Chorus-Direct Debit Charge?

Can Chorus (NTL) get away with charging an additional charge with every bill because I choose NOT to pay by direct debit? As a consumer don't we have a right to pay whatever way we want?????Instead I am penalised for not paying by direct debit because I live by the post office and it is just as handy for me to drop in and pay in cash!!!!

sunlife said:

Can Chorus (NTL) get away with charging an additional charge with every bill because I choose NOT to pay by direct debit?

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Yes.

As a consumer don't we have a right to pay whatever way we want?????

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No.

Search out the original thread on this issue for more info. There are not laws or consumer rights preventing them from charging extra if you don't pay the way they want you to pay.

Thanks Clubman...still..it's such a rip-off!

I'm the same and its an extra €2 amonth. Still I won't set up a dd - wouldn't trust them.

I suppose they should really do what BT Ireland do... just add €2 to every bill and then offer a '€2 discount' for paying online. That way you won't feel ripped-off

But I understand your point of view. It's always frustrating when you feel you have no choice.

ButtermilkJa said:

I suppose they should really do what BT Ireland do... just add €2 to every bill and then offer a '€2 discount' for paying online. That way you won't feel ripped-off

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There was talk (from the NCA?) about making it illegal to, for example, charge extra for payments not made by some mechanism preferred by the service provider but the proposed legislation would also have made it illegal for them to offer discounts in this way. Can't remember the details offhand though...

But I understand your point of view. It's always frustrating when you feel you have no choice.

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There are generally choices - in this case one might be a once off payment for FTA satellite with local/Irish broadcasts via a set/attic/roof top aerial.

I have just received my Invoice for Chorus ntl for January 08 to January 09. i allways pay by cheque. There is no mention of any extra charge for not paying by direct debit.

I received mine as well. However the yearly fee for the analogue service is costing more than the monthly fee. Monthly the cost is something like 23.5 and the yearly fee divided by 12 works out at approx €27.
Has anyone else noticed this.
It would be cheaper to upgrade to the digital package which is only 26 a month.

I will have to ring them about it if I get a chance.
Before if you paid yearly there was a small discount but I didn't expect a penalty.

Megan said:

I have just received my Invoice for Chorus ntl for January 08 to January 09. i allways pay by cheque. There is no mention of any extra charge for not paying by direct debit.

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Our latest ntl: bill made no mention of a penalty charge for payment other than by monthly in the "ways to pay" section. I wonder if they have dropped it or something?

beldin said:

I received mine as well. However the yearly fee for the analogue service is costing more than the monthly fee. Monthly the cost is something like 23.5 and the yearly fee divided by 12 works out at approx €27.

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Are you sure that the former isn't ex-VAT and the latter including VAT or something?

The price is from the website so I doubt they would quote monthly charges ex vat. I know someone who queried it and was basically told they can charge what they want, that it was in the original contact. When asked where was the contract they replied that there had been a fire some years back and all paperwork destroyed.
Total blank refusal to explain why the yearly price was more expensive than the monthly price.

My mother in law is on the ntl: basic analog package the same as ourselves. She mentioned today that her annual bill is due and is about €280. Our two monthly one us €47 which is €282 annually. No difference there. I guess Chorus is different but since they are both owned by UPC I am surprised.

the price for chorus digital is 26 if youre paying by direct debit and 28 if you pay yourself normally per month at the post office .

its a nightmare trying to ring them they start the call by using a voice giving you choices about what you can do and it really puts you off waiting because all you want to do is talk to a customer service advisor and then when this robotic voice finishes its schpealll then it puts you on hold while you wait for a customer service advisor and this could take up to 20 minutes all in all before you get a customer service advisor it could take you up to half an hour of listening to this classical music stuff which is really annoying.

after the half hour wait then youre put through to an advisor whereby after telling youre problem with the service tells you they know nothing about it and tells you to hold a little while longer while they check the problem this takes forever and then transfer you to someone else hense having to explain the problem again. this has happened me so much over the past 3 months i cant believe there service actually there is no service

last week for instance when querying the same problem i had with them in december the customer service advisor who was really rude to me just hung up the phone on me and i had to start from scratch again to be put through to this guy who didnt know anything about what i was talking about and then he put me through to this girl who told me that it was too late in the evening to query youre bill that they had all gone home but i do have to say this last girl was really helpful. all in all i was on the phone to them 1 half hours waiting to be sorted i bet im not the only one this has happened to is there anyone out there with same experience