bt cancellation...

[has]

Is it right that BT charge for cancellation of a contract after a few days. I thought there was a cooling off period?
I paid the installation charge of �124.99, now they want a cancellation charge of �320.95, and I'm not happy !!

I opted for another co. to supply broadband after a few days of getting a phone line installed. Therefore, I contacted them to cancel.

Someone please help. Is there anyway I get out of paying this??

[Thunderchild]

they asked me for 124 � just to reconect my phone line after it being off for 2 years I told them what to go do with themselves and went with virgin media with a cable install that cost 25 � only thing is virgin media are snakes never let them take direct debit you may find you account empty if they see it fit

[buildersmate]

I imagine you have committed to a 12 months minimum contract and they want the line rental for that period?

[kwicky]

You could try getting in touch with the ombudsman for telecommunications

http://www.otelo.org.uk/

[Tikitiki]

I have the same issue with BT. Here below some advices I've picked up from the forums

"I called Trading Standards as I'd never received a contract, terms and conditions or information on cancellation charges: they said to ask BT to send you a copy of the contract you signed and their terms and conditions, if they can't do that and BT rely on a verbal contract, they have to prove they actually told you (E.g. retrieve the recorded phone conversation at the time you agreed to take on the service). And if they can't prove that they told you then they CAN NOT force you to pay the cancellation fee."

"As a customer who has also worked in the telecoms industry, has threatened and complained about telecoms suppliers to the regulator I'm extremely fustrated that telecomes companies still don't understand stand they to have to abide by the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. The telecoms industry needs to clean their act up and not try to rely on the fact that a customer paying a bill agrees to all the terms and conditions of a complex verbal contract with no recordings or paperwork, as if the customer takes them to court the company's case can easily be taken apart."