This topic

Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

ljm — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 12:01:08 GMT

Only recently, I've come through the changeover to BT Digital Voice and it's setup within the home and new router etc.

Now, this morning I receive from BT a leaflet re the upcoming merger of BT and EE which tells me, amongst other info, that "for the time being you don't have to do anything" and "we will be in touch again soon"..... this implies that once again I going to have to make changes to my broadband in some way!!

I have BT broadband, Digital Voice and do not use BT mobile, do not need any bells and whistles attached to my package... everything is working OK as it is and I wish to continue WITHOUT making any further changes.

My question is....... Is that possible???

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

WSH — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 12:16:25 GMT

More importantly, does this involve starting a new contract because if it does, I'm off to a different provider? I've remained out of contract for the last few years for a reason.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

ljm — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 12:25:25 GMT

Exactly!! and will we need a new EE hub to replace the new BT Hub 2 (which was sent by BT for my Digital Voice changeover!!) I mean, I'm just fed up of these upcoming changes which BT impose on all their customers, without properly informing us of the effects etc.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

jac_95 — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 13:12:24 GMT

The EE brand is becoming the primary consumer brand for BT.

This means you may start to see the EE brand on devices and online.

When you renew your contract you'll be offered EE packages and products.

More can be found at: https://bt.com/ee

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

c64z86 — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 14:57:43 GMT

Hi Jim,

If you don't mind me asking... what kind of internet connection do you have? Do you have ADSL or FTTC or Full Fibre? Also do you have anything like BT TV?

There seems to be some confusion as BT have said in their press release that the brand will remain for those who are on standalone landline and broadband services... but this seems to not actually be the case with you?

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

gg30340 — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 15:22:57 GMT

I have in the past couple of weeks renewed my BT Broadband FTTC package with Digital Voice PAYG.

The customer service rep said I would be moved to EE. I explained that at this time I had no wish to move to EE but he was insistent that I would have to move to EE .

Unfortunately for him I was even more insistent that I did not want to move to EE and that there was no requirement for me to move and if there was I would not renew at this time and would stay out of contract while I checked out the other ISPs which I know are charging at least £5 less per month.

He said he would need to check with his manager and put me on hold. When he came back on the phone he proceeded to renew my contract with BT. He made no mention again of being moved to EE and I am now paying £5 a month less than I was.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 15:27:49 GMT

He has probably lost his sales commission.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

ljm — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 15:46:20 GMT

C64z86,Thanx for your reply.i have FTTC.,in fact exactly the same broadband and phone package as gg.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

ljm — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 15:48:08 GMT

Thanx for this reply gg. Very interesting and useful for me,since your BT package is exactly the same as mine,so when my contract is up for renewal I shall remember your post.👍

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

m2018gc1 — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 23:01:18 GMT

I am a BT mobile user with 5 Sims on a Family Package. I have been with BT mobile for several years (>5). I have found the package, their app, and support great.

For the past 2 years when I have phoned up for support they have been helpful but have been recommending EE packages as alternative contracts, sometimes giving larger data allowances . I have not switched and don't intend to.

I live in Northern Ireland. As the crow flies the Republic of Ireland is 10 miles away. When I step out into my back yard I get 2 SMS messages welcoming me to [the Republic of ] Ireland and explaining how roaming fees work. Out in my back yard the EU mobile signal is stronger than the EE/BT mobile signal.

BT mobile on our contracts have free EU wide roaming... roam like you do at home ... So switching to EU [ROI] mobile providers is not an issue ....UNLESS I SWITCH CONTRACT TO EE.... Then each user would have to pay heaps for the privilege of "EU Roaming" whether on holidays or out in the back yard!!!

I would be looking for a guarantee in writing that moving to EE from BT mobile will keep free EU roaming free before I sign up or switch SIMS to EE, especially giving the geography of our location in relation to the EU providers!!!

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

chrisjp — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 23:13:02 GMT

Yes, BT's telephone agents seem either to be badly trained and ignorant, or on commission to move customers to EE on a worse contract (features-wise or price-wise or both)
Either way, they seem to be very economical with the truth!

