low useage charges by BT !

andy.pandy

while I wait to hear what aol say. I've come across this neat trick...
quote from aol's web site.
"Please note that where a service charge applies for the above BT services, this will appear on your BT bill. Calls made by pressing 3 after you have retrieved a number using BT's 1471 service will be billed by BT in accordance with your BT price plan, irrespective of the type of call it is. If you wish to make calls to a number you have retrieved using the 1471 service at AOL's rates, please make a note of the number, and then dial the full number directly".

So in other words there does look like a way to route calls via BT - i.e by using option 3 from a call back.

Heinz

andy.pandy wrote: »

one final note: I'm surprised Martin lewis is not shouting this one out to push BT for a change.

Change to what? The 'almost free' provision of Caller Display by BT (subject to 2 calls per month being made) is a not unreasonable attempt (they are a telephone company after all) to encourage subscribers to make all their calls via BT.

In fact, that is probably exactly the same reason for former CPS providers changing to WCLI - to force customers to make their calls via them rather than being able to revert to BT for calls for which BT is cheaper (e.g. 0845 and 0870 calls).

andy.pandy wrote: »

while I wait to hear what aol say. I've come across this neat trick...
quote from aol's web site.
"Please note that where a service charge applies for the above BT services, this will appear on your BT bill. Calls made by pressing 3 after you have retrieved a number using BT's 1471 service will be billed by BT in accordance with your BT price plan, irrespective of the type of call it is. If you wish to make calls to a number you have retrieved using the 1471 service at AOL's rates, please make a note of the number, and then dial the full number directly".

So in other words there does look like a way to route calls via BT - i.e by using option 3 from a call back.

I hope you're right, but I suspect you are only half right.

As I said, AOL's use of WCLI means that your outgoing calls are carried on the BT network anyway (which is why the 1280 prefix has no effect) so, although the 9.7p (12p from 1-10-09) charge just for pressing 3 may well appear on your BT bill, I suspect the actual returned call will go via AOL and, hence, you will still not be making calls via BT.

JustPassingBy

andy.pandy wrote: »

So in other words there does look like a way to route calls via BT - i.e by using option 3 from a call back.

Right at the beginning of

http://80.231.3.231/broadband/faqTalk.adp

you'll notice AOL claim to use Carrier Pre-Select. If they do it is not CPS as we know it, Jim. A directly dialled call from a line with CPS goes a short way over the BTW/Openreach network and is put onto the Provider's network, where it is billed. With call return it doesn't get off the BTW/Openreach network. The network dials on your behalf (but not from your line) and bills your non-CPS account.

With WCLI the network still does the dialling but the call goes over the same network as a directly dialled call and will be billed by AOL.

Easy to check. Press 3 and look in Recent Calls at BT a day or so later.

andy.pandy

I was hoping Martin to shout it loud and stir a fuss and maybe BT may think twice about it and go someway to hopefully change BT minds. The argument about BT not being unreasonable about the low useage charge well sorry I don't believe that for one minute. In fact I hope they lose more people because of it. I, as a normal person, was willing to move my line rental completely away from them.

OK. Another update and final one.

Apparently doing the 1471 and choosing option 3 to call will incur a 10p charge BUT this constitutes using the BT line even though, for argument sake, no one picks up at the other end.

So twice a month I'll (set a reminder) call my home number from my mobile and hang up. Then do 1471 straight away on my home phone , choose option 3 and when it starts ringing hang up - obviously not answering my mobile.

So 20p a month will now get me past the £7.50 low useage charge - which was introduced in April 09. Job done, slightly annoying procedure, but it's good for me.

Interestingly AOL wanted to charge me about £17 a month extra (their web site states £11 approx) to have line rental, but I was told my existing package is extremely good (due to long term loyalty) and in effect I would be going down a peg by having it (?).
I pay £9.99 a month for ALL CALLS (UK wide) ANYTIME. 8mb broadband which is UNLIMITED and I DO get 8mb download speeds (albeit mainly overnight, which is when I do my heavy downloads). And they wanted about £27 with line rental included on that ! anyway, I digress.

Heinz

No, pressing 3, although incurring a 9.7p (shortly to be 12p) charge, is not making a call unless the call is answered.

saver_sam

Is it only AOL as I'm with BT for line rental and Skytalk anytime for the calls and don't get this low usage charge?

Heinz

saver_sam wrote: »

Is it only AOL as I'm with BT for line rental and Skytalk anytime for the calls and don't get this low usage charge?

You will if you have Caller Display and/or use 1571 (Sky Talk uses WCLI too).

saver_sam

I do have 1571 and Caller display but neither of my last two bills (Jun/Sept)show this (yet!). mmmm

JustPassingBy

andy.pandy wrote: »

I was hoping Martin to shout it loud and stir a fuss and maybe BT may think twice about it and go someway to hopefully change BT minds. The argument about BT not being unreasonable about the low useage charge well sorry I don't believe that for one minute.

Posts #6 and #13 deserve a reread. BTR and BTW both have BT in their names so which BT are you castigating?

Apparently doing the 1471 and choosing option 3 to call will incur a 10p charge BUT this constitutes using the BT line even though, for argument sake, no one picks up at the other end.

Of course it constitutes using a BTW line but the essential question is - who gets the money, whether or not the call is answered? What makes you think it is not AOL. I hope you are not relying on their FAQ.

So 20p a month will now get me past the £7.50 low useage charge - which was introduced in April 09. Job done, slightly annoying procedure, but it's good for me.

You sound as though you'll be back here to report whatever the outcome. Meanwhile, there is always BT's Recent Calls.

Ok. BTR, if you insist.

andy.pandy

Well, I thought naturally BT would get the 10p charge for each call - soon to be 12p ! I didn't read that anywhere.

I read about the 1471 trick in the t&c on BT's web site, although I must admit I thought I needed to actually make the call.
When I rang BT this afternoon I rang asking them to cancel the caller display service and I was then (after a brief pause) also told about the 1471 trick, but he stated I did not need to actually complate the call. I asked him was he absolutely sure that I could basically hang up even without any repsonse as soon as I redialled using option 3 and he said, Yes sir that is correct, just do it twice a month and it will cost you only 20p and you will not incur a £7.70 low useage charge. He could not have been any clearer. When you think about it, it does kinda make sense - well the way I am looking at it.

Customer services are also fallable people so it may just be all crap, but I'll check in a weeks time.

Saver_sam, on your september BT are you saying you were charged only line rental costs - not one phone call, not one additional charge ?

BTW, Aol where slow in rolling out the free calls BT (0845, etc) started a while back, but they are free from Nov 09.