re bt charging

[wildrob]

hi
i have bt line rental, and just found out that bt charge an extra £5 pounds if you do not pay your bill within 28 days,
i did have a chat to bt and was told why should other people pay because i did not pay within 28 days, i did point out that i am paying 3 months in advance for this sevice, and i use a payment card, so bt are hitting people who might have trouble paying.

can bt charge £5

cheers rob

[davethorp]

Think the general concensus is this is a penalty charge and reclaimable in the normal way. Subject Access Request (if needed), Prelim, LBA, Moneyclaim

Someone had success on this front with telewest recently and their thread is still pretty near the top of the telecoms section

[buzby]

It was added to their T&C last year, and formed part of the 'BT Update' leaflet (in tiny print). I replied to it, rejecting the condition saying it was an unlawful penalty, and whilst I make every effort to pay within the timescale I do not accept their demand that they have any right to collect this abount, thich is flat rate and does not reflect their costs. Naturaly, there was no reply.

[wildrob]

Hi all thanks for your messages.
the point i dont understand is that i am paying for a service in advance, (3months) so how can they do that after 28 days.

[buzby]

They can do what they like - it's their ball. However we don;t have to accept it and can give them grief.... and leave if they refuse to negotiate or be reasonable.

[wildrob]

hi.
i spoke to bt and told them i was not happy about it, and was told i can always use another phone company, which i cant, however bt agreed to wave the £5 charge, and if you inform them they will wave the fee twice in a year, but you have to inform them. its a start lol

[davethorp]

Got to love the CS that told you to go and use another phone company. Just me but I'd be telling someone high up in BT what their CS are telling people to do

Though most of BTs CS are in india these days I believe (least the last 2 people I had to speak to from BT struggled with basic english) so its not surprising really

[tominator]

gd

[wildrob]

hi
i did speak to cs and told them they are breaking a few laws, then a manager spoke to me,( what a w****r) sorry and tried to belittle me, with the likes of why have bt if you cant afford it, i manage my account badly,
sorry but if it was an india manager i would have put the phone down, because i have problems understanding them, who teaches them, cause i use lloyds tsb and i closed my account cant understand them, sorry