Martin's Money Mutterings 1 November

Former_MSE_Andrea

Click reply to discuss this week's money mutterings, which will be in the tip and the main site on Tuesday 1 November

yabbadoo

A long-time NTL customer (basic phone/broadband only) I became concerned that
1/ My bill is escalating - averaged £42/month over the last year.
2/ "New sign-up offers" not available to existing customers, so I pay more, for less, Effectively. loyal customers are subsidising the newer ones.

Saw Tesco's phone/broadband offer. Pay BT £10.50 line rental, Tesco £4.50 for "free" evening/weekend calls, and £14.49 for 512kbs broadband, - that's £29.49, i.e. £12/month saving over current. To me, significant. Tempted (and BT will reconnect without charge).

Called NTL "disconnections", gave them these details. They've matched, actually, bettered it. Line rental now £16 with evening/weekend calls free, and 1Mbs internet reduced to £9.99, so cost now £25.99/month, as of today (saving, £16/month).

Having got "free" evening/weekend calls, then signed up (free) to https://www.1899.com. Calls to UK mainland/Eire landlines at 3p per call connection charge, 0.00p/minute, unlimited time. Effectively, now have free daytime calls (well, 3p each, nearly free).

1899 charge monthly, debited to your Bank or credit card, with on-line access to statements and current running charges (offer cheap world-wide rates too, and to mobiles).

"Two for the price of one" - these two tips are separate, BUT the 1899 deal only available to folk with internet access.

Further tip. Most phones have "memories". Put the access number in memory#1, save it. Then, when making a daytime call (for me - evenings already free) just press M+1 (memory 1) to auto-dial the access number.
"1899" itself isn't too bad, but that's only for BT phones. The access code for non-BT is a full-blown 10 digits, hence this "memory trick" is useful!

Good day's work, I think. Saved (min) £182 a year, and can now chat away without counting the cost!