Avoid unsolicited charges from BT

John_of_Bognor

I keep my BT bills to the minimum by using a prefix before all calls. Now I have been charged £7.50 extra for "BT Caller Display low use charge" without any explanation. The BT web site explains this charge will be imposed if I make my calls through another company. I complained by email that I regarded this as blackmail, and asked what they intended to do to rectify the situation.

Within two days, I had a phone call in which it was explained that I only have to make 2 chargeable calls from my landline every month to get the Caller Display service free of charge. The £7.50 charge was also removed.

As there is nothing about this criterion on the BT web site, I feel it is important for Martin Lewis to let everyone know what they need to do if they receive a similar charge.

Heinz

Welcome to the MSE forums John.

You must at least be on BT's Unlimited Weekend Plan so I don't understand why you don't make your weekend UK 01/02/03 calls for nothing using the inclusive calls allowance which is part of that Plan (i.e. without whatever prefix you're using). They would 'qualify' you for free Caller Display for no cost (the 'qualifying calls' do not have to be chargeable ones - they can be chargeable or inclusive).

Prices have changed in the past couple of years but the 2 calls per month requirement has been well known for some time - see this post. It's in BT's T&Cs but I can't find a link at the moment.

However, you do need to make ONE chargeable call each month in order to retain the inclusive (free) calls allowance in the Unlimited Weekend Plan.