BT 1571 answer service

ginger_nuts

I just received a message from BT .My 1571 service is going to be upgraded in a few days .The idea is if someone leaves me a message on BT 1571 I can dial 0 and be connected to the person who phoned me .
There is a fee 7.5p & normal BT rates . I wont be using it .

Heinz

Three thoughts.

1. It's time to resurrect the '5-rings slam down' campaign;

2. Encourage your friends to ditch 1571 so callers will not go straight to 1571 and have to pay their provider's minimum call charge if their line is already busy - why do you think BT don't offer a facilty to allow subscribers to switch 1571 off when they're at home?

3. How will the new 'service' work if the message is left by a caller who withholds their number?

Edinburghlass_2

I got the message today too but deleted it however, from memory, it said the service won't work on with-held numbers nor on international numbers

ginger_nuts

Edinburghlass wrote:

I got the message today too but deleted it however, from memory, it said the service won't work on with-held numbers nor on international numbers

correct it wont work if the caller with-held there number or for international calls . If a caller has with-held there number and you dial 0 will you still be charged the 7.5p fee .1571 wont tell you the number off the person who called ,you need 1471 for that .

Heinz

ginger_nuts wrote:

If a caller has with-held there number and you dial 0 will you still be charged the 7.5p fee .

Nice little earner!

Yet another reason for ditching 1571.

You can pick up some very cheap answering machines on ebay. From personal experience, I recommend the BT Decor 500 - mine cost less than £10 delivered.

pattycake

I loathe 1571 with a passion. Both my kids have it at their homes and when I ring and they are engaged, it costs me money. I find that even if I leave a message they never consider checking after they have finished their calls so it is a complete waste of my money.

Carl.

Pattycake for just that reason I have 1571 deactivated on my main line, though I am going to allow it for my broadband talk line when it's activated because that number will be going to anyone who wants a telephone number for me! lol!

DonnyDave

pattycake wrote:

I loathe 1571 with a passion. [...] I find that even if I leave a message they never consider checking after they have finished their calls so it is a complete waste of my money.

People seem to have a 'don't care' attitude, hence private business takes advantage like this.

I also depise O2 CallAlert feature which sends the person a text saying who called. Thing is, the recording counts as a connected call, hence you get charged. The way round this is to withhold your number when ringing someone on O2 with it on, then you should get the usual network announcement or engaged tone (anyone remember what that sounds like?), both of which are non-chargeable.

clark1982

Carl. wrote:

Pattycake for just that reason I have 1571 deactivated on my main line, though I am going to allow it for my broadband talk line when it's activated because that number will be going to anyone who wants a telephone number for me! lol!

Best thing about broadband Talk is the fact you can set the amount of rings before 1571 kicks in!

gdh82

ginger_nuts wrote:

There is a fee 7.5p & normal BT rates . I wont be using it .

I shalln't be using it neither!!!

I gather there is a means of barring this "call return facility" and according to the BT Message "customers who use call barring should note that calls to 1571 will be barred under outgoing call barring option 1"

I now get my phone calls via AOL - could anyone tell me if I can still bar this "call return facility" ?

Thanks in advance...

clark1982

gdh82 wrote:

I shalln't be using it neither!!!

I gather there is a means of barring this "call return facility" and according to the BT Message "customers who use call barring should note that calls to 1571 will be barred under outgoing call barring option 1"

I now get my phone calls via AOL - could anyone tell me if I can still bar this "call return facility" ?

Thanks in advance...

The only way to bar use of the facility is to use BT's calling feature, call barring. You would select call barring option 1, this would bar total use of 1571 and all other chargeable calls made over the BT network. That would be a right hassle as you would need to activated and deactivate the call baring, when you want to use 1571. This has a charge of £1.75 per month. The other option is to rent BT Answer 1571 with personal greeting, charged at £1.50 per month, this option does not have the call return facility available. With both these options being charable, you may just want to ditch it all together!