Bt free weekend calls / caller display / primus

moginstein

I know I'm currently on the Unlimited weekend plan, but rerouting through Primus, so not using the "free" weekend calls. If I was on a 6 month holiday, I wouldn't be using the phone either at weekends, sorry, I don't quite follow.
When do you mean you use your phone through BT?

JustPassingBy

moginstein wrote: »

I know I'm currently on the Unlimited weekend plan, but rerouting through Primus, so not using the "free" weekend calls. If I was on a 6 month holiday, I wouldn't be using the phone either at weekends, sorry, I don't quite follow.

Back in post #3 you reported:

. . . . . . . I have to make a chargeable call during the week (i.e.one per month) to get the free weekend calls.

BT's Calling Plans are here:

http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/current/Cust_Opts_Res_boo/sectoc.htm#3185-d0e1-section

Can you find what you were told? I can't.

If you become ineligible for the Unlimited Weekend Plan what plan do they put you on? The point about being on holiday for so long is that it is a concrete example. People normally relate to practical examples so BT should be able to say what would happen if you choose not to use your phone for a considerable length of time. If you get to stay on the Unlimited Weekend Plan you have free weekend calls.

When do you mean you use your phone through BT?

My turn! I'm unsure what you are asking here. Sorry.

moginstein

The bit I finally found about having to make 1 chargeable call is here:
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/dynamicmodules/pagecontentfooter/pageContentFooterPopup.jsp?pagecontentfooter_popupid=24641#UWP
Unlimited Weekend Plan – standard plan

The Unlimited Weekend Plan is available to eligible residential customers making at least one chargeable call per month, with no minimum term. Exclusions and conditions apply. Please note, a minimum term of 12 months applies to line rental for new customers and those switching their phone line from another provider, signing up to this calling plan. Exclusions and conditions apply.

When I asked about what constitued a chargeable call (as per my original thread, I had a phone call from BT, followed up by this e-mail:

"I am sorry for the confusion caused with your calling plan details. As discussed this afternoon at 14:00 hours, I can confirm that your calling plan ‘Unlimited Weekend Plan’ provides you free calls to UK landline numbers, 0845 and 0870 numbers up to an hour at the weekends.

To be eligible for this free weekend calls you need to make at least 1 chargeable call per month. If you make a call during the daytime or evening to a UK landline or mobile number it will be a chargeable call. If you do not make this chargeable call then you will be charged the normal call rate for the calls made at the weekends. The normal call charge to a UK landline number at the daytime is 4.5 pence per minute incl. VAT and at the evening it is 1.45 pence per minute incl. VAT. There will be a call set up fee of 8 pence for the first minute of the call."

I think that if you have just been using the free weekend calls to qualify for the free caller display, and not had to make any other calls to qualify for free weekend calls, you've been lucky (although I agree that the original wording is misleading, which is why I asked for clarification). I guess as I'm still on the "unlimited weekend plan" although I never (well hardly ever) make calls through BT then the plan name stays the same, but I am not eligible for the free calls that I don't make (?)

JustPassingBy

I've always regarded the BT Price List as the legal basis of a contract with BT so it may or may not be significant that the 'at least one chargeable call per month' in the link you gave is missing from the Price List.

You have not been using BT for weekend calls for some time so presumably when you do use it to qualify for free caller display you will expect to incur the charges you were informed of. As for me being lucky I'm not convinced. Billing systems are either set up to do certain things or they are not and I can't believe I've been overlooked!

I guess as I'm still on the "unlimited weekend plan" although I never (well hardly ever) make calls through BT then the plan name stays the same, but I am not eligible for the free calls that I don't make (?)

You are definitely on the same Plan you were before.

jem16

JustPassingBy wrote: »

As for me being lucky I'm not convinced. Billing systems are either set up to do certain things or they are not and I can't believe I've been overlooked!

I'm not convinced either.

I'm on Primus and route only weekend calls through BT. For the last 7 months, there is only one month in which I have actually been charged and that was when I stupidly went over the hour on a weekend call.

All other calls have been totally free and I still have free Caller Display and free weekend calls.

As far as I'm concerned I am putting chargeable calls through BT - it's just that they are free because they are in my inclusive calls.

moginstein

Thanks for your answers.

Obviously what BT are saying is conflicting with what you are saying, and I think I'll just have to try it (just because they say that is what happens, doesn't mean that the system is set up properly / they are correct). I did think it was a bit strange that I could be potentially billed at "normal rate" for all calls if I only ever used the phone at weekends though...

So - to "qualify" for the free weekend calls, I'll try making a couple of calls at the weekend (worst case it should cost me 2 x 9.5p). If this works, then I can re-add caller display, and make more "free" calls to qualify for that.

Heinz

At the weekend, 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 calls of up to 60 minutes are inclusive (free) - so you'd still have to make one chargeable call. I'd suggest a short 01, 02 or 03 call one weekday evening.

JustPassingBy

Heinz wrote: »

At the weekend, 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 calls of up to 60 minutes are inclusive (free) - so you'd still have to make one chargeable call.

What is said in BT's T&C is not in question but the experience of at least three people indicates there are no consequences in not fulfilling it. Furthermore, (and this is rather more important), BT have no written policy on what happens if a chargeable call is not made.

I reckon in moginstein's situation he has nothing to lose in following his stated strategy.

moginstein

well, it seems like what BT say and what happens are different. I made 2 calls this weekend (just short in case I got charged) and I haven't been charged for either. I didn't make another call before to activate my "free weekend calls", they are just appearing free on the bill:

29 Aug 10:37 01**********00:00:24 0.00
30 Aug 10:39 01**********00:00:09 0.00

I have deleted the numbers, but they were both geographical codes, starting 01 - last column is the cost.

I thought that I should confirm - thanks to you all for your input to this one - and I now have caller display - so will be making sure I do make my 6 free calls a quarter:cool:

JustPassingBy

moginstein wrote: »

. . . . . I didn't make another call before to activate my "free weekend calls", they are just appearing free on the bill:

You also asked Customer Service about what constituted a chargeable call so that you did not fall foul of the condition in the T&C:

The Unlimited Weekend Plan is available to eligible residential customers making at least one chargeable call per month, . . . . .

They replied:

If you make a call during the daytime or evening to a UK landline or mobile number it will be a chargeable call. If you do not make this chargeable call then you will be charged the normal call rate for the calls made at the weekends. The normal call charge to a UK landline number at the daytime is 4.5 pence per minute incl. VAT and at the evening it is 1.45 pence per minute incl. VAT. There will be a call set up fee of 8 pence for the first minute of the call

If you prefer an alternative scheme, there is one in post #15 here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1653821

How do you fancy a little experiment? Your last bill had no weekday calls on it. So make a short call next weekend and then look at your recent calls at your online account a day or two later. If you have been charged more than 0p for the call I'll refund the cost. Ok, I'll go to double the cost if you insist!

The network recognises only non-chargeable and chargeable calls. Your calls at weekend were not non-chargeable but were chargeable at a rate of 0p per minute for the first hour. Which makes you eligible for the Unlimited Weekend Plan.