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

SwimmerPete

1066wasabadyear wrote: »

My Mother, who receives a guaranteed pension credit was refused this today, despite actually receiving an eligible benefit and returning the completed form within one day.

Bt say :- They have been unable to confirm with the DWP thats she receives one of the eligible benefits

Application was not completed and returned within the specified time !

I received an identical computer-generated letter from BT Basic.

Copy of an email sent to the grandiously titled "BT Chief Executive of Retail" Gavin Patterson sent 30/04/2012:

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"Sir

I first applied for a BT Basic application form in January last - I am still waiting. Emails have been bounced, and two letters (you know, those things you write with pen and ink then post) have been ignored.

A copy of the last email sent to [EMAIL="residentialbilling@bt.com"]residentialbilling@bt.com[/EMAIL] on 06/04/12 which was returned as undeliverable:

"Sirs

I have given up trying to navigate your badly presented website. I am bombarded with useless pop-ups and "help" pages that do everything but help me unless I'm looking for the drivel on TV or how to play games.

I have suffered a recent stroke which amongst other things means that while I can perfectly hear speech over the telephone, I cannot comprehend it. Putting it simply, I have aphasia - a neurological deficit resulting from damage to the parts of my brain responsible for speech and language.

1.) I have no use for a telephone, I would have my line disconnected but for I use broadband via ADSL. I have several times requested that the Call Minder feature be disabled. As I cannot use the telephone for speech, I do not want people calling and leaving messages to which I cannot respond.

2.) I have several times requested the application form for the BT Basic plan, but again my request has been ignored. This time I sent a letter to your colleagues because I CANNOT USE THE TELEPHONE. I hope this time someone realises that I cannot call 0800 800 864 nor any of the helplines published all over your website.

3.) Please remove the option to call mobile numbers - obviously I no longer need the facility.

What is needed on your website is one page without all the silly popups and other useless whistles and bells. All that disabled people need is a very simple page giving as well as contact numbers, all textphone numbers for the hard of hearing, email addresses and snail mail addresses. Nothing else.

I am an electronics engineer with experience in telecomms and radio engineering. Fortunately I survived my stroke with my intellect intact but if I cannot find my way round your labyrinthine website, what hope for those who have illnesses or brain damage whose cognitive faculties are impaired?

Best wishes

(redacted)

I will not mince my words. Despite BT's corporate boasting, your "organisation" couldn't organise a p*ss-up in brewery.

I look forward to reading your reply."

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BT Basic did eventually send me an application form with the same result. BT are charging me £19.50 for I do not need. I suspect BT Basic is a scam because it looks as though BT is just making sure that BT Basic is deliberately difficult or even impossible to successfully apply. Meanwhile BT are are helping to themselves to money I cannot afford to lose.

Welcome to the Corporate State.

sofaman

I rang up BT about this offer. The lady told me I had to migrate to BT first, and then make an application for the basic package. I mentioned that it would be better to apply for this deal, get accepted and then sign up.

It's a 12-mth contract, and you either pay via DD or are charged £1.80 if you pay over the counter (looks like companies are still penalizing those who don't use DD). Btw, she asked for all my personal info so as to carry out a credit check.

I asked the lady what would happen if I was no longer eligible for the benefit, she couldn't answer that one.

Might give this a miss.