BT Basic and Light User Scheme

David_Partington

I am rather worried by this new BT basic Package (for people who are on benefits). BT want to automatically transfer me from light user scheme to the basic scheme. However I am not on benefits and if they require evidence of this every year presumably I will be thrown off the scheme when they check, does anyone know? It seems like a case of neglecting people on low incomes but who aren't on benefits. What about the elderly who just want a landline for emergencies but are not on benefits?, they won't want to be paying out £30+ per quarter. I don't want to contact BT regarding this as it may upset the applecart.

KimYeovil

Yup, social tariffs are unfair to the poorest in society and to those who play fair. What's new? Not only this, the standard rental will of course have to rise from £10.50 to pay for this largesse.

darren72

So is the situation at the moment that ALL existing Light User Scheme customers are being moved over to BT Basic, however those who are not on benefits will only stay on it for a year until evidence is then required ??

Thanks

David_Partington

Hi Darren, Yes this looks like the situation unless anyone knows different. So BT are in effect removing access to an affordable landline for emergency use. If you you look at the websites of consumer organisations and ofcom they are trumpeting basic as a great thing. BT have wanted to scrap light user for a long while and now they are cynically taking the oportunity to do it.

David_Partington

Am contacting BBC R4 you and yours programme regarding Basic as it seems grossly unfair. Will post if I hear anything. I posted on another forum on this site about basic and it was closed for some reason?

jon_r_2

I am currently on Virgin but if i switch to BT plus 02 broadband, i can reduce my rental down to £ 10.50 + £7.50 alot less than V/M £25(phone+10meg broadband) but does bt's free weekend calls mean free up to 59 minutes then re dial(like V/M) or is it totally free at weekends.

With a bt line does your broadband speed 'drop' at peak times?

thanks

topherxp

The reduced rental options are ultimatly a requirement BT have to provide, otherwise there wouldn't be a scheme. BT Basic does charge a low rental, but landline calls are charged at 10 per minute, which is upto 6.66 times more than a landline call on the normal rental. So not that great an option if you do use the phone, as using the phone for just 5 minutes a day will cost £45.5 a quarter.

The problem with LUS is that it has been abused by many and is one of the main reasons it is being withdrawn.

As for only having a line for emergency's, that is ultimately the choice of the person renting the line in how they use it.

BT are a business afterall, not a charity like a lot of people seem to want them to be. BT also can't be seen to be treating customers differently based on how much they earn.

In the end of the day there will always be winners and losers.

Quentin

If you only want a line for emergency reasons a second hand mobile on payg is much cheaper than bt light user etc.

David_Partington

I couldn't disagree more with "topherxp" I bet you work for BT who ever you are. Light user scheme was not open to abuse, it was actually very hard to find out about as BT didn't publicise it and you can't also have a mobile or use the codes to divert via other providers as BT have barred them. BT are making plenty of money for shareholders as it is and even LUS is by no means a free service you still pay at least £50 per year. The light user scheme was for people who don't want long conversations on the phone but who wanted a land line for emergencies or to stay in touch, so relatives could ring them. BT as the premier UK provider have a responsibility to provide this no matter what the users income (the new BT basic is dependant on income)as many people don't want to be spending £120+ on communications especially as BT are also cutting back on street corner payphones which are vital for emergency calls.

Quentin

There was bags of abuse till BT put software on the lines to check if LUS people were trying to use 0800 access numbers etc.

Then those who had dial up got a shock when they couldn't connect till they "came clean" to BT and came off the LUS!

As already posted, no-one need spend anything like £120 for basic communication, just get a PAYG mobile.