The new provider offers DD or Credit Card payments as the only option, so that is not an issue in this case and also as all calls to 01 and 02 numbers are free (my mobile has 1000 cross network minutes a month) then all I will be paying is 19.99 a month (whereas bt add on not only line rental but call costs, equipment rental (funny how they haven't asked for the old phone back after 14 years of chargeing for it) and then add vat on top of it all (yes even including vat added to the £4.50 Payment Processing fee) I have no problems with Direct Debit, but I do have a problem being told that unless I pay by direct debit I will be penalised (I have paid on time by cheque for the past 14 years so why should I now be penalised by an unfair charge) Would like some advice concerning how to respond to the letter from BT as I haven't paid the charge and therefore can not sue them for it's return. Many thanks again

how did this go ? Did you get a response from BT?? This may also be of interest to people An intersting issue has now arisen concernig the £4.50 payment processing fee and my account (ex) with BT. I have now changed from BT to Tiscali for both phone line rental and broadband, whereas previosuly I was being charged £11 and £27.99 per month by BT for rental only (plus call charges) and the dreadr £4.50 a quarter fee for paying by cheque. I now pay £19.99 a month for line rental, (upto) 8mb unlimited broadband and calls to 01 and 02 numbers with Tiscali. However I have refused to pay BT the £4.50 charge on my last two bills (including the final bill) and sent the letter as shown previously in this discussion. Today I received the following reply "Dear Sir Many thanks for your letter. Your views are important to us and we take all comments seriously. I'm sorry to read that you feel strongly about the changes to our payment options. We very much appreciate the fact that you always pay on time BT is committed to offering great value for money. We recently sent you a leaflet explaining why we've made changes to our payment options. On May 1st we reducedthe price of line rental by £3.00 and briadband by £3.00 a quarter for customers who don't pay by direct debit. There ia an amount outstanding on your final bill of £9.00, this payment is required and I would need to highlight that if an amount is left unpaid then normal follow action is taken which may result in the amount being referred to a debt collection agency. We are sorry to lose your custome however, we would like to remind you that as part of your terms and conditions you are required to pay your bill in full when you receive it Many thanks Yours sincerely K Hussain Customer Services Advisor" NOW My question is, has anyone else received a letter of this nature, threatining to pass their £4.50 or £9.00 of unjustified charges to a debt collection agency, and what shoudl my next steps be in this battle of unfair charges. I have moved away from BT (with a saving of £19 a month in basic charges), sent the appropriate letters and also withheld payment at the same time. Any suggestions