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

chops

Can somebody tell me if I can use 18185 with BT Basic.

Heinz

chops wrote: »

Can somebody tell me if I can use 18185 with BT Basic.

No.

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).

..........................

superhans

Jemma-T wrote: »

Back to reality, I've still not heard back from BT about the BT Basic application. Will give it another week and then will phone. How many people are actually on Basic and how did the application?

I have just phoned BT again to ask for another application form, as it has been 3 weeks now since the first request, the sales woman informed me that if you are not already a BT customer you will not receive a application form through the post as you need to be an existing customer then they will downgrade your normal line to BT basic and then refund the overpayment from the day you applied for BT basic,

She said if you didn't complete a credit check over the telephone with the BT basic team to start the reconnection process then you are waiting for an application form that won't ever arrive, it is different though if you already have a BT line they may well just downgrade you straight away, you may have to phone them and ask ?.

So I will wait for "Virgin Media" to see what they offer me by threatening to leave, if that isn't good enough I will move to BT and o2 for broadband.

Jemma-T

That's been over a month now (and 2 weeks since the last application). I gave them another phone yesterday 0800 800 864

I must say again the people on that number are very very nice, polite and helpful. I'm not saying the rest of BT isn't like that but that particular section are very nice.

On hold twice while they checked things but came back to say all went through OK and that my account would change today (2 December (posted 2nd application 14 November)) but it may not appear clearly online in my account. And yes the older account description now reads as:

We are sorry, we are unable to show you what your Calling plan and add-ons are

That changed overnight. Nice to see things have moved just hope it's sorted. Obviously, this is a new service from BT and they're having a few problems. I hope that doesn't put people off.

bpinskerb

Already a BT customer on Low User scheme and on a qualifying Benefit.

Attempting to apply for BT Basic was extremely frustrating. 3 calls over four weeks to 0800 800 864 with a promise from them of an application form that did not arrive.

Threatened to inform Ofcom that they were deliberately withholding a facility I was entitled to. They yielded and eventually sent the BT Basic application form.

Application form sent 10th Nov. Told today I have been accepted (DWP checks OK), but it will be 3 to 4 weeks before they 'process' the application and the contract is changed to BT Basic.

If it works for you, (low phone usage & Broadband from any provider) it's worth persevering, but expect a fight.

airds

Yes, I've had VERY similar experiences when trying to join the scheme.

Delays in sending out forms, a 'lost form', no acknowliedgements, etc, etc. And this after a lot of confusion with broadband making my line ineligible (it does NOT), then having to be a new and not an existing customer, etc. So it seems to me they are totally incompetent or just trying to make it as hard as possible.

Jemma-T

My online account is still a complete mess. BT's website has [b[NEVER[/b] worked well as I think they try to combine a bit too much into it. They need to hive of certain areas I reckon.

What they really need to do is dump the BT Basic 'application form' and do it digitally either over the phone or web. The admin costs in processing paper is massive and I can only assume they went with paper due to the governement being involved or it was meant as a ploy to slow down take-up of the account.

Jemma-T

I got a rather dumb letter from them here

They really don't know what they're doing. Online account still has this message

So, 5 weeks and 2 applications later, they send a letter that looks like it was from 5 weeks ago. All this maladministration must cost a fortune in time, money and trees..

ds1791

Another situation regarding BT Basic.

We are currently on the BT Light User Scheme. We recieved yesterday a letter stating that we were being moved from the LUS onto the BT Basic package of which we had to do nothing simply let BT work their magic, this will be done 30 days after our final LUS bill. Great we think, however with a little more reading into the letter and the pamphlet accompanying, neither of us are in receipt of any of the benefits stated to qualify for BT Basic. We have been on the LUS for many years, yet as we do not recieve benefits and being transferred to the BT Basic package where do we stand?

davidcrofter

I think that BT Basic is going to REPLACE the Light User Scheme ... so basically if you are initially on LUS and do not meet the criteria for basic then you are just fine.