BT adding 0870/0845 numbers to its call packages - discussion

Hermann

billsavings wrote: »

You dont have to sign a 12 month rolling contract anyway to get inclusive calls ,existing customers have the option of paying a bit more and being free of a call contract.

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25499

All the pricing & terms referred to in the Emails and advertising I have seen relate to 12 month renewable contracts.There is no mention of paying extra to avoid the contract. It may be possible to do so but customers do not seem to be being informed of that.

Reading the link you provided there is indeed a mention of the Unlimited Weekend Plan having no min Term. All other plans referred to seem to be Renewable Contracts.

derrick

I am on line rental only from BT, (CPS via Virgin, with w/e and evening calls free), but if I want to make a call using BT at weekend, (to take advantage of the "free" 0845/0870 numbers), the T&Cs, from billsavings link above, say I have to make at least 1 chargeable call per month; - "Unlimited Weekend Plan. Only £10.27 a month line rental with Direct Debit and paper-free billing (£11.25 from 1st April), for new and existing residential customers making at least one chargeable call a month with BT."

So it looks like I will not be able to use that facility as I refuse to put more than necessary with BT!

mary

Derrick.

Save all the 0870/0845 numbers till the weekend.

Next make one chargeable call on BT, by dialing the prefixof 1280 (ring your Mum for 15 seconds, hang up). It will cost you 8p I believe.
Then make all your 0870 calls by prefixing them with 1280 and thereby getting them free at weekends.

Sometimes you have to make a small sacrifice i.e. 8p in order to make a bigger gain (i.e. by not paying the full whack for the 0870 numbers).

derrick

mary wrote: »

Derrick.

Save all the 0870/0845 numbers till the weekend.

Next make one chargeable call on BT, by dialing the prefixof 1280 (ring your Mum for 15 seconds, hang up). It will cost you 8p I believe.
Then make all your 0870 calls by prefixing them with 1280 and thereby getting them free at weekends.

Sometimes you have to make a small sacrifice i.e. 8p in order to make a bigger gain (i.e. by not paying the full whack for the 0870 numbers).

You cannot necessarily call certain 084/087 numbers at the weekend as they only man them Mon-Fri.

It will cost 8p connection charge + the minute per call, (4.5p daytime from 1st April), = 12.5p.for a minimum call, not going to break the bank, but if I don't have to contribute more to BT, then the happier I am. I will be looking to move from BT, but I expect the others will follow BT with price increases, so it might just have to be the status quo!

I made the post to highlight that the "offer" is nowhere near as good as BT make out, and thought that bit needed highlighting for others who had not realised that there is no such thing as a free lunch with BT.

Personally I try not to use 084/087 numbers, and if I cannot obtain the geo number then I will take my business elsewhere to someone who uses geo numbers, I cannot remember the last time I had to use an 084/087 number.

jhp

Hermann wrote: »

All other plans referred to seem to be Renewable Contracts.

Try reading it again.;)

Existing customers can choose no minimum term for £2.65 a month extra for the evening and weekend plan ,and 97p extra for fully inclusive plan.

sidefx

I have line rental with BT and got the letter about the evening and weekend calls. My Broadband provider is Tiscali and with that I get free weekend calls.

I have been debating whether it was worth switching my calls to BT, but was put off by having to sign up to a 12 month contract.

From reading some previous posts, it would seem some don't think this is a good deal.
So I am still unsure what to do

jhp

sidefx wrote: »

I have line rental with BT and got the letter about the evening and weekend calls. My Broadband provider is Tiscali and with that I get free weekend calls.

I have been debating whether it was worth switching my calls to BT, but was put off by having to sign up to a 12 month contract.

From reading some previous posts, it would seem some don't think this is a good deal.
So I am still unsure what to do

If you just want Free Evening and Weekend Geographical Calls without a call contract, theirs always Primus Saver 2. (It does not include inclusive 0845/0870 calls though).

See the Heinz Plan. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1598074&postcount=4

JustPassingBy

derrick wrote: »

So it looks like I will not be able to use that facility as I refuse to put more than necessary with BT!

You are on the Unlimited Weekend Plan. While BT keep you on that plan you are entitled to all the benefits it gives. Try phoning 0845/0870 numbers which answer at weekend. You might have a pleasant surprise.

Hermann

jhp wrote: »

Try reading it again.;)

Existing customers can choose no minimum term for £2.65 a month extra for the evening and weekend plan ,and 97p extra for fully inclusive plan.

Checked again and now I see it!
However as per my original post the Emails and advertising I've seen don't mention this, so I think its still worth pointing out the situation regarding the renewing contracts so that people can make an informed decision.

mary

derrick wrote: »

You cannot necessarily call certain 084/087 numbers at the weekend as they only man them Mon-Fri.


Personally I try not to use 084/087 numbers, and if I cannot obtain the geo number then I will take my business elsewhere to someone who uses geo numbers, I cannot remember the last time I had to use an 084/087 number.

True certain offices you cannot ring at weekends (e.g. my own mortgage office queries are Mon-Fri.

However sometimes you cannot take your business elsewhere. For instance, when ringing hospital clinics to make appointments to specific departments you can't get the number on www.saynoto0870.com. You can't go elsewhere either. If say, they are sizeable insurance companies okay, but it isn't always possible in every situation.