Renewal time after 2 years with BT

Hi guy's, it's been a while since I posted on here but after my FTTP was installed almost 2 years ago BT has emailed me stating it's time to renew my contract.

100% great service with BT and my 900/110 package has worked flawless in all that time so would really like to stay with them but have zero problems changing provider if there are better options around.

When enabled 2 years ago I got a great deal with them but looking at the new options they are wanting quite a lot more per month just to renew.

Is it a case of ringing retentions and doing the usual haggling or are there better options around that I am not aware of.

Thanks for any feedback and apologies for asking but I did a quick search and found nothing.

AIUI Retentions are expected to offer either the "new customer" price or something that is better than that over the new contract period. (As in not necessarily any initial 6 months half price or similar, but total cost over the period).

Ofcom has stepped in to ensure fairness for customers, by forcing telecoms and pay TV companies to warn customers between 10 and 40 days before their contract comes to an end. These alerts will be sent by text, email or letter.[3] They will include:

the contract end date;
the price paid before this date;
any changes to the service and price paid at the end of this period;
information about any notice period required to terminate the contract; and
the best deals offered by their provider, including telling loyal customers what prices are available to new customers.

See the last line in the quote.

I'm not sure that means they have to offer the same price to renewing customers, just that they have to tell them what offer they make to new ones.

There has been some discussion about that in the past, not necessarily here. But with many providers it has had that effect.

In the case of Retentions staff anywhere, not all will offer the same as another at the same provider. Plusnet for example clearly do, or did, give each a monthly retention target and a "give-away" budget, Promotion and/or basic pay presumably depend on the optimum balance between keeping customers and not giving away too much .

Many posters on these forums have rung their provider a few time over two or three days and ended up with a much better deal that the first offered.

In reply to a post by pluralist:

Many posters on these forums have rung their provider a few time over two or three days and ended up with a much better deal that the first offered.

That's sounds like the info I was looking for.

Thanks very much to all who replied.

In reply to a post by pluralist:

There has been some discussion about that in the past, not necessarily here. But with many providers it has had that effect.

In the case of Retentions staff anywhere, not all will offer the same as another at the same provider. Plusnet for example clearly do, or did, give each a monthly retention target and a "give-away" budget, Promotion and/or basic pay presumably depend on the optimum balance between keeping customers and not giving away too much .

Many posters on these forums have rung their provider a few time over two or three days and ended up with a much better deal that the first offered.

A lot of that is fantasy with only a few % being the truth

Having dealt with many providers and even having family/friends who work for them this is not how it works.

Most of the time they can not beat or match new customer prices but can get within a few £.

Every call has a record of what the agent offers with most being recorded as well so they know what has been offered.

It's always worth trying but most times moving around gets the better deals these people don't care about loyalty anymore.

I've managed it a few times myself, with my current and previous CPs. Others I know on here have also done so. I agree each call and offer is recorded.

On my current (unlimited everything) contract I had quite a conversation with the rep, ending up with a two reductions in the initial offer ending up with £15pm for a year or the one I took that included a free Smart TV and was still lower than both what I had been paying and the standard renewal.

Edited by pluralist (Thu 27-Oct-22 17:26:40)

I've certainly been in the position with PlusNet where the best offer for renewal that I could get wasn't good enough for me. Ringing back the next day and speaking to another agent resulted in a better offer which I took.

Surprised that you say the new price is "quite a lot more per month". I have a BT Business service, contacted November '20 but install delayed to March '21. Looking at te hprices now, I can get the 900/100 for about the same as I am paying for my 300/50 service now.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Surprised that you say the new price is "quite a lot more per month". I have a BT Business service, contacted November '20 but install delayed to March '21. Looking at te hprices now, I can get the 900/100 for about the same as I am paying for my 300/50 service now.

Back when I first got FTTP yes the 300/50 was almost as much as the 900/110 package so nothing changed there it seems.

When I say a lot more I'm quoting around £8 per month more on the online renewal than I am currently paying.

I'm thinking ringing retentions is the answer and being a Yorkshireman I know how to haggle so that looks like the best plan.

Having googled BT Retentions it comes up with a couple of numbers one being 0800 800 030

and another being 0800 800 150

Which do I ring for FTTP retentions does anyone know please.

Is it too rude to ask what's the best deal people have got after haggling over the phone.

I'd be very interested to know how you get on busterboy. My contract comes to an end in December.

In reply to a post by _Resonance_:

I'd be very interested to know how you get on busterboy. My contract comes to an end in December.

I will update when I ring them next week.

I go the advertised rate but a £75 cash back to effectively reduce the amount. Just over £50pm for 500mb with free landline calls

In reply to a post by spile:

I go the advertised rate but a £75 cash back to effectively reduce the amount. Just over £50pm for 500mb with free landline calls

Not interested in a landline if I can possibly get a data plan deal only for less money.

We use our mobiles for all calls now and actually took our home phone out over a year ago.

Well after spending what seems like many hours waiting on the phone for a reply each time I tried I took the much easier route of renewing online and settling for what was offered.

Another 24 month contract for a package that suits my needs.
New contract pricing here.

Vodafone is £45 per month.

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/isps/vodafone/package...

In reply to a post by Zadeks:

Vodafone is £45 per month.

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/isps/vodafone/package...

Too late mate, I just renewed a 24 month contract with BT.

When you renewed online did it give any options for downgrading the package?

Mine is due in March and I am on the 900Mbps package and am looking to probably downgrade but as it stands the only offers I get whilst in contract are for upgrades - wondering if that would change when the contract is coming to an end. Really don't fancy jumping through the hoops of talking to BT on the phone.

In reply to a post by ian72:

When you renewed online did it give any options for downgrading the package?

Mine is due in March and I am on the 900Mbps package and am looking to probably downgrade but as it stands the only offers I get whilst in contract are for upgrades - wondering if that would change when the contract is coming to an end. Really don't fancy jumping through the hoops of talking to BT on the phone.

Haven't used my home telephone for almost 3 years now as both the wife and I use our mobiles so saved £5 a month for having switched that off for good and using Data only.

I presume in your case it's a long wait on the telephone to speak with retentions as I have been trying for almost a week to get through.

To be honest I have more important things in life to deal with rather than sat for hours waiting in a queue to haggle about a new contract.

Edited by busterboy (Mon 07-Nov-22 16:34:19)

In reply to a post by busterboy:

In reply to a post by Zadeks:

Vodafone is £45 per month.

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/isps/vodafone/package...

Too late mate, I just renewed a 24 month contract with BT.

Not so.

You have a 14-day cooling off period when you can cancel the contract.

I hope you've got a lot of time to spare if you try 0800 800 150. You'll be waiting for an hour or so.

Just started with BT on 26 October and got a 500 down package data only for £30.99 which I thought was good.
usual CPI +3.9% yearly increase occurs.

Edited by joemardo1 (Wed 09-Nov-22 19:04:51)

In reply to a post by joemardo1:

Just started with BT on 26 October and got a 500 down package data only for £30.99 which I thought was good.
usual CPI +3.9% yearly increase occurs.

That is a very good package deal.

Post deleted by busterboy

In reply to a post by joemardo1:

Just started with BT on 26 October and got a 500 down package data only for £30.99 which I thought was good.
usual CPI +3.9% yearly increase occurs.

That is a very good deal.