30-day notice period when moving house seems impractical

[apalerwuss]

It's not on Openreach, it's Community Fibre. So I believe my original issue remains.

[imjolly]

obviously you are currently a BT customer who is moving home so

are you out of contract or still within fixed term contract?

are openreach able to provide a connection at your new address?

depending on your position with contract you may have to pay cancellation charges not just the 30 day notice

[apalerwuss]

I'm moving house and leaving BT, which I currently have a 30-day rolling contract with. I'm joining an ISP that isn't on the Openreach network (Community Fibre). I'm on a 30-day rolling contract, which I know means that I'm contracted for a 30-day period and thus have to give 30 days notice before cancelling.

Obviously I've done all this research before posting on here and I know my position, and I know that by the letter of the contract I need to give 30 days notice. But contractual obligations aside (and before someone says 'why are you posting here if you already know the answer'), I'm pretty sure my situation can't be unique, in that I only found out my moving date 5 days before. At most, I think, it would've been maybe 1-3 weeks based on other research I've done.

It just seems unreasonable to demand a 30-day cancellation period when the customer simply cannot know when they're moving house that far in advance -- I'm clearly not going to action my 30-day clause when it's possible I might need broadband for another 60 days.

[rbz5416]

While I guess your complaint is somewhat valid, in the real world it seems a rather trivial cost to ensure your connection.

[imjolly]

@apalerwuss 

my question was are openreach able to provide a service at your new address not whether your intended new provider uses the openreach network.  however if on a rolling 30 day contract the point is mute.  the fact you retained your 30 day contract with the purpose of being able to leave at 30 days notice is exactly what you are doing and reason is immaterial.  you are cancelling contract and must give 30 days notice

[apalerwuss · Accepted solution]

Yeah, I guess on the grand scheme of things and compared to all the other costs associated with moving house, the cost is trivial. But it's £86 going into BT's coffers for doing absolutely nothing. As far as I'm concerned, Internet is a utility much like gas or electricity, and when I move house British Gas only charges me for the time I'm actually living in the house -- there isn't this notice period that's impossible for some customers to adhere to.

Anyway, you're right, I will survive this injustice, it just seems an odd situation to be in where I have no control over my ability to give notice -- without also giving up my ability to work from home.

[gg30340]

How is it an "injustice". You agreed to the Terms and Conditions of your obligation/ contract to BT. That is the purpose of a contract!

It is not BT's fault that you are unable to give a date when you want to cease your service. If it is anybody's fault it is the fault of the house buying system which allows people to pull out of a house purchase after they have agreed to purchase or to change or not agree fixed moving dates until the last minute. That is where the "injustice" lies.

[apalerwuss]

Yeah, I was being a little sarcastic with the "injustice" thing, I realize it's hardly Rosa Parks fighting the system. I know I signed a contract and this is the letter of the contract, but just because something exists inside a contract doesn't make it fair and reasonable. There are lots of examples of things that used to be legally fine, but then people challenge it because that thing is unfair or unreasonable, then things change. It's only once you're in a position of selling/buying that you realize the impossibilities of meeting this contractual obligation -- I've only ever rented in the past, and it was never a problem because with renting you usually have a clear moving out/in date far in advance.

I suspect if someone had the energy (probably not me) to escalate this through the various legal, regulatory, or political channels there would be some sort of change made to this -- companies charging a month extra when the customer is totally unable to give them a month's notice doesn't seem right.

[gg30340]

"I suspect if someone had the energy (probably not me) to escalate this through the various legal, regulatory, or political channels there would be some sort of change made to this -- companies charging a month extra when the customer is totally unable to give them a month's notice doesn't seem right".

I doubt it. Why should the company, who ever it is, have to lose out because of something that is not of their doing or within their control in any shape or form and would either be open to abuse or to complicated to administer to ensure that it was not being abused that it would cost you as the person wishing to leave their contract more fees.

In any event enjoy your new home when ever the moving date finally arrives.