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

1carminestocky

Could it to do with the quotas set, I wonder? Nudge nudge wink wink...

Scrounger

Could it to do with the council tax banding of the property?

Scrounger

Saeed

despite talking to 2 agents at BT, they told me it's £125 reconnection charge. My line is also active when I dial 17070 which I told them about. I also mentioned that it says that in these circumstances it's only £2 for them to 'reconnect' me according to some BT documents I saw a while ago (anyone know where? It was hidden amongst the BT Price List http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/P...tm#1223-d0e240). But I just got the "£125 unless you come back and sign up to a 18 month contract" statement again. The line is for my pensioner father who is eligible for BT Basic, who could not afford the standard line rental he was paying, approx £15/month, so had the line disconnected. But it appears that they don't want him on BT Basic so would not let me proceed!

Update 24 July 2009 :-

I phoned BT again, go the same response 'pay £122 because my computer says so and we don't care that your line is working' even though the above guidance from your link applies. Thanks for the link by the way, they do have a proper charge sheet hidden somewhere, where it actually states that it costs £2 to reconnect an 'active' line where the 17070 line test works. But it seems BT are pulling out all the stops to stop people signing up to BT Basic. They tried their hardest to sell me the standard BT tariff even though I told them my father was a pensioner who could not afford the £15/month BT line rental he was paying before and that's why he had the line disconnected. It is really disgusting and sickening that they are trying to extort extra money from vunerable people like this.

Graham1

Saeed, he will have to go on the standard (unlimited weekend) tariff and then apply to switch to BT Basic (likely to take an additional 2 months approx after connection). If he takes up the 18 month contract for "free" connection it should (according to their T&C) be possible to switch from "unlimited weekend" to "BT Basic" tariff without that being a break of the contract - as long as he keeps the line for the 18 months.

Saeed

Graham1 wrote: »

Saeed, he will have to go on the standard (unlimited weekend) tariff and then apply to switch to BT Basic (likely to take an additional 2 months approx after connection). If he takes up the 18 month contract for "free" connection it should (according to their T&C) be possible to switch from "unlimited weekend" to "BT Basic" tariff without that being a break of the contract - as long as he keeps the line for the 18 months.

Our friend from BT on this board has stated it's free to reconnect in these circumstances. Obviously BT agents want their commission or don't want people on BT Basic. As well as not sending out forms, they don't want people to reconnect straight onto BT Basic it appears.:mad:

SusanM_3

I received my letter from BT last week as I'm on the LUS but don't qualify for the new Basic Scheme. I contacted BT as I feel a lot of people who are on low incomes but don't meet the criteria for the Basic Scheme are going to be hit hard! Info I've been given on the Unlimited Evening & w/end Plan was this.... "The standard charge of BT Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan is £15.45 (incl VAT) per month without any contract and you receive free call upto an hour any landline numbers, 0845 and 0870 numbers (excluding the Internet Service Provider and Indirect access numbers) during evenings i.e (6:00 PM - 6:00 AM) and weekends. However, if you agree to 12 months auto renewal contract with BT Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan , you will get a refund of £2.95 (incl VAT) per month for the entire 12 months term". Where on their site does it mention £15.45 if you don't agree to a contract? I can't see it.

Maybe I should switch to another phone provider but who?

SusanM_3

Oh and if you sign up for payment via direct debit you get another £1.25 off so that would make it £11.25 - still a huge difference to what I paid on the LUS.

utilitybroker

SusanM wrote: »

Where on their site does it mention £15.45 if you don't agree to a contract? I can't see it.

Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan – standard plan

The Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan is available to eligible residential customers with no minimum period. Please note, a minimum period of 12 months applies to line rental for new customers and those switching their phone line from another provider, signing up to this calling plan.
The price is £2.95 per month plus line rental, which has a monthly cost of £11.25 if you pay by Direct Debit or monthly payment plan and elect for paper-free billing.
Otherwise, add £1.50 per month for payment processing fee levied by BT Payment Services Limited, a BT Group company, plus £1.25p without paper-free billing discount




http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/dynamicmodules/pagecontentfooter/pageContentFooterPopup.jsp?pagecontentfooter_popupid=24641&s_cid=con_FURL_calls_dealterms&vendorid=SE7&s_cid=con_ppc_zedmedia_google_vidSE7_callsandlines_bt%20call%20charges_Broad

SusanM_3

Thanks Utility for that info. Not sure whether to stick with BT now or to find another provider.

PlutoinCapricorn

SusanM, do you really need the landline?