Phoned BT asking cost of leaving mid-way through 24 month contract. £385 ! - too expensive so decided to stay until Feb 2024, By chance checked e-mails - one from BT putting me on a new 24 month contract from today (not asked for.) Phoned BT about this - advised that this new contract superseded the original contract and I had a 14 day cooling-off period. Repeatedly asked if that meant I was 'released' from original contract with NO penalty clause - assured this was the case. Thinking that was the end of my dealings with BT I joined up with cheaper provider and out of courtesy phoned BT to say I was leaving - transferred to the 'Retention Department.' Told that they would cancel new contract but re-install old one and I'd have to pay £385 to leave - no way put! BT tracked phone conversation - acknowledged I had been given wrong advice but they would do nothing about it. ''If we let you do this everyone will be opting out of their contracts with no penalties.....'' - a loophole! Anyway contacted someone higher up the food chain and they agreed with me - - the new contract (with 14 days cooling off period) nulled the old one and BT if they impose a new UNASKED for contract on someone can't withdraw it and re-impose the old contract. U W here we come - with a saving of £25 a month. COYR. (4-2 ??)
Still 12 months to go on the contract - I was paying £27 for Broadband and £7.30 for phone use (Line rental £219 paid separately.) Not sure how they arrived at the figure of £385 and at that cost it's not worth leaving. Oddly enough their bullying in trying to impose an unasked for new contract meant after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing I go out of my original contract.
If they're anything like the crooks at Onestream, it's just a made up number. I similarly wanted to get out of my contract early, I was quoted 3 different figures on 3 different occasions, none of which resembled the actual figure I eventually paid.
agree - the £385 plucked from thin air is there as a deterrent - they peddle wrong information - they're bullies - some people they can browbeat/intimidate others they can't.
