I have a BT broadband contract, which I signed almost a year ago, and it is due for renewal soon.
I pay around £37, and in exchange I get: 8MB ADSL line, 1 line rental (phone line), 1 Wireless HUB, with Voip phone in order to use a second Voip line of BT.
I was quite pleased with this service, I could not really complain about it, however I did not like BT's traffic shaping policy, when they reduced file sharing traffic in peak period.
Anyway, I wanted to stay with them after my contract expires, but then I read something interesting. Unlike any other ISP (Internet Service Provider) in the UK, BT requires another 12 months contract to be signed/renewed, after your initial 12 months expires.
Why is that? I have no frickin' idea. I guess BT wants to tie their customers to themselves and get them committed for another 12 months. The only way to get out of a signed contract is to pay the remaining months in lump sum. Fortunately they don't make your life harder, so there is no cancellation charge.
Couple days ago, I received a phone call from BT. A gentleman was offering me on-the-go internet service from BT, using USB dongle. (expensive and not flexible service) As I already have a pay-as-you-go USB dongle with Three I told him I was not interested in this offer. Then he told me, he could give me £1.5 discount from my internet bill, IF I SIGN FOR ANOTHER 18 MONTHS with them. Oh, C'mon... These people are crazy (CRAZY). My answer to him:
- No thank you, I don't consider this as a good deal, so I would not like to accept it. First of all, I could deal with it, if you were offering bigger discount, but not with this ammount and not for another 18 months. Anyway I will cancel my contract with BT as soon as it expires
- And why is that Sir?
- Because ... ( and then I told him about this mandatory 12 months renewal) so I guess I will choose another provider.
- That is quite understandable Sir, have a nice day.
Hung up.
Understandable? :))) Even BT understand that this process is sh*t?
Anyway, I found another ADSL service with O2 I am currently a mobile customer with (would cost an 8MB line £17.50+£11.50 line rental), so as soon as BT expires (in about a month) I will change to O2, because it will work out cheaper than BT, and also after the initial 12 months contract I will be able to give notice 30 days in advance, and not forced to sign for another 12 months.
The funny thing that even OFCOM and watchdog is pushing BT to change this behavior.
