BT - Extra charges for non-direct debit payment

[paulears]

Maybe I've missed this before, but I got the bills today for both of the lines here, and they include £9 as a payment processing charge because I don't pay by direct debit. It's a bit of a cheek because I pay electronically, so there is no manual processing to do. One line never has any calls on it because there's no phone on it - just a router, and paying an extra £9 is a damn cheek!

 

Even more so, as the line died last night and broadband is dead! I wonder if I can claim anything back for loss of service?

[kerry davies]

Yup! If you are out of service for more than an agreed time BT will refund at a set rate. What the times and rates are can be found from the repair service operators (I just take my pension these days.)

 

These "extras" never happened in my day but these are the joys of privatisation, oh for the days when one sent a postdated cheque by second class snailmail with ones account number on the back. I detest these "payment plans" as they penalise the less well off, like VAT increases, but now I'm going political, so I'll shut up.

[Robin D]

Paul.

 

If you pay by BACS, get onto them. We had this when we had some BT lines (None now! :) )and got a refund as its the same as net effect as DD only cheaper for the receiver. They pay a small charge for each DD, but nothing for money just arriving in the bank!

 

Robin

[zonino]

they do then have to allocate it to the account (which has a cost associated with it), which would happen automatically with DD. Much reduced processing cost compared to a call centre or cheque etc though!

[paulears]

I'm not certain about that - sort code, account number - that's about it isn't it?

 

They promised me £36 x 2 a quarter off for Direct Debit - taking it back to what it was, but if I also switch to email bills, then I get another £36 x 2 discount, making it cheaper.

 

There is a credit for being out of service, but this must be applied by faults, when you complain after it's restored.

 

I've got broadband back, but the phone is dead. This, the engineer tells me, is impossible!

[zonino]

that gets the money into their account, but not everyone includes their BT account number, it affects planning to an extent, etc, the costs probably about offset the saving by not using direct debit

[KevinE]

Vote with your feet and change provider.

[themadhippy]

I've got broadband back, but the phone is dead. This, the engineer tells me, is impossible

Not been raining by any chance? ive had the same fault for ages ,,after going through all the have you tried another phone,microfilter modem, use the test socket,bt come out ,plug a tester in disappear for an bit,then come back telling me its all working,give it a few months,or a torrential down pour and no service again.Last time it happened I sent a letter of complain in,heard nothing so called them from a call box,there reply? one of our managers has tried ringing you to arrange an appointment.And itlLooks like its going again ,internet is dropping in and out and yep the phone line is dead,here we go again.

[d_korman]

I've got broadband back, but the phone is dead. This, the engineer tells me, is impossible!

 

He's wrong - I had this when 1 wire of my drop cable broke - there was still a capacitive connection which the BB frequencies could pass through, but the DC needed for the phone to work could not. Sounds you ave a bad connections somewhere on the line.