BT is this correct?

caris

Hi

My hubby went back to BT at the beginning of the year, he requested that our number was to be ex directory and with-held.

We had assumed that this had been actioned until we made a call to arrange a local courier to collect a catalogue parcel, we did not give them our number, but to our amazement they called us back a couple of days later after storing our number after phoning them.

We also noted that any incoming calls to us were not showing on our phone, the screens stayed blank.

We emailed BT and they replied saying that to have caller display and our number with-held will cost us £7.50 a quarter. Is this correct? We were under the impression that this service was free, our daughter is not paying for these facilities.

We do not have our calls through BT, they are through AOL with our broadband package.

Any info or advice really appreciated.

caris

olly300

Caller-display is free if you have a BT package.

Having your number withheld automatically isn't a free BT service depending on what package you have. You are better of typing 141 before dialling anyone who you don't want to use your number as this is free.

Even then people can get your number different ways. For example when you order an item and the company requests a telephone number they may give it to the courier to aid delivery. The company will have T&C that state this.

Also if you automatically hide your number some companies like takeaways will refuse to deal with you.

Heinz

Caller-display is free if you have a BT package. But you have to call 0800 121 8000 and 'sign up' for it, it's not switched on automatically.

Even then people can get your number different ways. For example when you order an item and the company requests a telephone number they may give it to the courier to aid delivery. What I do in those situations is give them the number of a spare PAYG mobile SIM I keep for just that sort of temporary use. I then stop using it again after the goods arrive.

Buzby

I do feel that it is you that is being unreasonable. You wish to benefit from knowing WHO calls you (by having caller display), yet YOU don't want anyone seeing your number when you call!

I can't say what BT's current policy is, but if you opted out of shoeing your number, BT prevented your line from recieving called numbers. I'd hate to think they changed it.