General Chat

can I ask one of you to look at the small print please about this extra charge. My mum is having this problem but I have explained to her about the direct debit. She could use that method if she wanted to but prefers paying cash. She has told me that she can not pay by direct debit because she is on the low user scheme. Just wondering if this is true or not.

Hi google ''method of payment''bt There is an article by an MP asking Ofcom to investigate. Malcolm.

I'm in finance at work and we pay 'outworker's' phone bills by BACS (automatically through the bank, once the bill has been processed by me), so they do nothing!! When I first saw the £4.50 processing fee I thought it was because the bill had been paid late. I know last time I paid it early, so was rather surprised to see it on this quarter's bills! Not only that, we pay VAT on it!! If this is going to be the 'norm' I'm afraid their bills will regularly be paid late, If my firm are paying BT a 'processing' fee, they can bl**dy well earn it!! maggie

No problems Bob, glad to have helped. Joanne

Thanks every one for your comments, Joanne from Burgess Hill......thanks especially for that suggestion Have taken up that option, and will pay quarterly bill as it comes as you suggested........ Bob, and Jean....

Please check what other companies offer before you jump ship as I think NTL/Virgin also do the same. No point jumping out of the frying pan etc. Kate

Bob, I always bills in full as they come in, and do not want companies having a hand in my bank account every month. I looked on the BT web site, and they a do whole bill direct debit. I have set this up, and now what happens is that they send me a bill quarterly, and take the money out of my account 10 days later. I thought this was a satisfactory compromise and I don't get charged £4.50 Joanne

Glad I changed to talktalk last year. I used to pay my BT by cheque. OK I pay a monthly fee now by DD but that covers all calls and broadband. I am quids in - can afford now to buy certs!

Hello CM.. I have line rental only....never been a fan of BT......... I was in Brittannia Rescue..but last year they added £5 as a process fee unless it was paid by DD......I have been with them 20 years or so and had only one call out..and that was a local garage who fixed it on the spot... Just another case of rip off Britain. Last month my son was buying a Sony camcorder....on the net $250 in America £250 here same item twice the price

Bob206719 {other half I wouldnt bl.......dy mind but the cheque is in my name and its almost paid before Ive opened the so.......ing bill and weve been a customer for 32yrs me thinks they just want it all neat and tidy so almost demanding one pays by direct debit or get charged well they can wait for the cheque now im in no hurry as Im spitting blood Jean

Hi Colin I didn't know that it had been made illegal in Ireland - and it should be the same here! I challenged them before over the £5 late payment charge, said I believed it to be illegal to charge domestic customers, especially as I only pay for line rental which is payable in advance anyway! Fair enough when you've already had a service (like goods on a credit card for example) and are late paying the bill, but when they charge £5 for something you haven't had yet that's different. So, I shall be changing from BT because I think their charges are disgusting, unfair and should be illegal. Rant over! LOL. Mary

I believe that this has been made illegal in Ireland....I did write to BT last time and recieved a nonsense reply......if no one makes this illegal then there will several more services jumping on the bandwaggon... I always pay BT via the touch button system on the telephone...but now that they are adding £4.50 for this inconvenience I am now paying the old fashioned way and sending a cheque.. It would cost me less if I signed up with Talk Talk....no line rental to BT but I have been satisfied with Virgin as my ISP provider

I wonder if this is actually legal? Mary

How long will it be before all the 'services' follow suit? We will all be paying for paying. Tina x

im with virgin and i also have a fee because i dont pay by direct debit i think its disgusting,at least we pay our bills.surely it shouldnt matter how,as long as they get their money. susie

Biggest con ever,,,so if they dont already process the bill how does it arrive,,,,?? its done so they can by a certain date have all the money in and counted,, earing intrest ,,,the process bit is to tie up any stragglers paying by cash ,,,,,,,,that someone has to sit at a computer and do,so I was told,,,,,,,,,,,plus they are losing out on a few days intrest ,!!!

It's an insult... I pay online as soon as the bill comes in and still have to pay £4.50. Tina x

Just got our phone bill in, and there is a £4:50 Processing fee surcharge...because we dont pay monthly, or by Direct debit...... why should I give then Carte Blanche to rob me of whatever they think fit? I will only pay what I owe....... Bob

So this is NOT just BT? any others doing the same? Bob I feel inclined to let them work for it........I have never owed them Methinks I will let them send me some demands first....... Bob