Sneaky transfer of my account from BT to EE?

[Safsnowball]

My FTTP broadband deal is due to end shortly so I was having a look via MyBt as to what offers were available. An agreeable offer to renew for £10 less popped up. As I was about to go through the process of accepting the offer I noticed this in the small print

”b. During your contract we will transfer the service, agreement and your marketing consent to the group company EE, as long as it is to your benefit. ”

I’ve been with BT a long time and, whilst I realise that they and EE are in the same group of companies, I have no wish to move my contract to EE. 

Am I reading the small print correctly or am I unnecessarily concerned?

[Kimberlin]

@Safsnowball  Whilst appreciating that it will always be your choice as to who your ISP is, what is stopping you from switching from BT to EE? After all, the whole thing is just smoke and mirrors, same company often the same employees.

Is it just the name of BT? Do you believe BT is somehow a premium ISP? Moving to EE would literally make absolutely zero difference I suspect to your daily internet/phone life. It's almost a given that I will be moving to EE when my Plusnet contract runs out. It won't make a jot of difference. Plusnet is absolutely no difference in the provision of broadband, it's all the same, just a different brand name. It's no wonder half the customers out there are so blinking confused. All I care about is what I'm paying every month. Others care about loyalty, often misplaced, or actually genuinely believe one brand name is better than the other. It's just business.

[Safsnowball]

I don’t really need to go into the why and wherefore of my choice, but I understand what you are saying. 
However it doesn’t answer my question 😊

[gg30340]

Renewing online is not always the best way to renew. All you can do is accept or reject without any negotiation.

When you are renewing a Fixed Term Contract you are best to check around to see what other Providers are offering. Make sure you compare like for like to ensure that you are fairly comparing them.

Once you have that information call BT 0330.1234.150 and advise them that you want to renew your contract and stay with BT. Inform them that you have checked other providers and you are prepared to move provider if BT can not match or at least get close to what the other providers are offering.

Wait and see what is offered and if it does not match what you want do not be afraid to say so and see if they make a better offer. 

It is now up to you to decide whether to stay with BT or move to the other provider that is offering the best deal. 

[Kimberlin]

@Safsnowball  Well it's easy enough, you just tell them you don't want to switch. They cannot just arbitrarily switch you without your specific consent. If however a switch would save you a significant amount of money, then clearly anyone would ask why you wouldn't want to switch, but as is your right, you have no desire to explain why you want to stay with BT, so there's little more to be said.

[zulu17]

@Safsnowball   it seems that BT have that in their terms and conditions that they posted  on their website

https://www.bt.com/terms/bt-home-phone-broadband-terms-conditions

These terms and conditions come into force with effect from 16 January 2026  ...

where para 28 says

28  Transferring the agreement

a. The agreement is only between you and us. You cannot transfer it to anyone else or try to do so. We can transfer the agreement, and our rights and obligations under it, to anyone else (including if we reorganise the way we work), as long as it doesn't have a negative effect on your rights.

b. During your contract we will transfer the service, agreement and your marketing consent to the group company EE, as long as it is to your benefit. 

It is an interesting choice of words   -ie using   the word  will rather than may.

[TimCurtis]

@Safsnowball 

It can get quite tricky.

It was policy until maybe 2 years ago to transfer residential users to EE - with or without their knowledge or agreement - until a new CEO was appointed and she - wisely - reversed this policy.

That being said it still happens.

Can you avoid it? I don't know but I would look at other Openreach based ISPs and give myself some options if a transfer against your wishes takes place. If it happens then cancel & switch to another ISP.

I know that BT & EE are the same company and the support is the same but to my mind there's principle involved here and if they do something against your wishes they don't deserve your custom.

Am I bitter? Hell yes they did it to me & I'm now with someone else.

[Safsnowball]

@Kimberlin  You say:

”They cannot just arbitrarily switch you without your specific consent.”

but that what’s the small print in the terms and conditions allow them to do.

Anyway, the price reduction that was offered took my monthly cost down to almost the same as offered to new customers so I was happy to go with it.

Time will tell if I’m switched to being an EE customer 

Thanks all for your comments.