Beware BT (un)fair usage policy

Cashpot

BT are presently advertising their new call plans one of which is called "Unlimited Anytime Plan" which gives free calls anytime - fair enough! In fact the following comments affect ALL plans. When you look at the BT fair usage policy you will see that you are only allowed to make a maximum of an average of 5 calls per day OR a maximum of an average of 33 minutes of calls per day for free!

This is NOT a joke nor a mistake and the policy goes on to say that if you exceed these numbers then you will be chanrged for all calls "until further notice" which could well be for the next 11 months as it is a minimum of a one year contract!

I have made a formal complaint to the ASA as I feel this is not a fair use policy but an important term but wait to hear what they think.

In the mean time beware if signing up with BT!

Quote from 4 levels down on the BT web site" Fair use policy applies – maximum 1,000 minutes or 150 calls a month. If either of these limits on inclusive calls is exceeded, BT will charge for these calls until further notice........ "

A comment is on horsted keynes dot com. I wrote to BT asking for an explanation a week ago and apart from an acknowledgement I have heard nothing by way of clarification.

Milarky

an average of 5 calls per day OR a maximum of an average of 33 minutes of calls per day

Important to stress that word 'average'. You can make more than five calls in one day, of course, and individual calls can execeed that daily average of 33 minutes too. The practical issue is how are people expected to keep track of all this? And, whilst 'counting calls' requires little more than tally keeping you can't be expected to carry a stopwatch each time you place a call... and there will be 'rounding-up' of call times too, no-doubt, making some call-times a bit uncertain even with a stopwatch!

billsavings

Suggest you look again the Fair Use Policy you refer to is clearly for 0845/0870 calls only,not geographical 01/02/03 calls.

I quote from their site

"Inclusive calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers. Availability of inclusive 0845 and 0870 calls of up to 60 minutes duration (excluding indirect access numbers and dial-up internet access) dependent on residential BT Calling Plan: weekends only (with the Unlimited Weekend Plan), evening & weekends (with the Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan), or any time (with the Unlimited Anytime Plan). Monthly charges, plus £11.25 line rental with Direct Debit and paper-free billing. Fair use policy applies – max. 1,000 mins or 150 calls a month. If either of these limits on free calls is exceeded, BT will charge for these calls until further notice See Terms & Conditions for full details."

Cashpot

Thank you for that clarification but it COULD be read the other way (but I am sure that you are right) however the bit about "until further notice" IS ambiguous. ;-) But you are probably right, thanks.

billsavings

Cashpot wrote: »

Thank you for that clarification but it COULD be read the other way (but I am sure that you are right) however the bit about "until further notice" IS ambiguous. ;-) But you are probably right, thanks.

I am not probaly right, i am right.

Your also see they say

* Unlimited UK landline calls are for up to an hour to numbers beginning 01, 02 & 03, after which pence-per-minute rates apply. You can hang up and redial before the end to avoid charges. There are exceptions like calls to the Channel Islands. See our terms and conditions for details