with new one,and the MSE site gives them a good customer care score which is an important factor. I should add that I do not take any TV/films/sport package from either BT or the new one. Just fibre broadband and anytime telephone calls. And I have saved what is effectively the annual line rental fee of circa £200. I'm very content with that and delighted with the promise not to increase prices during the 18 month term.

[oldbluefox]

I've been with TalkTalk and must have been lucky as we have had few problems, nothing to be concerned about. I don't think there is a perfect telephone/internet provider but my experience of TalkTalk has been good. Perhaps TalkTalk are particular about who they let in!!!
Prior to moving we had Virgin and that seemed to work well, probably because access was provided by fibre cables direct to home although service failed when water got into the cables (at least that was the excuse we were given).

They let you in Foxy so they're obviously not that fussy

When you're onto a good thing you make sure to keep all the riff-raff out.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I bet my Sky package is cheaper than anyone else's

[towny44]

I bet my Sky package is cheaper than anyone else's

Go on then Merv I know you are dying to tell us why, Oh but hang on you don't have Sky at all. Presumably it must be a condition of your Beeb pension that you're not allowed to watch anything but BBC output, poor thing.

[Stephen]

I bet my Sky package is cheaper than anyone else's

Go on then Merv I know you are dying to tell us why, Oh but hang on you don't have Sky at all. Presumably it must be a condition of your Beeb pension that you're not allowed to watch anything but BBC output, poor thing.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Funnily enough I watch BBC ITV Channel 4 and Chanoel 5 and their various derivatives and really don't have time to spend money on anything extra.

[allatc]

We only have BT for the phone line for the internet which to me is a waste of money as we never use the land line just our mobiles. I regularly get information about BT bargain broadband packages, which sound great, that is until you read the small print. The price starts off good, and then you read what it jumps up to at the end of the contract. Ridiculously expensive. I wonder how many people get caught out by the dangling carrot only to almost die of shock when they get either they're 13th or 19th bill!

Yes, you may be able to re-negotiate with the current provider or look elsewhere, but who needs the hassle of doing that every year. They all promise the earth only to let you down with poor speed, customer service and the need to learn the Indian or Geordie language.

I'm currently with Sky (oh dear I hear you say). And you would be right. You have more chance getting through to god than Sky.

Not sure how much you're paying for your BT line but Freeola do a "internet only" line rental which is £10/month, broadband plus line is from £26/month

[Onelife]

We only have BT for the phone line for the internet which to me is a waste of money as we never use the land line just our mobiles. I regularly get information about BT bargain broadband packages, which sound great, that is until you read the small print. The price starts off good, and then you read what it jumps up to at the end of the contract. Ridiculously expensive. I wonder how many people get caught out by the dangling carrot only to almost die of shock when they get either they're 13th or 19th bill!

Yes, you may be able to re-negotiate with the current provider or look elsewhere, but who needs the hassle of doing that every year. They all promise the earth only to let you down with poor speed, customer service and the need to learn the Indian or Geordie language.

I'm currently with Sky (oh dear I hear you say). And you would be right. You have more chance getting through to god than Sky.

Not sure how much you're paying for your BT line but Freeola do a "internet only" line rental which is £10/month, broadband plus line is from £26/month

Hi allatc.....sounds a good offer......what broadband speed do they say you will get?

[Stephen]

We only have BT for the phone line for the internet which to me is a waste of money as we never use the land line just our mobiles. I regularly get information about BT bargain broadband packages, which sound great, that is until you read the small print. The price starts off good, and then you read what it jumps up to at the end of the contract. Ridiculously expensive. I wonder how many people get caught out by the dangling carrot only to almost die of shock when they get either they're 13th or 19th bill!

Yes, you may be able to re-negotiate with the current provider or look elsewhere, but who needs the hassle of doing that every year. They all promise the earth only to let you down with poor speed, customer service and the need to learn the Indian or Geordie language.

I'm currently with Sky (oh dear I hear you say). And you would be right. You have more chance getting through to god than Sky.

