@btcare BT Broadband Cease Charge

[alison444]

Hi everyone,

 

My first post on here is about the cancellation of BT broadband charge.

 

We have just moved house and cancelled our BT line and broadband at our old address. We had completed the term of our contract so there are no penalties for early termination. We have swapped provide to go with Sky at our new address.

 

I have just received my final bill from BT which includes a £30 charge just for cancelling Broadband and not staying with them...

 

Can they REALLY do this? Whether I am satisfied or not with the service I have to pay to leave?!?!?!

 

That's like going into a restaurant having a meal, on your way out they ask if you will come back and they charge you double because you want to go elsewhere next time!

 

Thanks for any advice

Alison

[dx100uk]

if you did not sign or agree to a new contract no they cant.

 

watch your cra file though.

 

dx

[alison444]

If they can't what is my argument? What have they breached?

Thanks

[silverfox1961]

Hi and welcome to CAG

 

From BT:

 

A cease charge of £30.00 (not subject to VAT) is payable if you cease your broadband service and do not request and use a migration access code or another recognised transfer process to move to another service provider.

 

and:

 

This charge is not raised if you are moving home and BT is unable to provide the service at the new address.

 

From what you posted, you cancelled with BT and as you were moving, you had no need of a MAC code. As you didn't re-sign with BT, they charged you the 'cessation fee'

 

Personally, I feel this fee is unfair as it penalises you for 'disloyalty' to BT when you move house and I would be challenging it. Just because it is in their terms and conditions does not necessarily make it fair.

 

As DX has mentioned, make damn sure BT don't mark your credit file over this charge. To be sure they don't do this, I would advise you pay it 'under duress' and complain, going all the way to the ombudsman if necessary.

[alison444]

Thanks Silverfox, that was going through my mind, because ultimately they have stated it as a condition.... But it doesn't mean it is fair.

[MaxxPower]

It's not only BT that charge this. Most ADSL broadband providers will charge you this when you simply cancel the broadband outright without moving to a new provider. My parents got whacked with this when they cancelled ADSL to move to Virgin Fibre Optic internet.

I believe the reason for the charge is that when you outright end the broadband, someone does have to visit the Exchange to physically do something (at least this is how it was explained to me at the time) so the charge is to cover the cost of that.