Is my mum wasting money on BT calls package?

Buster_Danog

As far as I know my mum has been on the same calls package for the last 5 years at least. I have gone through her bill tonight and it looks to me like she is paying for things she doesn't use.

First of all the rental charges state she is paying £38.93 for "BT Together - Local calls option" but further up the bill it appears she has only made 21 calls and used 26 minutes of call time under this package. She mostly makes calls to my sister's mobile, but not many local calls.

Also, she is paying £6.38 for BT call minder. Is there any other option than this? I was sure this was free at one time.

Lastly, Friends and Family overseas is listed, but it is not clear if this is a free package or something that is being paid for. Anyone know what the story is? I thought BT would not be unsrupulous enough to have sold her something she doesn't need.

Buster_Danog

I still don't know if she's being done, but I'm quite annoyed if she is because my sister agreed to a calls package years ago.

Seiken

Franco78 wrote: »

As far as I know my mum has been on the same calls package for the last 5 years at least. I have gone through her bill tonight and it looks to me like she is paying for things she doesn't use.

First of all the rental charges state she is paying £38.93 for "BT Together - Local calls option" but further up the bill it appears she has only made 21 calls and used 26 minutes of call time under this package. She mostly makes calls to my sister's mobile, but not many local calls.

Also, she is paying £6.38 for BT call minder. Is there any other option than this? I was sure this was free at one time.

Lastly, Friends and Family overseas is listed, but it is not clear if this is a free package or something that is being paid for. Anyone know what the story is? I thought BT would not be unsrupulous enough to have sold her something she doesn't need.

Local calls is a ridiculously old and overpriced package. What you're better doing is downgrading her to the unlimited weekend plan for the mean time until Heinz swoops in and posts his link. Call minder is the most expensive voicemail package and she'd probably be just as well off with BT Answer 1571 or an actual physical machine, unless she desperately needs to vary the ring period.

Heinz

Seiken wrote: »

..........until Heinz swoops in and posts his link.

Happy to oblige (it's the word 'HERE' in my signature below).

Buster_Danog

Thanks for the links guys. That's very helpful stuff. If we do sign up for 18185, does that mean every time we want to use BT call rates we need to "hop back" by using the other code? Too many codes might be confusing for my mum.

Does 1571 function as it does when you use the Call Minder service?

I can't see the minimum charge for a BT call to a mobile (they like to hide their fees) but the 18185 number looks like a minimum charge of 11p. The connection and rate per minute.

Heinz

Franco78 wrote: »

If we do sign up for 18185, does that mean every time we want to use BT call rates we need to "hop back" by using the other code? No.

Does 1571 function as it does when you use the Call Minder service? Yes. But, on behalf of her friends and family, may I urge you to buy her an ordinary answering machine instead.

I can't see the minimum charge for a BT call to a mobile (they like to hide their fees) but the 18185 number looks like a minimum charge of 11p. The connection and rate per minute. Yes.

Yes......................

topherxp

BT haven't sold a package your doesn't need, just a case she hasn't changed her package since she took it out.

Less features with BT Answer 1571, if she just needs a basic answerphone then it will do the job or just get a separate machine.

F&F Overseas is free, and as you mentioned she doesn't make many calls, you may wish to change it to F&F Auto Update which is also free.