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BT's Low-User Scheme & In-Contact Plus to be replaced with 'BT Basic'
bbb_uk
Posts: 2,108 Forumite
in Phones & TV
It has been mentioned to me that BT are going to remove the Light User Scheme (LUS) and In-Contact Plus (ICR). They will be replaced by BT Basic, as follows:-
BT Basic
You can only be on it if you have one of the following 3 benefits:-
1) Job Seekers Allowance
2) Income Support
3) Guaranteed State Pension
Receipt of the above will have to be proved.
The cost is £14.49 a quarter (minus £3 if paid via D/D) and includes 45 mins of calls a quarter. Calls over the 45 mins are at 10p/min any time of the day or night.
This is coming into play in January sometime but people will be able to keep the old tariffs for a while as they are migrated over.
BT Basic
You can only be on it if you have one of the following 3 benefits:-
1) Job Seekers Allowance
2) Income Support
3) Guaranteed State Pension
Receipt of the above will have to be proved.
The cost is £14.49 a quarter (minus £3 if paid via D/D) and includes 45 mins of calls a quarter. Calls over the 45 mins are at 10p/min any time of the day or night.
This is coming into play in January sometime but people will be able to keep the old tariffs for a while as they are migrated over.
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Comments
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Hmmmmm... you'd have to be VERY careful with that one !0
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The main reason for this I assume is to limit the number of people who can go on this loss-making tariff which BT are forced to continue.
Also mentioned on SayNo here.0 -
An extra £3 when not paid by Direct Debit rather than the usual £1. You can see that they envisage people will not be able to support a Direct Debit.
At £11.49 (when paid by Direct Debit), that's 49p above BT Together Option 1. So the 15 minutes per month cost 3.27p/minute!
Is that right that it will have 45 minutes per quarter, or is it per month? It seems that, yet again, this is taking advantage of the mathematically illiterate. Just how this new tariff add up?
bbb_uk, can you provide a link to where this information is available?
Edit: Forget what I said in this post, I didn't read it properly! See below0 -
DonnyDave wrote:An extra £3 when not paid by Direct Debit rather than the usual £1. You can see that they envisage people will not be able to support a Direct Debit.
At £11.49 (when paid by Direct Debit), that's 49p above BT Together Option 1. So the 15 minutes per month cost 3.27p/minute!
Is that right that it will have 45 minutes per quarter, or is it per month? It seems that, yet again, this is taking advantage of the mathematically illiterate. Just how this new tariff add up?
bbb_uk, can you provide a link to where this information is available?
The way I read the OP, one is £11 per month and one is £11.49 per quarter
... so I don't think the latter is taking advantage of people that have difficulty with arithmetic0 -
I think you have your months and quarters confused DD.DonnyDave wrote:An extra £3 when not paid by Direct Debit rather than the usual £1. You can see that they envisage people will not be able to support a Direct Debit.
At £11.49 (when paid by Direct Debit), that's 49p above BT Together Option 1. So the 15 minutes per month cost 3.27p/minute!
Is that right that it will have 45 minutes per quarter, or is it per month? It seems that, yet again, this is taking advantage of the mathematically illiterate. Just how this new tariff add up?
bbb_uk, can you provide a link to where this information is available?
It's £3 per quarter (£1/month) difference - the same as BT Together customers.Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.0 -
Ah right, I didn't read it!redux wrote:The way I read the OP, one is £11 per month and one is £11.49 per quarter
So that's £3.83 per month and the extra for not paying by DD is therefore the normal £1 per month.0 -
DonnyDave wrote:An extra £3 when not paid by Direct Debit rather than the usual £1. You can see that they envisage people will not be able to support a Direct Debit.
At £11.49 (when paid by Direct Debit), that's 49p above BT Together Option 1. So the 15 minutes per month cost 3.27p/minute!
Didn't the OP say £3 per quarter and £14.49 per quarter?
You appear to have assumed he said monthly.0 -
Today these things (typically) seem to be priced per month, probably to make it look better than it actually is.Cardew wrote:You appear to have assumed he said monthly.0 -
Not that I'm aware. I've just googled BT's website for "BT Basic" with no results.alared wrote:Yes, but it`s you who`s mentioned it.
Is it flagged up officially anywhere?
A forum member mentioned it to me and I have no reason to doubt the veracity of it because, to me anyhow, it makes sense to ask for proof as this way BT can limit as much as possible those on Light User Scheme and In Contact Plus. This forum member has asked to remain anonymous in case it can be traced back.
I'm not sure why BT want to keep the lid on it as they are the only ones forced to do such tariff so there is no competitive reasons to keep quiet for as long as possible. No other landline provider does similar tariffs nor do they want to (for obvious reasons).
I've said many times before that BT have tried like to mad to get rid of these tariffs and Ofcom have forced them to continue with it for those on low incomes, etc.
In this case, I assume that Ofcom have given the go-ahead for the tariff change and migration and proof of benefit.
As for the monthly / quarterly discussions above, both the LUS and ICP have always been quoted as quarterly and I think can only be paid quarterly. All other tariffs (ie the higher cost ones) are generally quoted monthly but can be paid quarterly if wanted.DonnyDave wrote:Today these things (typically) seem to be priced per month, probably to make it look better than it actually is.
The £1 extra per month for not paying by direct debit is one of few areas where Ofcom still regulate (or have a say in it) otherwise this would have increased now inline with other landline providers which vary but I think generally around £3-4 extra per month. The only exception to this from February 2007 will be NTL/Telewest who will charge £5 extra per month for those not paying by Direct Debit which again makes NTL/Telewest even more expensive than any other landline provider.
I guess we'll have to wait and see!0
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