INCREASED BT Call charges from October 2009

DaveF327

Hi all,

For those of you who use BT and don't read past the first few lines of their [STRIKE]marketing spin[/STRIKE] terms and conditions update (or even don't get updates by post and miss where they hide them), BT are increasing their charges from October 2009.

In summary:

• Call set-up fee will go up from 8p to 9.05p, which will soon add up to those who hear an answering machine / voicemail then hang up. This thread springs to mind: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1858513
• Daytime calls go up from 4½p to 5¼p per minute in addition to the 9.05p set-up fee.
• Call return (1471 then press 3) goes up from 9.7p to 12p per use in addition to the 9.05p set-up fee and any other increased rates.
• Voicemail call return (1571 then press 3) goes up from 9.7p to 12p per use in addition to the 9.05p set-up fee and any other increased rates.
• Ringback (press 5 on engaged tone) goes up from 29.3p to 35p in addition to... you get the picture
• Alarm calls go up from 29.3 to 35p
• 3 way calling goes up from 58.6p to 65p.

I use 18185.com personally, (only 5p per call) so only have BT for a line for ISP purposes. Those who dial an access code to make a call outside of BT, please dial carefully; forgetting from October is going to be a lot more expensive.

(Apologies if this is already posted elsewhere - I did have a quick look, honest!)

utilitybroker

DaveF327 wrote: »

(Apologies if this is already posted elsewhere - I did have a quick look, honest!)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1723423

DaveF327

utilitybroker wrote: »

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1723423

Thanks. It's still good to have the full summary at a glance though BT are so good at "burying bad news" by shoving it right at the end (in small print on the back) of a letter singing the praises of "reduced 0870 charges" that nobody in their right mind would ring anyway.

Heinz

Conveniently, the apparently bizarre 9.05p post-1/10/2009 call set-up fee will become 9¼p when the VAT rate is increased from 15% to 17½% again (on 1/1/2010?).

Changes to Home Phone Calling Plan Prices in August & October 2009.
Standard 0870 pence per minute rates.
BT was the first company to give customers free calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers within their calling plan, and now our rates for calling 0870 numbers outside of your calling plan will also be cheaper. We are pleased to announce that as of 1 August 2009, the daytime and evening pence per minute rates will be the same as we charge to call a UK landline. The daytime rate will decrease from 5.88 to 4.5 pence per minute, and the evening rate will decrease from 1.47 to 1.45 pence per minute. Visit www.bt.com/tariffs for more information and see below for future changes to the UK daytime pence per minute rate.

Call Set-up fee.
The call set-up fee does not apply to inclusive weekend calls for customers on the Unlimited Weekend Plan, to inclusive evening and weekend calls for customers taking the Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan or the Broadband Talk Evening & Weekend Plan, to inclusive anytime calls on the Unlimited Anytime Plan or the Broadband Talk Anytime Plan, calls to Freephone services and to other inclusive calls not mentioned above.

From 1 October 2009, the call set-up fee for non-inclusive calls from landlines and for non-inclusive Broadband Talk calls will increase from 8p to 9.05p per call. The existing call set-up fee of 2.94p per call for BT Fusion, In-Contact Plus, Light User Scheme and BT Basic customers remains unchanged.

Daytime UK calls.
The daytime UK call price does not apply to calls of up to an hour with the Unlimited Anytime Plan. The Unlimited Anytime Plan offers you inclusive daytime UK calls (to numbers beginning 01, 02 & 03, excluding Channel Islands) and inclusive calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers for £4.95 a month with a 12-month contract. Visit www.bt.com/anytime for more information.

From 1 October 2009, the cost of UK calls made during the daytime will increase from 4.5 pence per minute to 5.25 pence per minute. This change does not apply to BT Basic, Light User Scheme and In-Contact Plus customers.

1. Calls of up to 60 minutes duration (excluding indirect access numbers and dial-up internet access). Fair use policy applies – maximum 1,000 minutes or 150 calls a month. If either of these limits on inclusive calls is exceeded, BT will charge for these calls until further notice. See Terms & Conditions for full details.

Calling features.
We are also making some changes to the one-off set-up prices of some of our calling feature services, effective from 1 October 2009, as detailed below.

There will be no changes to prices for calling features charged on a monthly basis. Ringback, Reminder Call and 3 Way Calling are available on a monthly rental basis. Each feature costs £2.50 per month. These and the other calling features are available for £5 per month for 2-4 features or £7 per month for a package of all of our calling features, giving you unlimited usage. If you currently rent any of these features on a monthly basis, then the price changes below will not affect you.

