termination charges

Hi again. I started a thread not long ago seeking advice on aquiring my mac code from BT who were incooperative. As it turns out I didn't need it anyway. So I rang Sky and spoke to a helpful fellow who finally confirmed that the move was going ahead without the MAC. Thank you for informing me properly and quickly when these companies could not!

However I'm still having problems with BT

I opened up my mail this morning and I am being charged £70.81. I quote '....because of stopping your BT phone service within the minium term of your contact. This is known as an early termination charge'. I checked my record and my 18 month contract officially ended with BT 13 months ago. I spoke to my wife as well and it seems that she didn't accept any offers from marketing calls to renew. So I cannot understand why I am hit with such a charge for honouring my contract.

I found myself ringing BT again this morning a painful experience that I have not bothered ringing twice. The letter itself clearly states that I am being charged because it assumes I am still incontract. I kept quoting this and repeating it and the best answer they could give was that it was a switching over charged that I would have verbally been told about when entering the contact. This is nonsense of the highest order. I am so close to ringing my bank and cancelling my direct debit but I am a little older and wiser no I do not want to complicate things when Moorcroft to start demanding money from me by mail. Is there anything else I can do? How enforcable is this charge?

Do BT automatically renew your contract every 12/18 months for a further term?

Ask BT for written proof that you are still in contract with them!

Edited by deleted (Thu 03-Feb-11 11:52:05)

Some BT phone contracts do auto renew - so you need to check the terms carefully

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Some BT phone contracts do auto renew - so you need to check the terms carefully

I guessed they might

It is normally the "special" deals. If you go for the free evening and weekend calls deal then that is a 12 month contract. At the end of the 12 months they should send out a letter stating that it will auto renew for another 12 months if you do not tell them otherwise. There have been some comments in the past that people haven't received these letters although I have now 2 years running.

Bt are supposed to send you a letter 1 month before the the current contract is due to end, if you don't contact them before the end of the contract they will automatically assume that you wish to continue with it, and start a new contract, hence the charges, thats how bt work, see t&c's
If you had of only gone for ADSL from sky (SMPF) then your bt contract would not of been affected, good luck,with the full LLU service you are entering into, ok if you are happy the service you get, but a real pain if you are not

The trouble is very few people realise that taking line rental from Sky with their broadband is a completely different ball game from just taking Sky Calls with it.

I think the OP was aware of what he was doing, apart from the BT phone contract. I'm less sure he is aware of the hassle he will have if and when he wants to leave.