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I have a question relating to the low user scheme from BT.

Can you go onto the low user scheme and use a different system for your actual calls? I'm presently with the cps provider just dial saver. The question also applies to services where you dial another number for your calls, ie. 18866.

I think the answer is probably that you can't do it.

mrtickle

The answer is definitely no! The Low User scheme is intended for elderly/disabled/low income people who could not otherwise afford to have a telephone.

It is a breach of the T+C if you are on the Low User scheme and then use other means to make calls - eg another provider, or own a mobile phone. It's also morally repulsive to do this IMHO.

BT didn't used to police the Low User scheme at all and relied on people's goodwill not to abuse it. Now I believe it is policed.

gt94sss2

Q. Why is it that another company like itplc.com can offer a line rental so much lower than BT?

A. Because I feel BT are ripping us off, hence the question above.

The correct answer is:

As ITplc have a different business strategy/plan.

They hope to attract customers by charging customers a lower line rental but make their money in other ways.

For instance, their call charges are higher in many cases than BT's

I also note they quote their prices as ex-VAT, so you need to add another 17.5% on them

In fact, they may be breaking the law - I thought it was illegal to advertise rates to residential consumers on a ex-vat basis... the law says you have to include VAT

jimbob_3

does anybody know of a website / way to simply type in a person's average phone use and for it to tell you which is the best system company to use?

Like a previous post i spend no more than 10 hours per month using a landline - which works out at approx 1 long distance phone call per day and 1 mobile every couple of weeks, both after 6 or at weekends, and the very rare call during the day. My internet use is a free fone number (from V21).

i have just moved to Talk talk from One tel both as a result of cheaper calls and because one tel were very ineffecient

anybody got any advice about a site or where i should move next?

MSE_Martin

Hi Jim Bob if you read my home phone article there is one. The problem is these sites are limited in the companies they compare - call18866 for example isn't included which means they give you the best of a small bunch and with poor methodology. IF you go to m'home phone guide you will see it explains what the best route is.

System

Martin wrote (only One-Tel is truly unmetered).
Not true Martin - you haven't mentioned Toucan which is actually cheaper than One Tel for a one off monthly payment. They are now £9.99 a month for unlimited UK calls - mobiles and the non-geaographic numbers excepted of course.
A short while ago Toucan were £12.99 a month when I joined them, then One Tel came in with £10.99 and Toucan hit back with £9.99.
It was a difficult decision whether to join Toucan or just use 18866 before each call but I reckoned my phone use would just make Toucan worthwhile.
But now 18866 has dropped to half a pence probably they would now be cheapest.
But it is a bit of a drag having to enter the prefix and even the local code for local numbers.
One thing for folk who join Toucan to note.
The company won't tell you unless you ask but the number to disable Toucan and revert back to BT (for purposes of dialling TeleDiscount etc for international calls etc) is 1280.
And even when they tell you, it's not always true.
I'll explain I hope.
When I joined I found that I could still dial TeleDiscount and 18866 so presumed Toucan wasn't connected.
After much argument I spoke to a boss type who admitted that the 1280 diabling code wasn't 'always necessary'.
To be on the safe side I always use it if I want to use a non-Toucan service but I've found in practice you can connect to these other services without a dial out number.
So there you have it. As you say Martin you couldn't do much better to use 18866 for most calls and possibly someone like TeleDiscount for international ones.
Thanks for a great and useful website.

gt94sss2

One thing for folk who join Toucan to note.
The company won't tell you unless you ask but the number to disable Toucan and revert back to BT (for purposes of dialling TeleDiscount etc for international calls etc) is 1280.
And even when they tell you, it's not always true.
I'll explain I hope.
When I joined I found that I could still dial TeleDiscount and 18866 so presumed Toucan wasn't connected.
After much argument I spoke to a boss type who admitted that the 1280 diabling code wasn't 'always necessary'.
To be on the safe side I always use it if I want to use a non-Toucan service but I've found in practice you can connect to these other services without a dial out number.

The way it works is that you would dial 1280 if you wanted to route a call over BT rather than Toucan.

The 1280 code has nothing to do with dialing 18866 - as then you are choosing to send your call over 18866's network and not BT or Toucan.

However, if you use Telediscount, I would always dial 1280 and route the call over BT's network

This is because the rates that Telediscount quote for 0844/5/7 numbers etc are BT rates and many/most CPS operators actually charge more for these.

If you don't dial 1280 before these calls, you will be charged at whatever Toucan's rates are for these calls, rather than BT's

Sunil
PS http://lcr.inventeer.com sell a phone which automatically routes calls over 18866's network - no need to keep entering the code..

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I have a question relating to dialling 1280 before a number to route the call through BT.

Does anyone know if you have to add the 1280 extension to your friends & family & best friend numbers so they still give you a discount?

Thanks in advance.

gt94sss2

Does anyone know if you have to add the 1280 extension to your friends & family & best friend numbers so they still give you a discount?

If you are using a different telephone company by default (i.e. TalkTalk) you won't get the Friends and Family/Bestfriend discounts unless you dial 1280 to route those calls over BT's network (and pay BT for them) - as its a BT discount scheme

However, there is no need to register 1280 as part of the F&F numbers with BT though - they will notice themselves as they already do, for all their other customers

Sunil

System

Hi Martin Lewis,

Great site, which I heard about on the Jeremy Vine show!

I couldn't find the answer to my question, so decided to post it here. I was forced to get a BT line installed (which cost me a fortune) to use the internet. I seldom use my phone itself, but need the line for the web.

So my quarterly bill comes out at around 25p call, and £28 line charge! I am getting fed up with this, and was wondering if there is something I can do. People moan about the Television licence, but at least you are getting something for your money there!

I expect I will hit all sorts of other problems like internet providers only being compatibel with BT or something. I have just got my first mortgage though, so I could do without throwing money away like this.

Thanks
Dez