• Dialling 1471 to find out the number of the last person who called you will remain a service available at no charge. The price of the call return service (dial 1471 then press 3) will change from 9.7p to 12p per use.
• Dialling 1571 to access your voicemail will remain a service available at no charge. The price of the call return service (dial 1571 then press 0) will change from 9.7p to 12p per use.
• The Ringback service provides a call back service from an engaged number when the line becomes free. The price of this service will change from 29.3p to 35p per use.
• The Reminder Call service allows you to book an alarm call. The price of this service will change from 29.3p to 35p per use.
• The 3 Way Calling service allows you to talk to two other people at the same time. The price of this service will change from 58.6p to 65p per use.

All of these prices include VAT and are subject to change.

Full details of our terms and conditions and all our special offers can be found on www.bt.com/offerterms

Go to www.bt.com/phone to find out more about our excellent value Calling Plans and more.

ACDeag

Heinz wrote: »

Conveniently, the apparently bizarre 9.05p post-1/10/2009 call set-up fee will become 9¼p when the VAT rate is increased from 15% to 17½% again (on 1/1/2010?).

I wonder when BT will stop the twice yearly above inflation increase in this fee. Could it be when it reaches 20p/call or even 50p/call. It was not that long ago that BT charged no connection fee, just a minimum charge.

DaveF327

ACDeag wrote: »

It was not that long ago that BT charged no connection fee, just a minimum charge.

That was before people left BT in droves to make their calls via other carriers. Even though they started cutting their exorbitant call charges at one point, they made up their revenue stream by introducing "stealth" charges by way of connection fees and encouraging everyone to use 1571 for free so that every mug who calls it and hangs up will be charged time after time.

BT give with one hand and take away with the other.

toepazz

We are on Unlimited Evening and Weekend free calls, so mostly make calls to family at these times. If we need to call outside these hours we use the 1899 connection. Basically we only need the BT line for internet connection. Today we had confirmation from BT that if we don't make at least 2 chargeable calls per month they will be levying a 98p per month charge! With only a limited number of people to call on a regular basis, none of whom will be at home during the day to answer a call, obviously evenings and weekends are our only option anyhow. I think it is totally underhand of BT to get us to sign up to this so called free calls plan for 12 months and then impose charges when we take advantage of it. At this rate we will end up paying more than our previous line rental and it was BT who contacted us to say we could get a better deal on Unlimited Evening and Weekend plan - what a joke! :mad:

Heinz

Perhaps BT company representative could explain this. 98p for not making chargeable calls? What the heck is that about?

It sounds like the £1/month charge for 1571 which used to be imposed if the subscriber didn't make 2 chargeable OR INCLUSIVE calls per month - but it can't be that because of the chargeable requirement now imposed.

toepazz

Heinz wrote: »

Perhaps BT company representative could explain this. 98p for not making chargeable calls? What the heck is that about?

It sounds like what the £1/month charge for 1571 which used to be imposed if the subscriber didn't make 2 chargeable OR INCLUSIVE calls per month - but it can't be that because of the charegable requirement now imposed.

So how do we get the BT company rep to explain this?

Jeannette_2

How has this been missed by so many on the forum (and so far by Martin Lewis) I am on the BT Unlimited Anytime Plan. An email I received on the 10th of August I quote
“Some of our home phone calling plan prices will be changing from 1 October 2009. These include our set-up fee, daytime UK call rate and pay-per-use calling features. You’ll find full details below.


Terms and Conditions
1. Calls of up to 60 minutes duration (excluding indirect access numbers and dial-up internet access). Fair use policy applies – maximum 1,000 minutes or 150 calls a month. If either of these limits on inclusive calls is exceeded, BT will charge for these calls until further notice.”
NB: 150 calls = 5 minutes per call

I worked out that this means 33 min of calls per day. Oh and if you happen to make more than150 calls even if they do not total 1000 minutes you will charged at standard rates for each call. Oh and if you are elderly, disabled, live miles from your family and this is your only means of contact, tough. Also if you consider calls to utilities due to problems with inefficient services (not least of all BT - waiting 40 minutes plus before you even get through) would probably take up all of your inclusive allowance you

If you have 2 children and 2 elderly parents who you call every day for 20 minutes each- a fairly typical allocation of call time I would suggest, you have exceeded your 1000 minute allowance on an ‘Unlimited Anytime Call Plan’ by 1400 minutes. Nice One BT. Keep those Directors big paypackets going – oh yes and don’t forget the share holders eh? Just forget everyone else who put you in work in the first place.


Couldn't add link for you as am being picked up as a new user.

toepazz

It seems whatever Plan you sign up to, BT will then bring in a change to their T&Cs, only shown in very small 'shaded out' typeface, so nobody will realise until it's too late that they've been stuffed, yet again ... Maybe it's time to stand up and start an English Revolution ...? :T