ending the Phone and Electricity
Apr 8th 2005, 11:06 pm
#1
Superfreak!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Thornlie, Perth, W.A.
Posts: 1,177
ending the Phone and Electricity
We`re not getting far with BT or Seeboard.
BT say they`ll have to send us a final bill a few weeks before we leave and cut the phone off then.... we can`t not have a phone for a few weeks before we leave. We only pay them for line-rental (are with Onetel for all calls) anyway, so surely they`d know exactly how much we owe them on the 31st of May.
And Seeboard say they`ll need us to ring them on the day we leave with a final meter reading so they can charge us... but hey ppl, we won`t be in the country and the bank account will be closed. We thought we could ring them with a reading and pay over the phone that day.... but that makes too much sense to them I guess.
Geez. How did you people sort this out.
BT say they`ll have to send us a final bill a few weeks before we leave and cut the phone off then.... we can`t not have a phone for a few weeks before we leave. We only pay them for line-rental (are with Onetel for all calls) anyway, so surely they`d know exactly how much we owe them on the 31st of May.
And Seeboard say they`ll need us to ring them on the day we leave with a final meter reading so they can charge us... but hey ppl, we won`t be in the country and the bank account will be closed. We thought we could ring them with a reading and pay over the phone that day.... but that makes too much sense to them I guess.
Geez. How did you people sort this out.
Apr 9th 2005, 8:40 am
#2
A former regular of BE
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Carramar, Perth
Posts: 6,241
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Originally Posted by Stormz
We`re not getting far with BT or Seeboard.
BT say they`ll have to send us a final bill a few weeks before we leave and cut the phone off then.... we can`t not have a phone for a few weeks before we leave. We only pay them for line-rental (are with Onetel for all calls) anyway, so surely they`d know exactly how much we owe them on the 31st of May.
And Seeboard say they`ll need us to ring them on the day we leave with a final meter reading so they can charge us... but hey ppl, we won`t be in the country and the bank account will be closed. We thought we could ring them with a reading and pay over the phone that day.... but that makes too much sense to them I guess.
Geez. How did you people sort this out.
BT say they`ll have to send us a final bill a few weeks before we leave and cut the phone off then.... we can`t not have a phone for a few weeks before we leave. We only pay them for line-rental (are with Onetel for all calls) anyway, so surely they`d know exactly how much we owe them on the 31st of May.
And Seeboard say they`ll need us to ring them on the day we leave with a final meter reading so they can charge us... but hey ppl, we won`t be in the country and the bank account will be closed. We thought we could ring them with a reading and pay over the phone that day.... but that makes too much sense to them I guess.
Geez. How did you people sort this out.
Apr 9th 2005, 9:42 am
#3
Banned
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Brisvegas
Posts: 144
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
My phone, and therefore internet 
was switched off about a week before we left and the bill was sorted. The electricity however had to be left on as we had not sold the house by the time we left and has only just sold, we paid 7 months UK mortgage while trying to start a life here, a real drain on resources!
was switched off about a week before we left and the bill was sorted. The electricity however had to be left on as we had not sold the house by the time we left and has only just sold, we paid 7 months UK mortgage while trying to start a life here, a real drain on resources!
Apr 9th 2005, 7:52 pm
#4
Superfreak!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Thornlie, Perth, W.A.
Posts: 1,177
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Originally Posted by worzel
How about getting them to cut you off the day you leave but give them a UK address (parents?) they can send the bill to. Leave them some money to pay the bill or do it online.
Apr 9th 2005, 8:01 pm
#5
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Originally Posted by Stormz
Our parent`s are in Oz, but we could ask a friend to sort the bill out somehow I hope....
Jeremy
Apr 9th 2005, 8:10 pm
#6
What's happening dudes?
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Bayside Brisbane
Posts: 20,647
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Originally Posted by JAJ
(keep your UK bank account open).
Apr 10th 2005, 2:37 pm
#7
An Australian Citizen !!
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Terrigal - NSW Central Coast since June 2005
Posts: 1,237
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Originally Posted by Stormz
Our parent`s are in Oz, but we could ask a friend to sort the bill out somehow I hope....
