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Message 1 of 18

Why can't I downgrade to Fibre Essential from my existing Halo package?

My aunt is currently out of contract and has a Halo package. She wants to pay less for Broadband but as an existing customer there is no option for her to downgrade to Fibre Essential. As a Halo customer (with Anytime calls) the cheapest deal I can get her is £62-49 a month but if it was downgraded to Fibre Essential with Anytime calls it comes in at about £48 per month. BT won't let her do this. As a loyal customer I find this very strange. I am thinking of moving her to another supplier simply because BT don't seem to want her as a customer anymore on a cheaper contract.

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Message 2 of 18

Re: Why can't I downgrade to Fibre Essential from my existing Halo package?

Why? - corporate greed.

From the many similar posts on this forum I'd agree with your assessment that BT only want your aunt as a customer as long as they can milk her for every penny. So I'd make the move elsewhere, not that BT will care.

The excellent Mods have taken up some cases, so you may get lucky if you want to persevere with it. But does your aunt really want to continue doing business with a company that views her & so many others with such contempt?

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Message 3 of 18

Re: Why can't I downgrade to Fibre Essential from my existing Halo package?

The only issue may be keeping her phone number, especially if she has a lot of contacts who know her number.

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Message 4 of 18

Re: Why can't I downgrade to Fibre Essential from my existing Halo package?

It's an issue for sure. I thought about moving her to Plusnet but they're not offering a 'landline' option anymore. Most other providers will let her keep the number though.
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Message 5 of 18

Re: Why can't I downgrade to Fibre Essential from my existing Halo package?

does your aunt qualify here   https://www.bt.com/exp/broadband/home-essentials?s_cid=con_bt_dg-home_awin_aff_vidAJM_110483-Editori...

 

the plan costs are  https://community.bt.com/t5/Bills-Packages/Bad-customer-service/m-p/2330514?lightbox-message-images-...



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Message 6 of 18

Re: Why can't I downgrade to Fibre Essential from my existing Halo package?

@Colossusthefish 

Nobody is supplying conventional phone lines coming direct from the telephone exchange any more. Anyone moving provider or renewing their contract, will have to carry their calls over their broadband connection, using equipment supplied by their ISP.

See https://landlinesgo.digital/

 

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Message 7 of 18

Re: Why can't I downgrade to Fibre Essential from my existing Halo package?

Although the risk of losing her phone number now when moving also has to be considered along with the risk of losing her phone number or entire phone service when BT migrate her to Digital Voice, as seen on many, many instances reported here.

The reality is that losing her number by moving to another supplier carries about the same risk as BT cocking it up all by themselves at a later date.

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Message 8 of 18

Re: Why can't I downgrade to Fibre Essential from my existing Halo package?

My aunt is currently out of contract and has a Halo package. She wants to pay less for Broadband but as an existing customer there is no option for her to downgrade to Fibre Essential. As a Halo customer (with Anytime calls) the cheapest deal I can get her is £62-49 a month but if it was downgraded to Fibre Essential with Anytime calls it comes in at about £48 per month. BT won't let her do this. As a loyal customer I find this very strange. I am thinking of moving her to another supplier simply because BT don't seem to want her as a customer anymore on a cheaper contract.

When you say ‘BT won’t let her do this’ are you referring to the online ordering system? Because yes, that is set up only to let you renew or take new contracts at a higher price point.

If you are out of contract and want a cheaper deal this is possible, but you need to run the gauntlet of the call centre ‘guides’.

Prepare yourself to get cut off a few times when they realise you are going for a downgrade. Just persist by stating you are out of contract, and that Halo guaranteed you the same prices on renewal as a new customer (I was informed at one point this only applies to ‘new Halo deals’ despite the fact this is not mentioned anywhere in BTs documentation). Have the detail of the ‘new customer deal’ you want, as taken from the website, to hand.

Hopefully you will eventually get an agent who will build the new package and put it through for you. I got a significant reduction in price and a faster full fibre connection by persisting.

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Message 9 of 18

Re: Why can't I downgrade to Fibre Essential from my existing Halo package?

I accept that the online is only set up for certain things but I've run the gauntlet of 3 'guides' now and none of them have been able to downgrade the account to Fibre Essential. They say that Fibre Essential from the website is only available to new customers.
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Message 10 of 18

Re: Why can't I downgrade to Fibre Essential from my existing Halo package?

@Colossusthefish 

as you have tried a few time with CS and getting nowhere I have asked a mod to see if they can help you get package sorted   they will post here



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