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 intervention, 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.
