BT Phone Bill is Quite Expensive.

shaz77_2

I pay monthly and I am with option one, I usually pay £30 per month for my phone, however this month its £43, is there anything I can do to reduce this? I generally use the package for internet access, below is the exact bill I received.

Thanks in advance.

Cost of Calls
£14.97

Your benefits

-£1.09

Rental charges
£23.61

VAT
£5.63

Heinz

Your £23.61 Rental charges is identical to mine - before discounts I currently have (line rental/the Unlimited Weekend Plan + BT Total Broadband Option 1) = £10.86 + £12.75.

So, it's your £14.97 on calls which needs addressing.

How many weekday daytime and weekday evening UK 01/02/03 calls do you make? I take it you don't use 18185 for those. If the number is less than 100, using 18185 (5p per call regardless of duration) would be worthwhile. If it's more than 100, consider changing to BT's Unlimited Anytime Plan (on offer for £4.95/month).

In any case, use 18185 for your calls to UK mobiles.

Do you use www.saynoto0870.com to find alternatives to 084/087 numbers you can't avoid calling?

shaz77_2

Rental Charges details are as follows:

01 Sep-30 Sep Charges in advance for Unlimited Weekend Plan comprises

Line rental

1 10.86 10.86
01 Sep-30 Sep Charges in advance for BT Broadband Option 1
1 12.75 12.75 Total £12.75

shaz77_2

Heinz wrote: »

Your £23.61 Rental charges is identical to mine - before discounts I currently have (line rental/the Unlimited Weekend Plan + BT Total Broadband Option 1) = £10.86 + £12.75.

So, it's your £14.97 on calls which needs addressing.

How many daytime and weekday evening UK 01/02/03 calls do you make? I take it you don't use 18185 for those. If the number is less than 100, using 18185 (5p per call regadless of duration) would be worthwhile. If it's more than 100, consider changing to BT's Unlimited Anytime Plan (on offer for £4.95/month).

In any case, use 18185 for your calls to UK mobiles.

Do you use www.saynoto0870.com to find alternatives to 084/087 numbers you can't avoid calling?

77 calls for the month, the majority were to landlines.

Heinz

OK, open a 18185 account then.

77 calls at 5p each = £3.95 (there's £11.12 saved).

Users would have to remember to use the 18185 prefix (except at weekends) of course.

shaz77_2

Heinz wrote: »

OK, A 18185 account then.

77 calls at 5p each = £3.95 (there's £11.12 saved).

Users would have to remember to use the 18185 prefix (except at weekends) of course.

Brilliant, so all I need to do is sign-up for this package and then put 18185 in front of all phone numbers?

Is there anything else I need to do?

ACDeag

Heinz wrote: »

OK, open a 18185 account then.

77 calls at 5p each = £3.95 (there's £11.12 saved).

Users would have to remember to use the 18185 prefix (except at weekends) of course.

You could go for the BT Anytime call package for £1 more (min. 12 month contract) which would mean no 18185 to remember and also all your 0845/0870 calls would be included as well.

If you need to call 0845/0870 then this maybe a better solution as the flat 5p fee on 18185 does not apply to these calls instead 0870 calls cost 6p/min during the day.

Heinz

shaz77 wrote: »

Brilliant, so all I need to do is sign-up for this package and then put 18185 in front of all phone numbers?

Is there anything else I need to do?

That's it really. The incentive to remember to use the prefix (but not at weekends) is the saving but, of course, that's less easy for those who don't actually pay the bill!

BT_company_representative

You are reassessed when your balance reaches 3.5 times the amount you pay each month. For example if you pay £10 you are reassessed if your balance reaches £35

You can see full details on the link below

http://www2.bt.com/static/i/microsite/help_and_tips/payments/faq/monthly_payment_plan.html

shaz77_2

Heinz wrote: »

OK, open a 18185 account then.

77 calls at 5p each = £3.95 (there's £11.12 saved).

Users would have to remember to use the 18185 prefix (except at weekends) of course.

Would I have to pay for this bill separately or is it included onto my BT bill?

Heinz

shaz77 wrote: »

Would I have to pay for this bill separately or is it included onto my BT bill?

The 18185 prefix overrides your default (BT) call routing and you're invoiced (online) by 18185. Payment is by DD or (not recommended) CPA on a debit or credit card. Invoices are usually every 2 months but your first will probably be after about a month.

Online account management includes full call details (each call appears a few minutes after it ends).