I've had a similar problem
I wanted to move from BT to Sky line rental (for all the reasons you have listed) so I gave them a ring to let them know I wanted to cancel my line rental with them.

'Ok, but there will be a £75 cancellation charge.'

'Er, will there fuck, I've been with you for 18 months so I'm outside my original 12 month contract meaning that I just have to give you a month's notice'

'No, you signed a new contract with us five months ago'

'No I bloody didn't!'

'Yes, you moved address and this counts as a new contract'

Bastards.

I should point out at the time that Sky were utterly brilliant throughout (the dispute went on for some time) putting my contract with them on hold repeatedly then happily cancelling my line rental agreement outside the cooling off period and offering to hold the deal they offered me until my contract with Sky was over.

I also spent a maximum of 15 minutes on hold, all the operators were based in the UK and were all massively helpful and well-informed of my problems.

Also, the internet I get from them is nailed to 17mbps, never drops out and is about £35 a month including tele.

No, I am not employed by Sky!
(MrKipling43, Fri 28 May 2010, 13:30, 1 reply)

Yay! Me too.
But worse. My internet had been down for weeks, with promised calls and LIES about getting it sorted. So I finally decided to move to Virgin. (Six weeks no internet.)
A £200 charge from BT for cancelling a service they weren't providing me with in the first place!


Ps. Virgin rocks.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Fri 28 May 2010, 14:16, closed)