bt rip off callout charges070309

Have you experienced BT rip-off call out charges? I have! First, a few years ago my phone was malfunctioning and I asked BT to check it. They sent a technician around and having examined the wires, he reported to BT that he did not found any fault with my phone. BT charged me £55.00 as a one-off call out charge. The problem continued thereafter and a approximately a year later a different BT technician attended and found that I was unable to use the extension in the living room because the cord taking the main connection to the other room had been cut. This had also contributed to the fault on the phone line at the time. Approximately a month or two ago, I decided to change my broadband provider and asked BT to supply me. At the same time, I was having problems with my phone line. This had been reported to BT three times earlier at which times they claimed not to have found any fault. What seem to be happening is that when you report a fault on your line these days, BT will use its technology to eliminate the fault online and deny that there is a fault. This malpractice put the company in the position to add a one-off call out charge to your bill if they have to send a technician to your property. Recently, having called BT with a view to take their Broadband, I reminded them of the fault I have been having with this particular phone line. Mind full of the rip-off call out charges, I was nevertheless prepared to forgo my legal rights to insist that they come around and repair the fault. However, whilst talking to the BT rep in their broadband section I heard a knock on my door. I went to the door where a man said that he was in the area and the lady I am talking to online at BT asked him to pop into my property and take a look on my phone. He repaired the line and the phone since worked properly. Four days ago I received a phone bill from BT and this include a sum of £177.00 inclusive VAT as a one off BT call out charge for repairing my phone. I then phone BT to dispute the charge when I BT told me that according to their record, the technician who attended my property that day reported that he did not found any fault on my line. The conclusion is that this is clearly a fraud being operated by BT and one that has left the poor and less fortunate customers with very little defence against this type of fault being operated by BT and in consideration of its domination of the landline telephone market.

If you have similar experience, please contact me at lothiantv@vincentlothian.com

I NEED YUR SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT THE AUTHORITIES TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO STOP THIS LEVEL OF RIP-OFF BY BT!

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• BT
• rip-off
• callout
• abusing
• consumers
• theft

[leefield1983]

not a rip off, its business!!!!

[leefield1983]

if its bt's own equipment you would not be charged. if you phone bt reporting a fault then they will go through a procedure by putting your phone in a test socket. if your line is ok at the test socket then your own equippment is faulty and if you ask for an engineer you will be charged. if bt's own equipment is faulty you will not be charged unless its a fault where bt's equipment has been damagd by yourself or a 3rd party. you will only be charged if bt didnt cause the fault.

[Carlm2]

I agree with you about Bt! I phoned BT about noise on the line, they ran a check on my line and told me there is no fault with my phone line and said they could send me BT engineer out which I would have to pay for. I told them not to bother because I would not pay for fixing thier own equipment thats faulty!! Its a rip off!!!

[litesp33d]

Why do people think BT are some kind of special charity based company. They are a ruthless commercial concern who still function like a monopoly. If the UK public continue to use BT as a first choice for telephony matters when there are many alternate and often independently rated better suppliers around expect to be treated like this.

[fizz331]

if you did not agree to the charges and they sent the person the same day with you out agreeing to the charges then call the company and dispute it they have to send to have it investigated for you if they will not do this ask to speak to a manager

if you not happy with the outcome the company give you, you can go to ofcom about it