Is it legal?

[moleinahole01]

I can't believe I can't find anything about this anywhere?

I am wondering if paying for a landline in advance is actually legal?

I mean, where else do you have to pay for something upfront before having used it? Council tax maybe.

I have written to BT and am awaiting a reply, but I don't want to pay £20 a month in advance anymore. I think it's morally wrong if not illegal.

I'm sure BT will have the legal part covered in small print somewhere, but if I can avoid it I will.

After upgrading to this awful infinity my bill has increased by 25-50% because of it.

I wasn't paying for line rental in advance before infinity.

Has anyone wondered about the legality of this before?

[gg30340 · Accepted solution]

Why would it be illegal?. It is your choice if you want the service. If you don't want to pay, don't take the service. If you want the service you have to agree to the Terms and Conditions of the service.

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12535/related/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNDYwNzI3Nzk1L...

[Keith_Beddoe]

BT Retail has always charged for line rental in advance, and calls in arrears.

Its either one month in advance, or three months in advance.

Are you on whole bill monthly or quarterly direct debit, where the amount can vary depending on the calls you make. Or are you on a monthly payment plan, where you pay the same each month?

The monthly payment plan usually end up with a larger monthly payments, to allow for possible extra calls you may make.

[Andy_N]

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@moleinahole01 wrote:

I can't believe I can't find anything about this anywhere?

I am wondering if paying for a landline in advance is actually legal?

I mean, where else do you have to pay for something upfront before having used it? Council tax maybe.

I have written to BT and am awaiting a reply, but I don't want to pay £20 a month in advance anymore. I think it's morally wrong if not illegal.

I'm sure BT will have the legal part covered in small print somewhere, but if I can avoid it I will.

After upgrading to this awful infinity my bill has increased by 25-50% because of it.

I wasn't paying for line rental in advance before infinity.

Has anyone wondered about the legality of this before?

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All telephone companies are the same (including mobiles).

You are actually paying for the infrastructure and maintenance etc - you then pay for the calls after you've made them.

Before infinity, how were you paying for line rental ?

[StewM]

Line rental, whether with Infinity or normal broadband, is/was always paid in advance.

Stew

[licquorice]

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@moleinahole01 wrote:

I can't believe I can't find anything about this anywhere?

I am wondering if paying for a landline in advance is actually legal?

Of course it is

I mean, where else do you have to pay for something upfront before having used it? Council tax maybe.

I have written to BT and am awaiting a reply, but I don't want to pay £20 a month in advance anymore. I think it's morally wrong if not illegal.

Why is it wrong, you have to pay it sometime, it certainly isn't illegal. You agreed to the terms and conditions of the service.

I'm sure BT will have the legal part covered in small print somewhere, but if I can avoid it I will.

After upgrading to this awful infinity my bill has increased by 25-50% because of it.

I wasn't paying for line rental in advance before infinity.

Everybody else does, so I'm sure you were.

Has anyone wondered about the legality of this before?

No

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[pottyperson]

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moleinahole01 wrote:

I mean, where else do you have to pay for something upfront before having used it?

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Accommodation, storage, car parking, gym, public transport, spectator sport, takeaways, holidays, entertainment, tool hire, almost anything else rented.

[conrad]

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@moleinahole01 wrote:

I mean, where else do you have to pay for something upfront before having used it?

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Basically anything you buy from a shop.

[john46]

A great answer conrad