Not sure how much you're paying for your BT line but Freeola do a "internet only" line rental which is £10/month, broadband plus line is from £26/month

Thanks for that, will investigate

[Stephen]

We only have BT for the phone line for the internet which to me is a waste of money as we never use the land line just our mobiles. I regularly get information about BT bargain broadband packages, which sound great, that is until you read the small print. The price starts off good, and then you read what it jumps up to at the end of the contract. Ridiculously expensive. I wonder how many people get caught out by the dangling carrot only to almost die of shock when they get either they're 13th or 19th bill!

Yes, you may be able to re-negotiate with the current provider or look elsewhere, but who needs the hassle of doing that every year. They all promise the earth only to let you down with poor speed, customer service and the need to learn the Indian or Geordie language.

I'm currently with Sky (oh dear I hear you say). And you would be right. You have more chance getting through to god than Sky.

Not sure how much you're paying for your BT line but Freeola do a "internet only" line rental which is £10/month, broadband plus line is from £26/month

Thanks for that, will investigate

Checked. Not sure where you are getting you prices, but for fibre + line rental £40+ a month. Too expensive for me.

[Mervyn and Trish]

We are paying around £30 to EE for line rental, broadband (don't know the speed but it is good enough for streaming catch up tv services without buffering) and all local and national calls at any time.

[Stephen]

We are paying around £30 to EE for line rental, broadband (don't know the speed but it is good enough for streaming catch up tv services without buffering) and all local and national calls at any time.

Perhaps your one of the lucky ones Merv, but it doesn't sound good for the majority and not something I want to risk getting involved with.

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/broadband.ee.co.uk

[anneed]

I have been trying to renew my contract with BT for three months but there is a 'technical fault' on my account which stops the order going through. Despite many, many calls I've got nowhere. It's being handled 'off line' by a department in India which no one in the UK can contact except by email. Every time I ring I'm given a new date of when I will hear from them - but I rarely do. I'm locked in because I've prepaid my line rental until October. I've raised a complaint which will stay open until the fault is fixed - although I can't believe it ever will be. Meanwhile I have to keep ringing and going through long explanations because I never get the same person twice and I have to get my bill adjusted each month because the price went up when I went out of contract. Nightmare.

[david63]

I have been trying to renew my contract with BT for three months but there is a 'technical fault' on my account which stops the order going through. Despite many, many calls I've got nowhere. It's being handled 'off line' by a department in India which no one in the UK can contact except by email. Every time I ring I'm given a new date of when I will hear from them - but I rarely do. I'm locked in because I've prepaid my line rental until October. I've raised a complaint which will stay open until the fault is fixed - although I can't believe it ever will be. Meanwhile I have to keep ringing and going through long explanations because I never get the same person twice and I have to get my bill adjusted each month because the price went up when I went out of contract. Nightmare.

Next time threaten to report them to Ofcom if not resolved in seven days

[Onelife]

I have been trying to renew my contract with BT for three months but there is a 'technical fault' on my account which stops the order going through. Despite many, many calls I've got nowhere. It's being handled 'off line' by a department in India which no one in the UK can contact except by email. Every time I ring I'm given a new date of when I will hear from them - but I rarely do. I'm locked in because I've prepaid my line rental until October. I've raised a complaint which will stay open until the fault is fixed - although I can't believe it ever will be. Meanwhile I have to keep ringing and going through long explanations because I never get the same person twice and I have to get my bill adjusted each month because the price went up when I went out of contract. Nightmare.

Hi anneed

Have you tried BT " l want to leave number" 0800 783 1401....Once you get through (should be a uk operator) ask to be transferred to the UK complaints department...then take it from there.

Good luck

keith

[anneed]

Thanks for the suggestions. Not sure I want to get involved with Ofcom but it's something to bear in mind. I see 0800 783 1401 is for cancellations but if they can put me through to a UK complaints dept that would be good. As mentioned I have raised a complaint but have only heard back from people in India so I will give that a go.

[MaureenB]

Thanks for the suggestions. Not sure I want to get involved with Ofcom but it's something to bear in mind. I see 0800 783 1401 is for cancellations but if they can put me through to a UK complaints dept that would be good. As mentioned I have raised a complaint but have only heard back from people in India so I will give that a go.

I have had need to take BT to task. Try the number 0800 085 1756. This takes you through to the Loyalty Department. They matched and exceeded a quote from another company a week or so back.Worth a shot