Leaving BT

[caravanj]

My 900GB + unlimited calls digital phone contract costs me £83 (rounded) per month & it expires on the 5th November & I've been told I'll get a £5 reduction if I stay with BT.

The same package for a new customer, which I obviously can't get, would be around £58 & with Sky the same package will be £55.

Therefore, sung to the tune of a well known Disney film, it's "Hey Ho, Hey Ho, it's off to Sky I Go".

Obviously I can't be without a broadband connection so I need to know the date I have to serve notice on BT that I will not be renewing my contract & do I need to tell BT that I want to keep my existing phone number.

Thanks for your help.

[gg30340]

You do not notify BT.

You sign up with Sky and tell them when you want it to start and they do the rest including notifying BT. If you notify BT it will no doubt cause problems. 

[caravanj]

@gg30340 

Thanks for your reply.

I did think this but I've read other posts on the forum from members saying they didn't inform BT & were penalised so thanks for confirming it for me.

I do find it sad to be leaving BT but as a pensioner, now for the first time in my life, I'm having to look at all my bills.

I can't understand why BT would rather lose my custom than let me have the same package price as a new customer would have.

[gg30340]

if you have not done it you could call BT and explain to them you are going to leave unless they can offer a better deal but they might not be willing to offer one and if that is the case just move to Sky if the price is better.

[iniltous]

There will be Sky customers ending their minimum terms like you are with BT ,  and getting an increase (£11 at today’s rate ) as they leave the minimum term onto the prevailing rate , ( from what you are expecting to pay £55 today to £66 ) , and they may be looking at BT with £58 for a new customer and thinking the same as you, why are new customers treated better than existing ones,

There is a reason for that BTW , linked to the regulators ‘demand’ that switching is the answer to pricing ….ultimately if all providers kept their customer base happy with ‘killer’ retention deals , there would be much less switching , only those with poor experiences would move , and that would make Ofcom ‘mad’ or ‘sad’ , ‘churn’ is what Ofcom want .

These Sky customers , like you they would have the choice to call Sky and negotiate using the threat to leave as leverage if a better deal not forthcoming, then they can (much like you) still leave if that’s the logical choice …..what strikes me with the many similar posts on here of the ‘fifth columnists’ is the apparent myopia when it comes to BT competitors…they are all pretty much doing the same thing .

Many of these contributors I doubt they post to their actual own ISPs user forums with the same advice  ‘ leave , you know it makes sense’ sentiment for customers at the end of minimum terms facing uncompetitive out if contract pricing .

If you leave (and I’m not trying to dissuade you ) without negotiation, presumably in 2 years you will be doing the exactly same thing with Sky  , objecting to your providers pricing for customers such as yourself (as you will be in 2 years ) compared to new Sky customers , presumably you won’t feel that you should have to negotiate in the same way as you do now  , and will also leave Sky for a new customer price somewhere else without asking Sky for a better price to consider staying .

If you are happy with that merry go round fine ….personally I’d first ask my existing provider what they can do to keep my business , and if the price were still uncompetitive, then I’d leave 

[Kodikid]

The whole industry has to change. As it stands loyal customers are treated unfairly and are penalized  for not switching. 

The regulators are usless..they let isp's impose 24 month lengthy contracts with the nice option that isp's can up the price twice during said contract. 

If I buy a fridge from argos and two years later return to buy a new one then the price is the same for everyone. 

There should be set menu pricing so for example Sky 500mbps is £38...and that's it no loyalty penalty or new customer nonsense it's £38  end of.

[caravanj]

@iniltous 

I agree totally with what you say but I already change my insurance companies each year & have done for a long time.

I agree that Sky prices will increase but so will BT prices so the difference will always be more or less the same.

For £5pm I probably wouldn't have bothered but £27pm makes it worth doing. 

I have contacted BT & the customer service rep spent quite some time going through all the prices but the very best he could offer was a £5 reduction which still makes moving to Sky for £22pm less, worth doing.

[Kodikid]

Yeah insurance companies is a poor example as since January 2022 they have by law had to offer the same price for everyone .

Shame the FCA don't regulate isp's 

[gg30340]

@caravanj 

Do you need 900. In the real world you will never notice the difference between 500 and 900 or even 150 in most cases.

[caravanj]

@Kodikid 

What you say is correct but it's not a matter of my insurance company charging a new customer the same price as my renewal price, it's a matter of seeing which company offers a lower price.