As suggested by others - keep your UK account open - if you are able to do so - at least until you are sorted back in Australia.
Like you - I am not looking forward to dealing with Seeboard.
Jim
Apr 10th 2005, 8:35 pm
#8
Superfreak!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Thornlie, Perth, W.A.
Posts: 1,177
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Yeah we`re keeping it open after we leave... hopefully won`t cost us much with Barclays.
Have killed off most of the direct debits already (including rent as we wanted to make sure we get our deposit back).
Will try and sort BT and Seeboard out during the week. Surely we`re not the first ppl to leave the country.
Have killed off most of the direct debits already (including rent as we wanted to make sure we get our deposit back).
Will try and sort BT and Seeboard out during the week. Surely we`re not the first ppl to leave the country.
Apr 11th 2005, 10:39 am
#9
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Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Manchester UK to Sydney, then decided Gold Coast, stayed there for 8 months and now back in sydney
Posts: 486
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
hi,
i phoned BT and they said just dont use the phone the day b4, they will then work out the bill and we can pay over the phone by debit card the day we leave.
electric/water-called them, they said give them the meter reading when leaving and pay over the phone using debit card. both BT and electric and water said the same thing, they already know we are leaving flat on 27th, so its on their records. if they need anymore money, they will send the bill to bf parents and they will pay it by chq, should only be a matter of a few pence anyway.
sounds easy, but lets just wait and see. we are closing all our bank accounts and have cancelled all direct debits. luckily, bf parents said give their address to BT, water and electric so they can send final proof of payment and ask for any money if needed-like i say though shouldn't be for much money
good luck
i phoned BT and they said just dont use the phone the day b4, they will then work out the bill and we can pay over the phone by debit card the day we leave.
electric/water-called them, they said give them the meter reading when leaving and pay over the phone using debit card. both BT and electric and water said the same thing, they already know we are leaving flat on 27th, so its on their records. if they need anymore money, they will send the bill to bf parents and they will pay it by chq, should only be a matter of a few pence anyway.
sounds easy, but lets just wait and see. we are closing all our bank accounts and have cancelled all direct debits. luckily, bf parents said give their address to BT, water and electric so they can send final proof of payment and ask for any money if needed-like i say though shouldn't be for much money
good luck
Originally Posted by Stormz
We`re not getting far with BT or Seeboard.
BT say they`ll have to send us a final bill a few weeks before we leave and cut the phone off then.... we can`t not have a phone for a few weeks before we leave. We only pay them for line-rental (are with Onetel for all calls) anyway, so surely they`d know exactly how much we owe them on the 31st of May.
And Seeboard say they`ll need us to ring them on the day we leave with a final meter reading so they can charge us... but hey ppl, we won`t be in the country and the bank account will be closed. We thought we could ring them with a reading and pay over the phone that day.... but that makes too much sense to them I guess.
Geez. How did you people sort this out.
BT say they`ll have to send us a final bill a few weeks before we leave and cut the phone off then.... we can`t not have a phone for a few weeks before we leave. We only pay them for line-rental (are with Onetel for all calls) anyway, so surely they`d know exactly how much we owe them on the 31st of May.
And Seeboard say they`ll need us to ring them on the day we leave with a final meter reading so they can charge us... but hey ppl, we won`t be in the country and the bank account will be closed. We thought we could ring them with a reading and pay over the phone that day.... but that makes too much sense to them I guess.
Geez. How did you people sort this out.
Apr 11th 2005, 10:53 am
#10
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,826
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Seeboard were a pain in the watsit. I used to pay monthly, and was in credit by about £50 when I closed the account. They accepted the final meter reading, sent me a statement saying I was in credit, but didnt send the requested cheque. When I rang them they said their computer system had a major failure that day and so it would not pay out on certain accounts that were in credit, mine being one of them. Further correspondence brought the response that IT were working on the problem and gave a SIX MONTH timeframe for it to be fixed.
At that point the letter went from me to their managing director, copied to my MP. Nice letter with cheque by return from MD, promising words would be had!!!
Still,at least they had less power cuts than Energex do here.
At that point the letter went from me to their managing director, copied to my MP. Nice letter with cheque by return from MD, promising words would be had!!!
Still,at least they had less power cuts than Energex do here.
