This topic

Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 12:13:46 GMT

Good afternoon,

I am considering contacting BT next day or so to renewal my contract. I have been out out contract for over six months.

Just needing to confirm that if I renew today/tomorrow I will not be subject to the price increase scheduled for the end of this month. Is that 100% certain?

One more supplementary question if I may. I am considering upgrading from FTTC to FTTP. Will the Digital Voice service be automatically included in the new contract, or is that an added extra? If it is included, will it automatically be a PAYG service, which is what I want, or do I have to take out a call plan? And will a new phone be provided, even if I am on PAYG.

Grateful for any advice.

Re: Contract Renewal

imjolly — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 12:35:27 GMT

@Elliboy

there are numerous posts on the forum confirming new contract starting in march is not subject to increase at 31/3 but will be in 2024

if you upgrade then you will more than likely move to DV which is free change and you would need to ensure just PAYG. you should get a new DV phone

Re: Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 13:00:38 GMT

Many thanks. I appreciate your response.

I was 99% certain . And now I am 100% certain.

Re: Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:37:06 GMT

Just for info...

I rang BT "retentions". Not quite how I expected it to turn out. The deal offered was higher than that offered under My Offers! A couple of quid off would have been enough to seal a deal but it was not to be.

That is a real shame. I am happy to pay a reasonable premium to stay with BT. Especially as I find this forum, and the very helpful guys and girls who run it, to be a very useful resource. My MSE newsletter today has full fibre deals from Virgin and Vodafone at half the price asked by BT. I need to give it some thought.

Just one more query. Is 0800 800 030 (option 1) definitely the right number for retentions?

Thanks.

Re: Contract Renewal

imjolly — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 13:07:16 GMT

yes that is options team and you can negotiate a new contract deal

Re: Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 13:28:08 GMT

Thank you for confirming the phone number.

Perhaps I was just unfortunate, but I was very surprised about the lack of negotiating! Is it the norm to be offered a "deal" by retentions that is three pounds a month more expensive than that offered under "My Offers"? Very odd if it is.

Anyway, the call has prompted me to start looking to see what else is available. I really should have done this months ago. I may give BT one more call at some stage over the next few days. I may get a better offer.

Once again thanks for your help.

Re: Contract Renewal

imjolly — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 14:26:27 GMT

try selecting broadband deals and entering your post code to see deals currently on offer then compare with what you are being offered

https://www.bt.com/broadband

Re: Contract Renewal

ParkGuy99 — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 15:53:21 GMT

I'm only a few weeks away from being out of contract, and have therefore been considering my options. I get the impression there's a bit of 'left hand, right hand' at BT when it comes to renewals. A few weeks ago I was offered my current package for £2/month less, but didn't bite in case I got stung for this year's price increase. That offer has now disappeared, but I'm currently being offered a renewal for a few pounds more, making it £34.99/month. However the other night BT emailed me to say I can renew, but £39.99/month is the best they can do, even though I could renew for £5/month cheaper in My Offers.

Like the OP, I'm tempted by other, much cheaper it has to be said, providers. But BT has been rock solid for two years, and I'm loathe to open myself up to hassle if it goes wrong, even if BT's two year contracts, and inflation +3.9% are a mickey take.

Re: Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:38:40 GMT

Thank you ParkGuy99

Like you, I am happy to pay a reasonable premium for BT broadband. My service has been very good. And, when there has been a hiccup, I have found this website to be incredibly helpful. However, there has to be an upper limit to that premium.

Have to be honest and say I was not overly impressed with the retentions department. First off they tried to upsell me to some higher value deals. And as I said earlier, I thought it was very odd that they would not even come down to the offer available in "my offers". That's why I actually wondered if I had got through to the correct department! I've used retentions a few times in the past and have always found them to be very helpful. This time it seemed more "take it or leave it" sales than retentions. Obviously things are different now.

I'm going to leave it a few days and see what else is available. My brother recently signed up to one of the newer smaller companies and the service has been excellent.

Good luck with your renewal.

Re: Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:37:14 GMT

Just for info (again).....

After sleeping on it I decided to renew with BT.

I had a good look at the Virgin and Vodafone offerings, which would have saved me between £8-12 per month, but, on this occasion, decided to stay with BT.

One of the key reasons for staying with BT is this very forum. It's an excellent resource, and I have always found the people who run it incredibly helpful. I hope BT management appreciate it's value.

