Why do BT rip us off ?

[StevieT678]

I'm out of contract for quite some time with BT Halo 900 fibre. That and landline is currently £61p/m

Yet when I view my personal upgrade or deal options...there is only that same one really

Yet for new customers there are much cheaper Fibre 150, 300, etc etc options.

I do not need 900, 300 would be fine. But nowhere does it give me that choice ? And even at that, the new customer Fibre 900 is £36p/m vs they claim mine would be £51p/m
Is it standard they just rip off existing long standing customers ?

If I go to another provider, can they also retain my landline number ?

[StevieT678]

This is all strange.

I'm an existing customer, the only think it offers me for renewal, is an "upgrade" to BT Halo which I already have, 900. I currently pay £61p/m incl landline, and this new deal is supposed to be £55.88 probably plus landline.
I do not need 900...but there are no lower packages.

Yet if I select new customer deals. There is

Fibre 150 for £26.99

Fibre 300 for £29.99

Fibre 500 for £30.99

Fibre  900 for £34.99

Am I being really really stupid or what's going on ? Or am I just being totally ripped off ?

Fibre 300 would do me just fine, or 500, or 900.....and they'd all be substantially cheaper than my current 900.

[WSH]

I had the same issue 6 months ago.  Something you might find interesting…

As a result, I initiated a move to Sky.  Sky subsequently screwed this up as they did not follow my instructions re Openreach rather than CityFibre doing the installation.  (CityFibre is not viable, even though it says it is on their database).

Anyway, long story short, that was enough for BT’s offers to improve dramatically, so I cancelled Sky and stayed with BT.  Now paying 55% of what I was before.

I’m not advocating starting a move with the intention of cancelling but…

If you do move, you should be able to retain the number but there are posts on here about that going wrong.

[gg30340]

You need to compare broadband packages like for like. You can not compare a Halo package with other packages that do not offer the same "extras" that the Halo package does.

If you do not need the Halo 900 package, and I would suggest that nobody needs a Halo package which is just a load of unnecessary addons, you should contact the BT Retention department on 0800 783 1401.

Inform them that you do not want or require a Halo package and that you want to take out a lower spec package.

Before doing that make sure you have checked out other providers packages so that you can compare them fairly and if BT do not offer what you want just move to the provider that does.

Not all Broadband providers provide a telephone service so if that is important to you make sure that they do. If they do you "should" be able to port your phone number to them

You can also go to a VOIP telephone company who will provide a telephone but you may not be able to port your number so make sure you do your homework before deciding to move. 

EDIT: I have moved your message that you posted onto your own thread because asking the same question on more than one thread just causes duplication of replies.

[StevieT678]

Thanks

I'll give them a call on Monday, as it all seems to suck really.

We rarely do use the landline, but as some doctors calls etc come through and old family friends sort of thing....even though it's mostly pointless would like to retain it for now.

It's like when fibre first appeared and we are pushed that way due to copper lines going....oh, you will not pay more for fibre than you did for the current packages.
Except it was impossible to pay the same or less because there were no fibre packages the same price !!!

[imjolly]

@StevieT678 

if you are out of contract then any discounts you had when you took out previous contract will no longer be available so you are now on standard terms with no discount - but you can leave with short notice without penalty

[Jane2018]

I was paying across two accounts about £200 a month, sometimes more - about £80 on each for the broadband plus landline plus non weekend calls. I don't think I ever switched since 1984 with BT. Anyway the reason I moved to Community Fibre (which operates in London) was because BT could not provide fibre to the premises (FTTP)  here - simple as that. 

Today was the final part of my several years' changes from having  SIX different lines from days of fax, dial up , burglar alarm etc to moving my remaining BT landline to VOIPfone  for £6 a month of up so 100 hours of calls (and Community Fibre's broadband only charges for up to 5GB download speed - very fast). Even this 5GB speed from CF is only £63 a month and I think it was their most expensive package for a large house etc.

As we got CF first so had BT broadband going too it was very easy to port the number from BT to voipfone which BT could do within a week and closed the broadband at same time - today was D day and so far nothing has gone wrong with the number porting.

[StevieT678]

Thanks gg.

I need internet, over and above I've no clue what "Halo" offers other than that.
The BT routers are **bleep** as the signal is rubbish in the house.

I have to use a Mesh system regardless which I did at my own expense a few years ago, although even 3 BT Mesh discs just about gives functional access around the house ( largish bungalow )

Even fibre complicated that a little as I had alter LAN wiring because they would not install the fibre modem where the existing main Master BT point was originally in the house.

[gg30340]

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@StevieT678wrote:

It's like when fibre first appeared and we are pushed that way due to copper lines going....oh, you will not pay more for fibre than you did for the current packages.
Except it was impossible to pay the same or less because there were no fibre packages the same price !!!

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BT Broadband packages cost the same regardless if you were getting it delivered by copper or fibre. Obviously copper can not deliver the faster packages but fibre can deliver the same speed packages as copper.

If you are going to renew any package you are always best to phone to see what they can offer and be prepared to move provider if they do not offer what you want. You will find that that is the case with every Internet provider.

[StevieT678]

@jmjolly.

But £61 to a so called offer of £55 is hardly much of a discount, when new customers can get the same 900 fibre for £34.99 ?

It seems my £61 is made up of £51.88 "broadband package" and then 700 mins calling plan at £9.18 Which there is no doubt I do not need.

Thanks for the prompt replies so far people.