BT Price Increases and changes in T&C . (From 1/5/2007).merged

utilitybroker wrote:

Just had a quick look at a copy of latest bill insert, it shows the following increases and changes. Effective from 1/5/2007.

1. Line Rental,payment other then by D/D.

This increases by 50p to £12.50p a month. (Still £11 a month if you pay by d/d.)

4.1571 chargeable if you dont make some calls via BT.

1571 will cost £1 a month if you dont put 2 chargeable calls a month , or six chargeable calls a quarter via BT.

1. Presumably, line rental paid by DD remains £10.75 if you opt for online only billing.

4. Another reason for joining the 'dump 1571' movement.

The reason I say that is because, IMHO, 'free' 1571 services are nothing more than a clever con by call provider companies to make money.

That's because, if you call someone who has what, at the moment, is this free 'service' (but which will be charged at £12/year) and they happen to be engaged on a call already, you go straight through to the 1571 'machine'. Your call is connected and you are charged 3p connection and a minimum of 3p for the first minute (if you're on BT or whatever your own calls provider charges). So, even if you don't want to leave a message, that call has cost you 6p. Trying again (and again, and again) might have the same result too (starts getting expensive).

If the person you called didn't have 1571, you'd have heard an engaged tone, would not have been charged anything, would have realised they were busy on a call and would have tried again after a few minutes.

For when you are out, an answering machine set to answer after 8 or 9 rings is a far more 'friends and family friendly' device - F&F quickly learn (or you can even tell them), that, if you haven't answered by, say, the fifth ring, you're not going to so they'll have the option of hanging on until the answering machine kicks in and leaving a message or hanging up and trying later.

I dumped 1571 some time ago and picked up a very nice brand new BT Decor 500 LST/answering machine on ebay for about £10.

Totally agree about 1571. Its a curse. Yes its deceitful because it is another way of making you pay for a service you would not choose to use. It is unfriendly because you dont know even if you have got through to the right number. And most users do not seem to check it regularly so most times you have to phone back again..............only to get the bloody 1571 again.
ThanK God for broadband because on the old dial up system it meant you got the 1571 whenever the person was on the computer.

i know its not the answer but think yourself lucky its only £150/mnth as Sky now charge £4/mnth for not using direct debit

Your bill will actually increase by 50p month as BT already charge £1/month extra if you don't pay by direct debit/monthly payment plan and they have done for many years - and they are increasing this to £1.50.

The other difference is at the moment they describe it as a £1 discount for paying by direct debit/monthly payment plan and in future will say its £1 extra (or £1.50 come May) for not paying by those methods - and advertise the lower figure for line rental - but thats just playing with words..

Regards
Sunil

When you make a payment in the Post Office on a BT bill, the post office charge BT £13.82 to process it.

A short time ago BT were considering charging customers who chose to pay part amounts on the bill through the P.O, I.E when someone goes to the P.O to pay £10 per week, BT would have lost £3.82, but I believe they've stopped the P.O accepting some part payments.
Considering this I would consider it fair for them to charge for people who choose not to pay via D.D.
However, kudos for your reasoning in wanting to use the post office.