10 signatures reached
To: Ofcom
Stop BT from charging punitive exit fees
Stop Internet companies like BT from charging punitive exit fees
Why is this important?
A few weeks ago I helped my girlfriend to review her contract with BT as it was coming to a close and they were going to raise the charges considerably for what was always a poor service.
Unfortunately the switch-over date was before the end of the BT contract. Imagine our shock when she received a demand from BT for £82 for cancelling the remaining £32 worth of services! When I queried this, they said it was in the contract that there was a £65 charge for the router for terminating early in addition to the cancellation charge for services. The charge for the router applies even if you switch the day before the contract ends. After over an hour on the phone they were still insisting that this charge was fair and reasonable even though Ofcom guidance says: "this charge is fair if:
you know what the charge is and it was made clear to you before you bought the contract
the charge is not more than the amount you owe for the remaining months of your minimum contract period."
(Quoted from the citizens' Advice Website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/phones-tv-internet-and-computers/problems-with-contracts-packages-and-offers/cancelling-your-tv-phone-or-internet-contract/)
Clearly BT are making a lot of money out of punitive exit charges hidden in their terms and condition and are clearly in breach of Ofcom guidance which they say they adhere to.
Please support me in exposing this shameless rip-off the great British public. Maybe you have also had to pay under this penalty clause?
Unfortunately the switch-over date was before the end of the BT contract. Imagine our shock when she received a demand from BT for £82 for cancelling the remaining £32 worth of services! When I queried this, they said it was in the contract that there was a £65 charge for the router for terminating early in addition to the cancellation charge for services. The charge for the router applies even if you switch the day before the contract ends. After over an hour on the phone they were still insisting that this charge was fair and reasonable even though Ofcom guidance says: "this charge is fair if:
you know what the charge is and it was made clear to you before you bought the contract
the charge is not more than the amount you owe for the remaining months of your minimum contract period."
(Quoted from the citizens' Advice Website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/phones-tv-internet-and-computers/problems-with-contracts-packages-and-offers/cancelling-your-tv-phone-or-internet-contract/)
Clearly BT are making a lot of money out of punitive exit charges hidden in their terms and condition and are clearly in breach of Ofcom guidance which they say they adhere to.
Please support me in exposing this shameless rip-off the great British public. Maybe you have also had to pay under this penalty clause?
