BT Basic Line Rental: Get a landline for £4.50/month

What's this about?

BT has recently launched a new social tariff, BT Basic, aimed at cutting the costs for those on certain benefits. It costs £4.50/month (compared to the usual £10.50/month line rental). This gives you line rental and includes £1.50 worth of calls each month. If you're eligible this can be a serious saving.

This tariff will eventually replace its Light User and In Contact Plus schemes.

Who's eligible?

To be eligible you must get one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Guaranteed Pensions Credit

You needn't be an existing BT customer but if you don't have a BT landline you may have to pay to get one installed.

The cost of calls...

Calls outside the £1.50 allowance (which doesn't roll over each quarter), are charged at 10p/min plus 3p/call connection fee so on the surface it's only worth it for people who make limited calls from their landline.

You can get details of how close you are to your call allowance by ringing 0800 44 3311 or viewing your bill online. For full info on override providers and how they work read the Cheapest Home Phones article.

Exceptions to the eligibility criteria

There are also a few exemptions even if you do get the above benefits. If you have one of the following you won't be able to get it:

• A phone service provided by another company (either directly or not directly).
• An Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) - this is a phone network system that digitally transmits voice, text and images.
• A business, temporary or payphone line.
• Any of the inclusive Calling Plans, "Friends & Family", "Mobile Saver" or "International Saver".
• BT Pay&Call, a "pay as you go" service where you pay for your phone service as you use it.
• A phone line that doesn't let you make calls (it only lets you receive them) or one that you only use for a burglar alarm (this does not apply to lifeline alarms or monitoring systems).
• More than one phone line - whether these are at the same or different addresses. (Unless you're registered as disabled or suffering from a long term illness).

Broadband & override providers

You are allowed broadband with this line rental, unlike BT's older social tariffs. However you can't use override providers with it.

How to apply

You may already have been contacted about BT Basic; if not the named account holder can ring 0800 783 1675 and request an application form. You'll be told within one month if you have been accepted or not.

Update Note 27 Oct 08

Some MoneySaver not on BT have reported getting a similar deal to this from their provider. Simply call up your provider, mention the BT Basic details and see if it will price match. Click reply ro report your successes below.

Related Articles: Cheapest Home Phones, Calling Mobiles Cheaply, Cheapest Broadband

[threadbanner] box[/threadbanner]