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BT Sport bait-and-switch

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    JamesB

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    BT sticks the boot in with ‘opt-out’ sports package

    Previously free sports package will automatically cost broadband users £5 a month, unless they register to say otherwise

    BT phone and broadband customers who signed up for the “free” sports package over the past two years will soon find themselves paying £5 a month for the service – unless they opt out.

    The telecoms giant is launching a revamped sport channel in August, and while the service will be free to BT’s television customers broadband-only users will be required to pay.

    Controversially, the company is automatically applying the charge to customers’ bills unless they contact it within 30 days of receiving the letter. Many may not notice receiving it or read it properly, and find themselves charged.

    Money reader Valerie Penrose, who lives in Cambridgeshire, contacted us this week to ask whether BT’s stance contravenes payments regulations. She says she spent “far too long” trying to opt out on the BT website, and after failing was forced to call the company to do so. She describes the BT bill as “incredibly confusing”, featuring four payments and credits for BT Sport alone.

    “I really feel that customers should have to opt in rather than be automatically charged,” she told us.

    The company says customers can drop down to BT Sport Lite without penalty “for at least 30 days”. “Additionally, [they] can cancel their BT Sport Pack at any time or move to free BT Sport Lite by giving 30 days’ notice. If a customer misses our letter or email, and they call us when they receive their first bill, we will waive the charge and they can choose the option they’d like,” it says.

    BT Sport has exclusive rights to live Champions League and Europa League football after spending £897m on a three-year deal starting in 2015/16.


    http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/jul/25/bt-opt-out-sports-package-broadband-users

    | Thu 30 Jul 2015 7:54:52 #1 |
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    Gordon

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    Fortunately I read the spam email from BT about this and managed to opt out (I think).

    I immediately made a complaint to OFCOM stating that I shouldn't have to opt out of something I've never wanted in the first place. Haven't had a response yet and not holding breath!

    | Fri 31 Jul 2015 13:04:48 #2 |
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    JamesB

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    Ofcom to the [very limited] rescue:

    Ofcom says BT Sport Europe charge unfair

    August 10, 2015 11.38 Europe/London By Julian Clover

    Ofcom has stepped in after BT customers complained the £5 charge for the new BT Sport Europe was an extra cost that hadn’t been previously agreed.

    BT agreed to pay £897 million over three years for exclusive coverage of the Champions League and launched the new channel in addition to the now established BT Sport. It also moved coverage across to BT Sport Europe from BT Sport.

    The telco wrote to customers in June and July informing them that the charge would start being added to their bills from August 1 unless they contacted them by July 31 to downgrade to a new BT Sport Lite – that carried BT Sport alone – or cancel.

    BT Sport was previously free to BT broadband customers in a minimum term agreement. Although the BT Sport Pack remains free for its BT TV television customers that sign up to a further minimum term agreement, BT’s broadband-only users now have to pay £5 each month for the BT Sport Pack. Alternatively, they can receive BT Sport Lite for free.

    Following Ofcom’s intevention, BT has agreed to give customers up to four weeks after they receive their first bill that includes the new £5 monthly charge to complain to BT.

    It’s also told the regulator that it’s planning to review the terms and conditions relating to the BT Sport contract.

    http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2015/08/10/ofcom-says-bt-sport-europe-charge-unfair/

    Does that mean that a customer who doesn't notice this charge within the first four weeks is contractually obliged to keep paying it until the end of their contract?

    | Thu 13 Aug 2015 12:28:34 #3 |
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    JamesB

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    BT have provided one of their infamous "clarifications" at http://btsupport.custhelp.com/app/answers/blank/a_id/53696/?s_cid=con_FURL_btsportreferral

    BT Sport Pack is free for new customers who take BT Broadband and BT TV on a new minimum contract term of 12 or 18 months. BT Sport Pack is also free for existing BT Broadband and TV customers who recontract those services for a further 18-month minimum contract term. Customers that don't take BT TV can still view BT Sport on one of the alternative platforms - see below for details.
    Customers watching the BT Sport Pack on Sky can get it for £5 a month if you're within your broadband minimum contract term. If you're not in a minimum contract term, it's £11.75 a month. You can always sign up for a further 12 or 18 month BT Broadband minimum contract term to watch the BT Sport Pack for £5 a month
    If you watch on the app only, then it's £5 a month
    If you only get the BT Sport Pack from us on Sky (without BT Broadband), then it's £19.99 a month
    [..]

    If you don’t want to take a BT TV contract, and don’t want to pay £5 for the BT Sport Pack from 1 August, you have the option to downgrade to BT Sport Lite – a new service that launches on 1 August.

    BT Sport Lite includes the following [..]:

    38 exclusively live Barclays Premier League matches
    Aviva Premiership Rugby
    Scottish Professional Football League
    Existing BT Sport Pack customers can take BT Sport Lite without the need to enter a new minimum contract term and it is free of charge to BT TV customers and App Only customers.

    For those watching on Sky, it is free if you're in a BT Broadband minimum contract term, but £6.75 if you are outside your broadband minimum contract term and don't want to re-contract.

    We have written to all our customers to let you know what the options are, what you need to do if anything, and how to get BT Sport Lite. New prices come into effect on 1 August 2015.

    A final option for customers is to cease BT Sport, which we will do for you without penalty. The minimum 30-day notice period will be waived. Please note that if you have a minimum term left on your BT TV, BT Broadband, Calling plan or other service then that still stands.

    http://btsupport.custhelp.com/app/answers/blank/a_id/53696/?s_cid=con_FURL_btsportreferral

    There's a link to a form to complete to request a callback from CS.

    | Thu 13 Aug 2015 12:47:42 #4 |

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