BT Disability Discrimination?

dynz

BT offer a broadband discount to customers who are disabled. BUT only for their low speed broandband products. 
Maybe BT think that disabled customers only have limited broadband requirements.

poppy123456

BT home essentials offer 2 speeds but it will also depend on what's available in the area you live. The speeds available are 36mps for £15/month or 67Mps for £20/month. These are not just available to disabled people, they are available to those on low income claiming certain means tested benefits. They're not available to those that only claim disability benefits. https://www.bt.com/content/dam/bt/help/home-essentials/102076_Home_Essentials_Online.pdf

I'm with BT and the faster BB speeds aren't available in my area so 67Mps is the fastest they have for me.

It's the same with other BB companies that offer low cost BB, if you want faster speeds, you have to pay the extra i'm afraid.

poppy123456

I didn't say they were the best value for money but i've never had an issue with them and find them so much better than my previous BB supplier.

dynz

The Equality Act states that people can't be discriminated against because of a disability. BT are discriminating against disabled customers by not applying their disability discount to faster broadband speeds, when they are available in the disabled customers area.  

66Mustang

Audi offer discounts to disabled customers via the Motability scheme...

But you can only get a slow Audi A1 or Q2.

Is it discrimination that Audi don't offer the R8 under Motability? Do they think disabled customers don't want or are unable to use the faster cars?

--

Not trying to be sarcastic just trying to highlight the flaw in the argument.

dynz

Couple of factors to consider;

The range of cars offered is dictated by Mobility, not by Audi.
Mobility customers can't select cars that are not on the Motability list.

BT offers all its products to its customers, with discounts available to disabled customers, but BT excludes high speed broadband products.

Audi has not breached the Equality Act.
BT, in my opinion, has breached the Equality Act.

poppy123456

I don't think it's discriminating the disabled at all. The cheaper BB isn't available to anyone that just claims a disability benefit. It's available to those on low income claiming certain means tested benefits so i can't see how it can be discrimination. Not every disabled person claims a means tested benefit.

There's no mention at all about disabled people in the criteria. https://www.bt.com/broadband/home-essentials nothing has been breached here. If they had mentioned the word "disabled" then it would have been different.

woodbine

I think we should be wary when using the discrimination word too often and for reasons that matter little, we may eventually win the war but we cant expect to win every battle. I think that many suppliers offering "social tariffs" has been a great step forward.

OverlyAnxious

I've been considering moving to the BT social tariff when my current contract ends. 

I can no longer see both speed options available on the website though.  Does anyone know if the 67Mb version is still available?

Also interested to know whether anyone contacts BT using non-verbal communication?  My current supplier is lacking in that area, so I have to use a social media platform to contact them.  Only realised this after entering the contract with them.

Wibbles

OverlyAnxious said:

I've been considering moving to the BT social tariff when my current contract ends. 

I can no longer see both speed options available on the website though.  Does anyone know if the 67Mb version is still available?

Also interested to know whether anyone contacts BT using non-verbal communication?  My current supplier is lacking in that area, so I have to use a social media platform to contact them.  Only realised this after entering the contract with them.

OverlyAnxious

Wibbles said:

OverlyAnxious said:

I've been considering moving to the BT social tariff when my current contract ends. 

I can no longer see both speed options available on the website though.  Does anyone know if the 67Mb version is still available?

Also interested to know whether anyone contacts BT using non-verbal communication?  My current supplier is lacking in that area, so I have to use a social media platform to contact them.  Only realised this after entering the contract with them.

Thanks.  I am still considering them.  Turned out I had another couple of months of my old contract so no rush yet.

shellbell20

OverlyAnxious said:

Wibbles said:

OverlyAnxious said:

I've been considering moving to the BT social tariff when my current contract ends. 

I can no longer see both speed options available on the website though.  Does anyone know if the 67Mb version is still available?

Also interested to know whether anyone contacts BT using non-verbal communication?  My current supplier is lacking in that area, so I have to use a social media platform to contact them.  Only realised this after entering the contract with them.

Thanks.  I am still considering them.  Turned out I had another couple of months of my old contract so no rush yet.

You can contact BT via phone, on messenger etc.  Just be careful though their customer service isnt the best and don't do what I did when signing up. I didnt realise I had signed up for a quarterly tariff, tried to change it back, was told I could pay monthly until it was sorted, ended up with disconnection and charge, late payment charge and then it when on my credit file, it took ages to sort it all out. I was not impressed with their customer service, they were very rude to me on the phone, so much so I had to make a complaint about the way they spoke to me. I would have gone with Virgin again, as had no problems with them but they dont have Virgin where I live.

OverlyAnxious

Wibbles said:

OverlyAnxious said:

I've been considering moving to the BT social tariff when my current contract ends. 

I can no longer see both speed options available on the website though.  Does anyone know if the 67Mb version is still available?

Also interested to know whether anyone contacts BT using non-verbal communication?  My current supplier is lacking in that area, so I have to use a social media platform to contact them.  Only realised this after entering the contract with them.

Does anyone have an email address for BT broadband services?

My current supplier have just confirmed that I cannot switch to the BT social tariff without being able to use the phone.  (This sort of thing really winds me up...surely the whole point of a social tariff is accessibility.)

I know BT have live chat but that's not working today.

Jimm_Scope

I tried looking @OverlyAnxious but cannot find an email.

BT does have their own community it seems, perhaps talking to people there will get you the answers you're looking for?