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

Flower_of_Scotland_3

I haven't read all the posts so apologies if this has been posted already. I have BT basic well I think I have. When I was changed over my account number was changed so that my online account was no longer valid and had to be changed. They did however managed to switch my direct debit without any problems. If you elect to have paperless billing you can have a £1.something discount per month. You just get an email to say your account is ready.
My second application to BT Basic I sent by recorded delivery.
I hope you don't mind me posting my protest its a bit off topic but I am trying to reach as many people as possible
Anyone thinking of coming to Edinburgh please do the residents of Edinburgh a favour and avoid the Tartan Tat shops especially the ones that blast music into the neighbourhood and display all their merchandise outside their shops. The music and the clutter drives the people living in the vicinity bonkers and makes the Royal Mile look like an Eastern Bazaar. The shop-keepers are aware of this but they dont care. Lidls are currently selling kilts and the rest of the regalia at a very good price. - Perfect for Burns Night.

airds

Still here. Still waiting. For a fourth form - that one that was promised before Christmas. (Hmmm, hope that was Christmas '08 !!!???)

The helpful people at OFCOM - what a difference! being pleasant and polite -are being kept informed. I had great pleasure in referring them to this forum/thread for their interest, so they are getting increasingily annoyed with the BT Basic 'team' too ...... :-)

Like Jemm-l above, I've never had a late or missing bill from BT in 22 years at the same number and address, but this morning get a letter from them advising my last quarterly bill is overdue - it is, but WITH A SURCHARGE OF £7.50. Do they not issue (red) reminders anymore?

Surely the scandalous £2.50/ month surcharge for paper billing would entitle you at least one? This was posted out on the 15th and arrives today the 19th ie in 2 working days. (The bill is £54.65 total of which only £13.33 were calls, and that was usually a very high useage period and as usual, includes 2 months ADVANCE line rental)

So for a quick recap, I initially heard about and started applying for this scheme in July ....

See that f'ing Buzby, if I could find him he'd be strangled with one of his own coiled handset cords. He'd be going from yellow to very blue, very quickly. Get in line folks, I'm first.

Jemma-T

Buzby here

Wow, I'd forgotten all about that When I was a child those yellow vans they had had posters of it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzby

I believe red ink is used in later reminders. You'll just have to keep at them for BT Basic -although I get the impression you're on the case

janster1988

see my orig post on 08-01-2009

have since recieved a letter confirming i will be put on bt basic as of my next bill without having to fill in an ap frm and i have also got a cheque for £20 as a gesture of "good will".

PERSERVERE PEOPLE PERSERVERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

mon2000

madkingsoup wrote: »

Pity it doesn't cover those on disability benefits - wonder what the rationale behind that is?

That's because disability benefit is not means tested and lots of people with disabilities have plenty of money (just look at the cars they drive).

davidcrofter

Just off the phone to the BT Basic Team ... (un)surprisingly my first application form seems to have got lost in transit - it was sent out at the End of December - they are going to send another one ... :rotfl:

Seems that BT have a very nasty habit of loosing the mail that they don't want you to receive as I just this morning got a letter from them telling me about my friend and family scheme ... so another couple of weeks at least delay on BT Basic for me as we are onto APPLICATION FORM - PHASE 2 ...

amshep

I have been having the same problems with this service! We requested first form back in november and we still dont have it!!!!

Spoke to managers who promise to call you back and they dont!!!!

Not really sure where to go with this now? HELP

Ypaymore

amshep wrote: »

I have been having the same problems with this service! We requested first form back in november and we still dont have it!!!!

Spoke to managers who promise to call you back and they dont!!!!

Not really sure where to go with this now? HELP

Why not go to the Top.

The CEO of BT is Ian Livingston. His e-mail address is ian[EMAIL="ian.livingston&#64;bt.com"].livingston<a>bt.com[/EMAIL]

Deals_2

thanks for any advice.

MSE_Archna wrote: »

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

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diamonds

5 weeks 3 calls " application has been sent " really ? where to ? Timbucktoo ?

I live in the UK BT, even between snow & Royal 2nd class Mail it should be here by now, enjoying my unpaid £35 quarter bill ? its not getting paid....

oh & I have been on to Ofcom, back intouch tomorrow with them, anyone want to contact me to put forward your troubles with BT Basic witholding application forms & charging you FULL line rental over the several months period waiting on the form & then waiting for processing PLEASE do contact me - I will sent it on to OFCOM who are interested in others experience like my own ( ie..to back up my experience - I have asked OFCOM to enforce BT make the application available to download or online application )