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

PlutoinCapricorn

Craig (BT representative) I Googled "BT LUS"+transfer+basic and found the following: any explanation?

Light User Scheme (LUS) eligibility and automatic transfer to BT Basic

I got the standard letter this morning - "As an existing Light User
Scheme customer, we'll automatically move you to the new service -
without the need to apply ¹. The transfer will begin in 30 days ..."

footnote 1 Other eligibility criteria apply. Please see the 'A simple
guide to BT Basic' leaflet.

Since I don't receive any of the State Benefits mentioned this would
appear to be an internal contradiction.

No postal address, not even BT's registered office and registered
number on the letter so I called 0800 400 496 as suggested and spoke to
an BT Basic advisor.

She said that eligibility criteria were being waived for automatic
transfers but if I ever moved off BT Basic I would have to apply to get
back.

KerryL

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

Kerry, I assume that you mean dial-up internet access? Having BT LU means that you are not permitted to get broadband from other companies, and if you ask for BT BB they will move you to a different tariff.

No not dial-up, i'm actualy on Sky Broadband Connect for up to 8mb and works fine so i can't complain, until now as i'll be paying more 'just' for the line rental as that is all i use. Not sure if there is a cheaper way around things for me, will need to investigate.

coolamber

My Granddad (who is 84) has been told that his BT Light User tariff will be replaced by BT Basic which is means tested. As the criteria is so onerous neither his age nor disability qualify because he has (extremely) modest savings. As his bills have been on average £15 a quarter the replacement package they have offered of £40 odd plus calls will be a huge increase.

Has anybody managed to find a replacement for Light User as at the current rate that Granddad is eating through his savings he will soon be on Guaranteed Pension Credit.

Saeed

Any chance someone could scan their blank form and put it on here so i know what the questions are?

darren72

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

I got the standard letter this morning - "As an existing Light User
Scheme customer, we'll automatically move you to the new service -
without the need to apply ¹. The transfer will begin in 30 days ..."

I'm assuming this is no longer the case ?????

Thanks

starM

Hi,

So if bt change me to £4.50 a month I will get a new account number. All my calls are currently being handled by Primus which will be cancelled after it switches to BT Basic?

I am with Orange for broadband - will I loose this for couple of wks because BT changed my account number?

Thanks
MS

PlutoinCapricorn

Darren, I am afraid that you are right but I am still not certain: the BT representatives have not responded to this posting.

I am sure that many people on the BT LU service are now fully aware that the end is in sight, but are not entirely sure what is going to happen next.

I suppose that being asked to prove that they are on certains benefits in order to get BT Basic makes sense, but what about this evidence that some people are transferred automatically? Does it have any relation to how many calls they have been making? Is it done at the time when a BT LU bill is due? WIll BT ensure that no one is charged two line rentals in advance?

Igol

I wouldnt count on it.
I'm currently looking for a cheaper phone and broadband package to be rid of them, not that my 'means tested' paperwork has arrived yet.

I can just imagine the meeting that someone from BT had with Ofcom.
'"So what are you doing for those on benefits?"
"Errr. Well we've......Err. Light user scheme. Yes, thats it."

Before rushing back to the office to explain how they've managed to get rid of both Ofcom and that nasy post office set up scheme thats been costing them money.

ellielovesem

I'm currently looking around at other deals but I'm finding that I'm still classed as a BT Basic user so companies are saying I need to contact BT to sort this out. Has anyone else found this is happening to them and has a solution? I'm currently keeping BT on hold whilst I'm making up my mind on my next move but I'm slightly concerned that by asking them to move me off the basics plan this might mean I have to commit to the evening and weekend plan that they offered me in the letter?

Any advice gratefully received.

1carminestocky

ellielovesem wrote: »

I'm currently looking around at other deals but I'm finding that I'm still classed as a BT Basic user so companies are saying I need to contact BT to sort this out. Has anyone else found this is happening to them and has a solution? I'm currently keeping BT on hold whilst I'm making up my mind on my next move but I'm slightly concerned that by asking them to move me off the basics plan this might mean I have to commit to the evening and weekend plan that they offered me in the letter?

Any advice gratefully received.

I don't think other telephony cos are allowed to transfer you unless you are on the 'normal' line rental package. Certainly they can't touch punters on the LUS as Southern Electric enquired if my father wanted to use them for phone and when I told them he was on LUS they said end of conversation - not allowed to canvass these users.