I upgraded to Full Fibre 100 at a cost of £32.12 per month. I baulked a bit at the compulsory £2 per month PAYG digital fee, but decided to carry on anyway. So, all in all, it comes to £34.12 per month. Installation date is just over a weeks time.

One minor minor issue. I completed the order getting on for an hour ago. The order screen stated a confirmation email had been sent. But I haven't received anything yet. Does anyone know if this is normal. Don't want to appear impatient, but obviously need to know if anything has gone wrong.

Many thanks.

Re: Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:51:06 GMT

Confirmation email received. Thanks.

Re: Contract Renewal

tasmanuk — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:43:56 GMT

I have about 2 weeks until my contract is due. I have been on Full Fibre 900 for 2 years and the service has been great. However the new price offered me was no cheaper than what I will be paying after the inflation price rise. I asked how much to downgrade to FF 500, and while obviously lower than 900, was still a lot more than what I would pay if I was a new customer, or if I changed providers. No amount of discussion would get the sales team to change their mind. So for the sake of £10 a month, BT is likely going to lose £120 a month (as I will move my family's mobile phone contract as well).

I wonder if I was using the correct team. I chose the option, "if you are thinking of leaving us" when I rang up

Re: Contract Renewal

RobbieMac — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 15:03:38 GMT

@Elliboy wrote:

Just for info (again).....

After sleeping on it I decided to renew with BT.

I had a good look at the Virgin and Vodafone offerings, which would have saved me between £8-12 per month, but, on this occasion, decided to stay with BT.

One of the key reasons for staying with BT is this very forum. It's an excellent resource, and I have always found the people who run it incredibly helpful. I hope BT management appreciate it's value.

Thank you for your kind words @Elliboy 😁

Re: Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 15:14:20 GMT

Just thought I would give an update.....

After a lack of success with the "retentions" team I decided to renew (and upgrade) my BT internet online. I opted for BT Full Fibre 100.

The ordering process was extremely easy and straightforward. I opted for two new basic digital voice phones. I am on PAYG calls, at two pounds per month.

I selected my installation date (a very reasonable 10 days wait). I received multiple text and emails keeping me informed of how things were progressing. Delivery of the kit was a couple of days before installation.

On the installation date I was a little disappointed when a M J Quinn subby turned up. However, all went extremely well. The installer checked where I wanted the router installed and then got on with it. Installation looks neat. And most important, it worked well from the off. 147 mbs down and about 28 up. The installer tidied up and left. Service has been perfect ever since.

Overall I am very pleased with how it all went. And I am glad I stayed with BT. I thought the service from BT/Openreach was excellent.

One minor query. The installer tied the fibre cable to my downpipe using cable ties. It looks perfectly neat. Can I just confirm that is OK to do?

Thanks.

Re: Contract Renewal

DavidM — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 15:33:18 GMT

Hi @Elliboy and thanks for the update.

It's great to hear you're happy with the renewal though I'm not sure about the downpipe and cable ties. Can you post a picture of that?

Cheers

David

Re: Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:02:23 GMT

Hi David,

Thanks David. I appreciate your help with this. Photos attached.

It's a standard two storey house. He has used six cable ties in all.

Let me know if you need any additional info.

Re: Contract Renewal

DavidM — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:11:40 GMT

Hi @Elliboy and thanks fpr posting those pics.

To be honest that doesn't look right to me. We'll need to get that looked into. I've sent you a private message so drop me a reply with the details and we'll take it from there.

Cheers

David

Re: Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 09:41:04 GMT

Thanks for your help with this David.

A very helpful chap from Openreach rang me about 12 days ago and confirmed that the cable probably shouldn't have been attached to the downpipe. He asked if somebody could come round that day but I was not in. He said not to worry and that I would be contacted soon to arrange a visit. Nothing has happened since so I wonder if I have slipped through the net.

It's not that important but thought I should mention it.

Internet working great by the way. Very happy with it.

Re: Contract Renewal

NeilO — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 09:58:00 GMT

Hi, @Elliboy I'm sorry about that, I can see my colleague @JohnC2 who was helping you with this. I'll let him know you've posted so this can be chased up with Openreach.

Neil

Re: Contract Renewal

Elliboy — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 10:11:35 GMT

Thank you. I appreciate your help with this.