Bt I'm Hopping Mad At Them!

[angry cat]

Hi Guys,

Over the last couple of years due to my illness, I have been on occasions late in paying my phone bill. On each occasion I was charged £5 for being late and also because I prefer to pay the bill by cheque I am charged for the extra for that payment method.

Recently, I have moved and since that time my bills have been paid on time. However, last week I received a phone call from BT at around 8pm 12 June 2007, in the evening, BT said that because my bill had not been paid, they may have to restrict my service. Now, here is the crux, I had not even received my bill yet?
I phoned the next morning and read them the riot act...asking BT "How am I supposed to pay your bill when I have not even recived your bill?
BT said that the bill was sent out on 7 June 2007 and that I should have received it within 5-7 days.
so I said but I have not received it and as I am not clairvoyant, I cannot pay a bill when I do not know how much the bill is for and demanded an explanation.

I was put on hold.

I was then informed that because I had been late paying previously, my BT credit rating had gone down from 8 to 6!? I said but for my last 3 bills I have paid you on time and that when I was late paying I was unwell. Your actions could be viewed as discriminatory. BT eventually said that they would allow extra time for me to pay, as I had not yet received the bill.

Anyhow, I did received the bill the next day 14 June 2007 but I am so angry about their unfair practice of harassing me for payment 6 days after the issue date of the bill: a bill I had not yet received!

Can anyone give me some advice firstly about the charges and secondly about the premature collections call which in my opinion is unfair.

Love AC

[buzby]

It's a sad fact, but they are ALL doing this - as it is cheaper (and they say more productive) to speak to the debtor than send a reminder letter that will be igored.

As to the chareges - you can ask for removal, but they probably will not. Your only recourse is to pay and fight for the charges back, or pay only what is due, and do likewise - but remembering your line may well be restricted OR disconnected automatically for having money outstanding.

As to personal issues/circumstances, this is no longer an issue - suppliers just do not care.

[angry cat]

Thank you for your response buzby!

Originally Posted by buzby

It's a sad fact, but they are ALL doing this - as it is cheaper (and they say more productive) to speak to the debtor than send a reminder letter that will be igored".

WELL, IT MAY WElL BE STANDARD INDUSTRY PRACTICE, BUT I AM LIVID!!!
I SUPPOSE THAT IT COULD BE DEEMED ACCEPTABLE FOR BT TO CALL ME RE: AN OVERDUE BILL. HOWEVER WHEN THEY CALLED ME 12 JUNE , I HAD NOT EVEN RECEIVED THEIR BILL DATED 7 JUNE 2006, TOGETHER WITH THE FACT THAT NO AMOUNT WAS OUTSTANDING: HOW COULD I BE DEEMED TO BE A DEBTOR AS NO ACCOUNT HAD BEEN RECIEVED AND NO MONIES WERE OWED FROM PRIOR BILLS? IT'S ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING.

I PAID MY BT BILL TODAY 18 JUNE 2007 AT THE POST OFFICE. HOWEVER UPON MY RETURN HOME IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE, THAT BT HAVE SENT A REMINDER DATED 14 jUNE 2007 STATING "PAY THIS AMOUNT IMMEDIATELY".

OOH, NOW THIS IS A GOOD MONEY MAKING GAME ISN'T IT.
BT SEND BILL DATED 7 JUNE 2007
BT'S BILL NOT RECEIVED FOR 7 DAYS - 14 JUNE 2007 BUT BT CHASE FOR PAYMENT 12 JUNE 2007
BT SEND REMINDER DATED THURSAY 14 JUNE 2007...PAY IMMEDIATELY
BT REMINDER RECEIVED MONDAY 18 JUNE 2007
NOW THIS IS THE MONEY MAKING GAME PART, WHEN EXACTLY, OR HOW LONG DO BT WAIT UNTIL THEY CHARGE THE £5 LATE PAYMENT PENALTY

[Qoute] "As to the chareges - you can ask for removal, but they probably will not. Your only recourse is to pay and fight for the charges back, or pay only what is due, and do likewise - but remembering your line may well be restricted OR disconnected automatically for having money outstanding".

I HAVE PAID MY NON OVERDUE BT BILL BUT I AGAIN REITERATE THAT I AM EXTREMELY UNHAPPY ABOUT BT'S BAD PRACTICE AND POOR CUSTOMER RELATIONS. I VIGOROUSLY OBJECT ABOUT THE BT £5 LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, PLUS THE EXTRA MONEY THAT ONE HAS TO PAY JUST FOR PAYING BY CHEQUE. I DO NOT WISH TO PAY BY DIRECT DEBIT, WHY SHOULD I BE PENALISED FOR PAYING BY CHEQUE?"

IS THERE A TEMPLATE LETTER REGARDING THE REQUEST FOR CHARGES REGARDING BT?

[Quote} As to personal issues/circumstances, this is no longer an issue - suppliers just do not care.

THERE IS AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT CALLED THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT! THEREFORE THE SUPPLIERS MSUT BE MADE TO CARE.

Lastly, I will be writing a stinky letter to the telecommunications regulators.

Love AC

[buzby]

Disability discrimination has no bearing on this - on the basis that if they are incompetent for non-disabled, they're allowed to be equally incompetent for those that are.. therefore with both treated equally, there's no discrimination.