Apr 11th 2005, 6:42 pm
#11
An Australian Citizen !!
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Terrigal - NSW Central Coast since June 2005
Posts: 1,237
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Originally Posted by Pollyana
Seeboard were a pain in the watsit. I used to pay monthly, and was in credit by about £50 when I closed the account. They accepted the final meter reading, sent me a statement saying I was in credit, but didnt send the requested cheque. When I rang them they said their computer system had a major failure that day and so it would not pay out on certain accounts that were in credit, mine being one of them. Further correspondence brought the response that IT were working on the problem and gave a SIX MONTH timeframe for it to be fixed.
At that point the letter went from me to their managing director, copied to my MP. Nice letter with cheque by return from MD, promising words would be had!!!
Still,at least they had less power cuts than Energex do here.
At that point the letter went from me to their managing director, copied to my MP. Nice letter with cheque by return from MD, promising words would be had!!!
Still,at least they had less power cuts than Energex do here.
This was what I was inferring when I said I wasn't looking forward to dealing with Seeboard. Like you - we are in credit by a good few pounds and I can just imagine it will be like getting blood out of the proverbial.
Good move writing to the MD though - that normally tends to concentrate their minds a bit!!
Regards
Jim
Apr 12th 2005, 9:53 am
#12
Superfreak!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Thornlie, Perth, W.A.
Posts: 1,177
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Well done Pollyanna! I`m waiting for the council to start complaining after I stopped all direct debits... including their rip-off £150 per month (for what!!???).
I`m waiting for the council to start complaining after I stopped all direct debits... including their rip-off £150 per month (for what!!???).
Apr 12th 2005, 9:58 am
#13
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,826
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
TV licence was pretty funny too - if you pay by DD you pay for 6 months of the year in advance. so I carefully worked out at what point I had paid enough to cover me till I left the country, then stopped the DD. They threatened hell, high water amd court action, and seemed incapable of understanding that I had paid for what I would use. Their logic said that I should keep paying, then claim a refund - stuff that!
Apr 13th 2005, 12:31 pm
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 190
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Originally Posted by Stormz
We`re not getting far with BT or Seeboard.
BT say they`ll have to send us a final bill a few weeks before we leave and cut the phone off then.... we can`t not have a phone for a few weeks before we leave. We only pay them for line-rental (are with Onetel for all calls) anyway, so surely they`d know exactly how much we owe them on the 31st of May.
And Seeboard say they`ll need us to ring them on the day we leave with a final meter reading so they can charge us... but hey ppl, we won`t be in the country and the bank account will be closed. We thought we could ring them with a reading and pay over the phone that day.... but that makes too much sense to them I guess.
Geez. How did you people sort this out.
BT say they`ll have to send us a final bill a few weeks before we leave and cut the phone off then.... we can`t not have a phone for a few weeks before we leave. We only pay them for line-rental (are with Onetel for all calls) anyway, so surely they`d know exactly how much we owe them on the 31st of May.
And Seeboard say they`ll need us to ring them on the day we leave with a final meter reading so they can charge us... but hey ppl, we won`t be in the country and the bank account will be closed. We thought we could ring them with a reading and pay over the phone that day.... but that makes too much sense to them I guess.
Geez. How did you people sort this out.
Stormz,
Thanks for questions, I had not even thought about the utility bills yet. We are hoping to emigrate in November, but reading the problems that Pollyanna had about being in credit with the electric company and trying to get the money back makes you think about how to make it easier at the end.
Made the decision to cancel all dd's now as we are already in credit with gas and electric. Will pay as we go (as suggested by Jeremy).
Karma sent and I hope you sort your bills out OK.
BB
Apr 13th 2005, 7:29 pm
#15
Moomin member
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Warnbro PERTH
Posts: 858
Re: ending the Phone and Electricity
Originally Posted by Pollyana
TV licence was pretty funny too - if you pay by DD you pay for 6 months of the year in advance. so I carefully worked out at what point I had paid enough to cover me till I left the country, then stopped the DD. They threatened hell, high water amd court action, and seemed incapable of understanding that I had paid for what I would use. Their logic said that I should keep paying, then claim a refund - stuff that!