Contract running out in 6months

[Mattiesmomma]

Hi all

I will try and keep this brief.  Out FF500 at  £59.76 a month runs out in June 26.  Being a very long standing BT customers of 44 years and semi retired we know this amount we pay is way over the odd they offer a new customer.

BT service has never failed us, always the right speed etc and connection failure is very rare (usually if happens its the area we are  having issues in not us)

Questions:

Is it too soon to call the retentions team at BT to see if we can get a better price (obviously prices will go up in April)?

Has anyone done this with 6 months to go on their contract and if so what result did you get?

Has anyone changed to a new provider?  Experiences please?  Ive not read BT process yet of moving elsewhere, any links would be helpful.

I read somewhere that you find a new provider and they do the cancelling for you on your behalf.  Does this mean you do not have to call BT?  Surely you do so you know if any early cancellation fees that need to be paid and when to cancel direct debit with BT?  Also do retentions try to persuade you to stay with a good offer?

If you go elsewhere do BT ask for  hardware back ( the black box with blue light) automatically and do they send a back to send it back in?

Sorry if questions sound petty but would appreciate some answers please.

Thanks

Jean

[Mattiesmomma]

How are fees worked out if you leave early

[gg30340 · Accepted solution]

BT will only allow you upgrade for free being so far out of your contract end date. You will be better to wait till you are in the last month.

If you want to move provider you just select the provider and using the OTS One Touch Switch system the new provider does the rest. Do not cancel your DD until you have paid the final bill.

The cancel fees are in this link.

https://www.bt.com/help/account-and-billing/manage-account/thinking-of-leaving-bt

[Kimberlin]

@Mattiesmomma 

You could check your personal offers in the MyBT App but be aware if you manage to secure a new package now, they’ll be an annual price increase o £4 per month from the end of March 26.

If you tried to leave BT and switch to another ISP, you’ll be hit with six months worth of termination fees however that is worked out. So you’d probably be better off waiting until the day after your current 2 year contract expires and you move onto the 30 day rolling contract.

Switching ISP is now easier than ever if you’ve little complications. Many people no longer have a landline for example. If you have a BT email service, it’ll be downgraded unless you choose to pay for it as a premium product at almost £96 a year.

So if you switched using One Touch Switching service, you’ll no longer have to talk to your ISP, your new ISP handles everything.

Switching providers needs careful thought, don’t rush into anything until you decided it’s right for you and you know what you’re getting.

[Mattiesmomma]

Thanks for replying.  Ive heard its best to wait till just after contract ends.  Thought you had to take out another 2 year contract, not a rolling one, I will look into that for the future.  The email which we have as apps on phones I believe if you leave the app will not work and you have to log to emails via web browser and its just a basic free service ot like you say pay for full service.  To be honest Im thinking of changing my BT email contact to GMail.

[Mattiesmomma]

Thanks for the info and link

[Kimberlin]

@Mattiesmomma 

You only go onto a new 24 month contract if you renegotiate/upgrade an existing package, otherwise at the end of two years, you automatically go onto a 30 day rolling payment.

I concur with your thought about possibly switching email provider though look at the whole email provider segment, free isn’t always best but if it’s just a basic email service you need with full mobile App access, then yes, there’s choice to do that.

[Kimberlin]

@Mattiesmomma 

To further clarify other questions relating to any switch you may be considering when the time is right. If you choose to contact BT, then yes, absolutely they will try to retain you one would hope, with a far better offer, after all, they’re a business, they don’t want to lose you. You do need however to be very careful what you agree to when renegotiating.

Also bear in mind, BT customers who call up to renegotiate are, if others accounts are accepted as fact, seemingly offered migration to EE, which may or may not be beneficial. Effectively, still the same provider, just wearing different clothes.

Equipment. I may be wrong, but if you’re migrated to EE, you may not even have to return your existing equipment. If you change ISP, then yes, you would have to send your existing router back. A returns bag is sent out postage paid. You must however retain the proof of posting slip because if you don’t and the equipment is never registered as returned, you’ll be charged for it. Effectively, that’s on you, your fault if you can’t prove you posted it as others who pitch up here moan about, lost the proof of posting, unhappy they’re getting a bill. Not BT’s fault.

[iniltous]

BT Full Fibre currently in my location is £31 a month , is what you pay (£60) just for broadband or do you have telephony, calls , tv , halo or whatever , although in general as with electronics, the price two years ago (for example) many have been competitive them , but look expensive now .

You can try to renegotiate, but with 5 months remaining it may be too early , call and trying doesn’t cost anything.

If considering changing provider, the obvious thing to do is check on the company you are considering joining on line forum or a general forum , although some ex BT customers do continue to hang around here for some reason or other , it’s not likely many as BT customers on here will have an insight on joining competitors, you need to ask their customers not BT ones .

OTS (one touch switching) should handle the migration even to a different network provider as well as switching within  Openreach network, so you don’t need to contact the losing provider at all  ( assuming it all goes correctly)

If you switch using OTS , you should get an impact statement (letter or email ) from the losing provider outlining the early termination charges should that be applicable .

You may be contacted with an offer to stay once you start a migration.

Yes BT will ask for the router and other equipment to be returned, the process for returning equipment is communicated to you , but basically you take it to the Post Office , there was a need to retain the proof of postage in case of problems but apparently this has changed to one where once the PO have it , BT are advised at that point (rather than receiving it at a BT Depot ) so you have no further need to keep proof of posting (although keeping it seems sensible to do so )

It seems logical if early termination charges are liable to factor that into any saving that can be made , a  £30 saving for 5 months (£150) and the penalty for quitting  your £60 contract with 5 months remaining the likely ETC possibly in the £80 range .

[chrisjp]

"there was a need to retain the proof of postage in case of problems but apparently this has changed to one where once the PO have it , BT are advised at that point (rather than receiving it at a BT Depot ) so you have no further need to keep proof of posting (although keeping it seems sensible to do so )"

According to postings on this forum, BT is still demanding payments from ex customers who have returned their hubs but BT hasn't registered receipt. Unless you get - and keep - a proof of posting, BT will not accept they are a fault for failing to register receipt, and you'll be on the hook to pay them.