BT direct debit rebel loses case

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7966625.stm

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A Nottingham man who took BT to court after being cut off in a row over how to pay his bill has lost his case.

Dennis Andrews, 85, refused to pay an extra £4.50 every quarter for not using direct debit, and when cut off sued for breach of contract.

At a preliminary hearing in Nottingham a county court judge ruled BT had acted legally and the case need not proceed.

Mr Andrews, who claimed BT was in effect charging him twice, now faces paying £2,000 in court costs.

BT changed its charging policy in May 2007 so that those paying by cheque faced an annual extra £18 charge.

The company said the charge was fair as it cost the company more to process non-direct debit payments.

Mr Andrews insisted his normal bill, paid by cheque, should cover all services including administration.

But Judge Robert Severn ruled BT had the right to vary the terms and conditions of contracts and Mr Andrews had been properly informed of all changes.