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

m2018gc1 — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 03:15:07 GMT

@chrispjp

I would disagree

In my 5 years I have found the BT mobile telephone staff very helpful and solved any issues.

I would disagree that they are ignorant. They have always been helpful and sorted out problems.

They may have been trained to move clients from the old BT Mobile contract to EE ones but if that is a "bad" move for us it is not necessarily "bad training" they got or have! Just EE business?

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

BermondseyBoy — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:08:54 GMT

Well Monday I wanted to add the gaming package to my BT account, by the end of the call I was no longer with BT, but being moved to EE. They added EETV for TNT Sports, and said it's normally £20 per month, but I can have it for £15. This ticked me off big time, as I had TNT Sports on offer by BT for £10. Anyway, next day I phoned BT and watched to cancel the order to change to EE. They did an undo order cancellation and said I would be with BT. I was happy, the next day I phone to ask if it was going through ok. They said that the two orders clashed, and so was in limbo. So I had to do a reorder of EE. I told them I didn't want TNT Sports, so now I'm with EE. The sales team did say that sooner or later every customer will be EE, as BT Broadband will be only for businesses. I now have a termination charge on my BT bill, which EE said they will wave after the 14 day cooling off period of my contract so that they know I'm staying with them. All this just to add the Game Pass to my BT account. More headache than what it was worth.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

David500 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:19:43 GMT

@m2018gc1 Our BT mobile contracts expired 2 months ago and we switched to one of the other MVNOs, mobile virtual operator, see the list: List_of_mobile_virtual_network_operators You will need to check your mobile reception for the other 3 main operators. We’re now on rolling monthly contracts which have more data and costs less than BT and also includes EU roaming, MMS messages and no annual price increase.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

WSH — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:39:26 GMT

It’s marketing 101, mate.

Lure the customer in. Lock him in. Then exploit him. It’s exactly the same with two-year contracts. Lock the buggers in, so they can’t get out, then ramp the price up mid-contact.

@m2018gc1 And I know this is nearly 12 months old, but I will add that one of the reasons I’ve stayed out of contract is that the last time I renewed the mobile it took me 4 months and half a dozen people to find someone that actually understood what he was doing.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

m2018gc1 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:58:06 GMT

@WSH

'Lock him in. Then exploit him. It’s exactly the same with two-year contracts. Lock the buggers in, so they can’t get out'

Not only marketing, but coercive controlling?

How many pay as you go full fibre suppliers or 30 day rolling contracts ?

Not easy to switch in a 2 year contract. Maybe someone should set up one of those parliamentary petitions to ask the powers that be to allow more choice, shorter contracts (max 12 months?). If there was one I would sign it for sure.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

WSH — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 22:00:41 GMT

@m2018gc1 Oh, you’ve got no chance, mate. Governments today, (including labour), are owned by big business. That’s why we’re in the mess we’re in and that’s why the regulators are useless.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

m2018gc1 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 22:55:15 GMT

@David500
Some of my family may be on those/that MVNO(s). One major priority for me(my family I pay for) is EU roaming . No annual price increase is also important, so in a year when £3 per month increase is applied by providers I think the rest of the Sims will be moved, if not before.

Yes I think before moving checking reception is important.

(I use an app on the phone which has a colour code of reception. I probably am not allowed mention the app but if your tyre perforated n times you might know what formula is and what you need.)

Without free itemised billing you may be caught out on MMS messages (these include text messages over 160 characters). I have disabled MMS messages as I think the cost is exobidorant compared to sending a text or photo via multimedia apps . e.g. that one starting with what.....

Why should we have our family sharing photos at a cost of £0.50 via MMS shen they can app them to us for free.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

licquorice — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 08:20:46 GMT

You can mention/name whatever you like. Just not allowed to post links to e-commerce sites such as Amazon.

Re: Merger of BT and EE ie NEW EE

David500 — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 13:01:16 GMT

@m2018gc1 Smarty has MMS messages included in the monthly fee. Anything else requires various add-ons which are bought before you can use them. There is an app which provides current months total use and history which contains Monthly breakdown of calls, texts and data including individual costs. If you search for “smarty mms charges” you will see they are included, which I confirm is true.