qu re BT "low user" subscrip

mrodent

hi,

I got rid of my BT line some months ago because the Telewest line bundled with my Internet worked out cheaper and I really wanted those horrid bankers at BT out of my life...

but... I am now using 1899 and 18866 thru the Telewest access numbers, and it AIN'T GOOD. Very often engaged, seems to be a phenomenon specific to the Telewest access nos

I am thinking of signing up again with BT, but only if I can go on the low user rate... which is about a fiver a month, isn't it?

but....: can you use this rate AND use access numbers like 1899/18866, or will BT pick up on this and say "OK you're not using us, but you are using the phone, so we're gonna slap you on the normal sub"...?
anyone know?

Thanks
Mike

bunking_off

Technically you can be on light user & dial indirect access providers, but only until BT notice...when you'll be "invited" to join the proper tariff. Can't remember whether the approach is that they'll block the access, or automatically charge you standard line rental.

Some would argue that you should give it a go because you'll benefit until BT catch up with you. I don't agree. The light user scheme is one that is provided by BT to allow those members of the public who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford a telephone line to get one. They make a loss on it, or to put it another way, other BT customers cross-subsidise users on this scheme. I don't mind folk taking large corporations for all they can, but I do object to giving people subsidies when they don't deserve it.

...and I say this as someone who works for a competitor to BT, in a BT-facing role, so I'm not exactly their biggest fan!

Browntoa

if you want broadband via BT you cannot be on light user..

MarkyMarkD

It's an explicit breach of the Ts & Cs of the light user scheme. So you can only sign up for light user scheme by lying to BT. And they will find you out. And then you'll look stupid and feel guilty of the fraud you have committed. (Unless you have no shame at all).

I would follow the advice above and not sign up for light user scheme unless you genuinely don't need to use the phone very much.

mrodent

ok thanks for that... i got my answer.

personally I can't understand how people can still perceive any corporation with private shareholders as sort of beneficent... cross-subsidy or not. if there is a social need out there a powerful, well-funded central State authority should meet it, even if this means putting a 50% marginal tax rate (for example) on very high earners...

put another way, BT could be subsidising low usage users and/or everyone by not making such large profits... or indeed making none.

all corporations are fair game until further notice as far as I'm concerned, and BT are as evil as any credit card co... but their "light user" scheme is obviously having some brand-image communication effectiveness to judge by these postings.

you'll both be happy to know that the whole thing looks like a pain in the grass so i won't be bothering with it

Mike "Trotsky" Rodent

Steve_xx

Don't begrudge BT making a profit.

Years ago they were joined to the Post Office and as state owned monopolies the pair of them regularly turned in heavy losses. That meant that the governement had to keep the pair of them and their respective workforces afloat and in jobs. Of course the taxpayer had to foot this hefty bill, ie you and I.

Nowadays of course they make profits and as a result they actually cough up money that ends up in the tax coffers. Meaning you and I no longer have to sustain them.

I know which way around I'd rather have it!

seaniboy

surely running state utilites could have been done by someone with corporate experience and we would all been happy?

do u not wonder whom the big shareholders of these companies were at the time they were sold off?

the politians and co....