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

PGSchick

BT_company_representative wrote: »

Hi clio,

BT has made quite a few changes over the last few months (including the free calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers that you mention). The service charges for standard landlines changed on 1 April 09 from £11.50 per month to £12.50 per month, but if you were on paperfree billing and direct debit then the price was £10.27 and is now £11.25.

Cheers,

Stephanie
BT Support

Shame BT dont care about low/light-user who need a landline to keep in touch with relatives that dont make calls thus were getting light-user tarriff but wont now qualify for the BT Basic's, these poor people like my parents who dont claim anything but are retired and will now be sitting down to see if they can afford to even keep their phone line as they currently pay between £10 - £12 a quarter as were getting full rebate, but will have in future to pay full line cost plus whatever plan BT forcibly move them across to as they have received a letter saying they wont be moved to BT Basic. My mum especially was upset by this as both my sister and I ring them regularly.

Shame on you BT for being so cruel.

I'm also on light-user and at beginning of year I was told I would be moved to BT Basic, this has yet to be done & when it is I bet BT move me also on to a different tarriff, if they do I will be cancelling my phone completely with them as I feel they are being very unjust and high-handed with the current people on light-user scheme.

PlutoinCapricorn

PGSchick I agree with you. If people currently on BT LU are moved to a standard tariff, I expect that many will cancel rather than pay a lot more for something that they do not use much. Most are legitimate light users, and are on a low income, which is exactly what the service was originally intended for.

I am very interested to see what happens to BT LU people, why are you being moved to BT Basic and not your parents?

PAYG mobiles and mobile broadband: who needs to pay BT a high line rental!

Heinz

This appears to be a heaven-sent opportunity for one of the 'new line providers' to step in and grab some free pubicity by taking on BT's rejected customers - come on Talk Talk, where are you?

1carminestocky

Heinz wrote: »

This appears to be a heaven-sent opportunity for one of the 'new line providers' to step in and grab some free pubicity by taking on BT's rejected customers - come on Talk Talk, where are you?

I think it's fairly obvious why talktalk and the like aren't going hell for leather to sign these 'rejects' up.

Old_Git

My aunt was on the LUS ,she has been moved to BT basic .she wasnt asked ,she was just moved .

BT_company_representative

Hi

The way BT migrate people to BT Basic has been agreed with Ofcom and consumer organisations because some very low income customers may not claim the benefits they're entitled to. BT wants to ensure that these customers are not further disadvantaged. We have based the migration on those who have a very low income and who are most likely to be eligible for BT Basic.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Linda
BT Support

ellielovesem

What happens if I don't take up their offer of the free evening and weekends plan? Will I eventually just get moved onto the basic free weekends package or will they write to me again?

PGSchick

BT_company_representative wrote: »

Hi

The way BT migrate people to BT Basic has been agreed with Ofcom and consumer organisations because some very low income customers may not claim the benefits they're entitled to. BT wants to ensure that these customers are not further disadvantaged. We have based the migration on those who have a very low income and who are most likely to be eligible for BT Basic.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Linda
BT Support

No this doesnt help, or explain anything. Why would I someone who is working be automatically moved onto Basic according to your BT letter send in february which still hasnt happened by the way, and my elderly retired parents who thus have a lower income than me and make less calls than me dont get move - stop spouting BT's set pitch and either answer the questions or go away.

Oh the poster who called those of us who were complaining about the BT behaviour on this move and calling us 'rejects' how would you feel if someone trippled one of your bills for no good reason :mad:

airds

Just a wee reminder to any one thinking of (or trying to) sign up for BT Basic - the call connection & charges ARE expensive. So make sure you do not use the phone for outgoing calls much (hesitated to say 'low user' there .....)

I have just had my BT Basic bill and it is a bit more that expected (making more phone calls this quarter than usual) but it IS expensive when you call someone, get their answering machine and then get charged 13p for only a 2 or 3 secs connected time ... and £2.185 for 21.33 min evening call. I had 15 calls charged the minimum 13p/call over the quarter, for call durations of up to only 10secs.

It's at the stage you'd be cheaper with a P.A.Y.G mobile ..... and have no BT or their bills, to worry about.

BT_company_representative

Hi ellielovesem! If you do not qualify for BT Basic and do not request the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan you will be automatically changed to the Unlimited Weekend Plan which is BT's cheapest line rental

Cheers

Anne

BT Support