BT price rise two months after I've signed a 24 month contract.

[Fluffernutter]

I recently signed up with BT as a new business broadband customer after being with PlusNet who are apparently closing. My first two bills were correct as per the contract, but then my recent bill is for much more than what the contract stated the monthly charge was to be.

I spoke to someone at BT who quite abruptly told me that they had increased their charges and I would have been told about this in the phone call when setting it up (I wasn't or I'd never have signed up) and also that I would have received an email informing me of the increase (I've gone through all my emails from them and can't see it).

I've signed a 24 month contract and I feel absolutely conned that they've increased my charges two months after I joined them.

Question is, do I pursue this further or would I be wasting my time? I'm guessing they're not breaking the law by doing this or they wouldn't be doing it. Can any company you sign up to legally increase their charges and you just have to go along with it? Is there a limit on how many times companies can increase prices or could it go up each month? Seems very unfair.

 

[StevensOnln1]

Check the terms of the contract you agreed to. It's normal for telecoms/broadband to have an annual price increase but they should have made that clear up front.

 

[Newchodge]

Read every word of the contract to see if you agreed to this when signing.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Check the terms of the contract you agreed to. It's normal for telecoms/broadband to have an annual price increase but they should have made that clear up front.

This. But also go back and ask for a copy of the call where they told you about the increase.

 

[Fluffernutter]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Have looked at the contract and it says in the small print "we can change our prices under these terms", so I guess I don't have a leg to stand on. Now wishing I'd gone through the contract with a fine tooth comb. Lesson learned.

 

[UKSBD]

Pretty sure it is in the BT contracts that prices rise by inflation rate every Apil throughout your contract

 

[UKSBD]

info here https://www.bt.com/tell-me-more

 

[DontAsk]

EVery ISP that I have come across has this iniquitous RPI+x%

I recently signed up with BT as a new business broadband customer after being with PlusNet who are apparently closing.

I have just switched to PlusNet for home broadband. Is it just business services they are closing? They are actually BT.

Most (all?) ISPs have this iniquitous RPI + X% annual price rise on a fixed date (i.e., not the contract anniversary). You should have read the contract more closely.

 

[Fluffernutter]

EVery ISP that I have come across has this iniquitous RPI+x%

I have just switched to PlusNet for home broadband. Is it just business services they are closing? They are actually BT.

Most (all?) ISPs have this iniquitous RPI + X% annual price rise on a fixed date (i.e., not the contract anniversary). You should have read the contract more closely.

I'm pretty sure it's just the business side they are closing/have closed as I received notification from them at the start of the year that they were closing and transferring their business customers to BT. Shame as I found PlusNet excellent and had no issues.

Yes, I should have read the contract more closely. I'll be more aware next time I have a contract to accept from anywhere.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I would still escalate the complaint - raising a price after a couple months is a disgusting practice.

BTW, was there a promo discount?

 

[UKSBD]

I would still escalate the complaint - raising a price after a couple months is a disgusting practice.

BTW, was there a promo discount?

Pretty sure this isn't one of those "buried in the small print" types of things, and it is made quite clear when you sign up.

 

[macScot]

If you feel you were not advised about this then definitely worth making an official complaint about it, however best to keep it professional. Who knows, you may just get something back as a gesture of goodwill.

Alternatively, maybe buy some BT shares to recover the money back in time

 

[IanSuth]

Not business but Virgin were doing this to me so I called their bluff - got a quote from Sky for an equivalent tv/broadband/phone service (on a new customer promo discount) went back to Virgin saying "ok I am off as I have this quote", they said we can't actually fully match that but can do £x and quoted a number £8pcm less than i was already paying.

They rely on people not moving supplier - like insurers

Threaten to walk and magic wiggle room appears

 

[DontAsk]

I didn't just call TalkTalk's bluff. I left, even though they matched what I would be paying PlusNet.

 

[IanSuth]

I didn't just call TalkTalk's bluff. I left, even though they matched what I would be paying PlusNet.

Trouble i have is the BT line was physically removed during some building work in the mid 00's so if I leave Virgin and their cable I have to pay for a physical re-connection to openreach's box in the street. I am not telling virgin that though

 

[DontAsk]

I am not telling virgin that though

 

[Ballscoigne]

As other people have said, it's legal, and it's something you signed up to unfortunately. Here's what Ofcom say about price rises:

If your provider increases the prices that you pay beyond what you agreed when you signed the contract, they must give you at least one month’s notice and a right to exit the contract without penalty.

Some providers have contracts which set out that the monthly prices you pay will increase at certain times during the contract, for example increasing by inflation each year. This should be made clear to you when you sign the contract, so you know what you will have to pay at different points in the contract. This is covered in our guidance on contract requirements. If this was made clear at the point you entered the contract, you won’t have the right to exit without penalty when the increase takes place.

 

[Joseph K]

As other people have said, it's legal, and it's something you signed up to unfortunately. Here's what Ofcom say about price rises:

Thanks for that! Really useful!

 

[Charley12]

As other people have said, it's legal, and it's something you signed up to unfortunately. Here's what Ofcom say about price rises:

i know everyone hates me for saying this. It is in the contract so therefore it is legal? Doesn't make it lawful though. Everyone just accepts the terms and conditions that are never made clear before signing. I find that to be deliberate omission on the suppliers' part. Many contracts are e signed and conducted over the phone these days so it should be relatively easy for the suppliers to mention key terms from the contracts to the customers before signing.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Use chaptgpt to generate a response to BT in the absence of affording a legal expert. Ask it to cite the relevant laws that apply. You can even 'copy and paste the relevant BT 'contract terms' and ask chatpgpt if they followed their terms based on your situation.

 

[DontAsk]

i know everyone hates me for saying this. It is in the contract so therefore it is legal? Doesn't make it lawful though. Everyone just accepts the terms and conditions that are never made clear before signing. I find that to be deliberate omission on the suppliers' part. Many contracts are e signed and conducted over the phone these days so it should be relatively easy for the suppliers to mention key terms from the contracts to the customers before signing.

Of course it's lawful.

When I changed supplier recently the terms were read out to me. I can't think of a time when this was not the case with any utility were I have signed up over the 'phone.

If signing up on the web then it's up to you to download and read the Ts and Cs.

Even the TV adverts, all the ones I have seen, at least, have the disclaimer text about annual RPI price rises.

 

[DidierD]

Mine is even worth. BT made me sign an agreement on 30th March 2023 and on 1st april 2023 it went up by £10(ish) Not even used the service it already gone up. Those things should be made illegal especially as they knew the price would go up. I think it was just a "dodgy" technique to make me sign to a lower price knowing I would never pay it.

Unfortunately I have only noticed a couple of months ago that they have overcharged me. I am speaking to Ofcom but it seems that I will be stuck with it. It was not very transparent and I should have been quoted the new prices which started 2 days after I signed.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

BT made me sign an agreement

Made? How?

 

[DidierD]

Made? How?

They sent me a Adobe Sign Agreement - Following this I question the BT local business agent about price increase in a couple of days and his email back to me was : "No those are the prices from April"

 

[DontAsk]

They sent me a Adobe Sign Agreement -

But how did they make you sign it?