BT Basic, a rant!

[Anonymous]

Circumstance means I need BT basic again (landline only) cant believe after several years it still takes some amount of rigmarole to get this.

1st advisor kept trying to get me to take a std package as he didnt know what Basic was, eventually transferred to agent who setup account of sorts, albeit not Basic but apparently needed to get me on system as a customer and once service goes live (14 days and counting) I need to call up, get them to put me on Basic (why the wait?) amend the prices and refund connection fee.

Heres my issue, on the day of activation, I call and wait for application form (posted! Can't I get it now to complete and return) return and then wait 3-4weeks to be told yeah or nay (zero income so should be yeah) in the meantime Im gonna be billed for the std package and costs for setup only to try and get all this refunded.

I realise BT dont want to shout about this package as it actually costs them money but do they really need to make it so difficult to apply and setup???? Im gonna be out of pocket around 80 badly needed quid until this is setup correctly, also the time this all takes cancels out the cooling off period or is it extended to compensate for the processing time?

[imjolly]

have you received the BT Basic application  form?  if so have you completed and returned?  I don't think you can get basic until form returned and approved.  If you previously had BT basic then you probably know the procedure to follow

[Anonymous]

no form, was told I need wait till my account/services is activated (2 weeks from today) then to call up and ask to be put on BT Basic provisionally, then have the form sent out to me only to return and wait for a decision.

thats my gripe, why cant I have the form beforehand to complete and return,

[imjolly]

from other posts on the forum you need to complete the form and return it for BT approval before you can get BT Basic  again if you search the forum others had extreme difficulty in getting hold of the form to complete and came here for help   the forum mods were able to get form issued so I have asked if they can help you as well

they will post here but could take a few days due to number of others being helped

[Anonymous]

wee update,

called 0800 800 864 very helpful advisor attempted to process/send the application but because the line is not activated yet (switchover on 22nd) the system wont let them send out the application - makes sense but poor system if thats the case.

so they have emailed BT Basic team to ask if they can send form out (see how that pans out) but if thats not received I will need call again on the day of activation to ask for the form to be sent out (madness!)

from what I've gathered online, the form is barcoded so thats why they claim it cannot be downloaded, oddly never had an issue with PO, amazon and other compnies that use PDF QR codes/barcodes to print at home.

[garybs29]

You actually need to be a bt customer first (account active on the system) before an application can be made hence the hold up. There shouldn't be any further issues once your service is actove with BT. It's not madness at all but policy

[Anonymous]

 Signed up 8th Jan, connected 22nd, on that day asked for btbasic application to be sent.

Surprise suprise first bill due 31st is £80+ (3 calls, reconnection fee and some weird line rental charge WTF)

Thats a whole year of btbasic subscription and thats supposedly paid quarterly.

The application system is a joke, so now I have to call/fight to get this amount scrubbed while still waiting to be put on the correct plan even though it shows as btbasic in my account.

Anyone able to assist while waiting on the magic form being delivered before returning and waiting further still while being charged full whack?

[Anonymous]

Well as expected BT have issued a bill (reconnect fee - is supposedly waived for btbasic, £1.60 for 3 calls and £11.74 line rental.

So now the hassle begins, awaiting application form so no doubt being billed left, right and centre even though it shows as btbasic in my account.

[dennis0461]

Hi  BT Basic , 

 I have been with BT for over 20 years and have seen BT Customer service getting worse.  Up until last year money was no problem for me as on £ 44000 a year, now I have cancer I am not working so have to count the pennies. I have spoken to a customer service agent twice in the past year explaining that I need a cheaper package, each time they said they would get back to me, low and behold there are additions on my package that I don't want, BT rental PLUS!!  or  Fibre with HALO 1 P  [What ever that is.]

my current package is £50.10 per month which of course is greater when one adds phone calls.  I am not interested in speed or anything special.  my income is now only £570.00 a month, so my current package really eats into my income. any suggestions!!   keep safe every one 

All I need is my basic phone with out unlimited weekend calls, and the absolute basic broad band so I can  send and receive emails

[Anonymous]

If you qualify bt basic calls and basic broadband is £10.07 per month, 

Check here for details 

https://www.bt.com/help/landline/getting-set-up/help-people-with-impairments-or-with-particular-need...

0800 800 864 is their number. It does take a while to apply/switch but worth it if you need a simple service.

Update on my experience, BT complaints dealing with my delay and hopefully resolve my issue sooner than expected (big thanks!)