Bt!!!

Christina1982

Hi
In October I changed my broatband from aol to bt - and we took out a call and broadband package (unlimited option 3)
we have just had our new bill in and it is sky high.
Phoned up to to query this as what should be included in the plan hasn't been and we have been charged £4.99 a month for anytime calls when we took out anytime calls in the package.
Has anyone else had this problem?

bargains83

I know this won't really sound helpful but you probably would have been better sticking with AOL for internet and moving your calls and line rental to them as well because at least their billing methods are transparent and clear!.

They are far from 'the best' but BT really have gone downhill a lot lately. I've just recieved a bill today, it's £51.55 and all we use BT for is the line rental. They told us last may that chargecard calls would count to avoiding low usage fees on the account. We have never recieved a letter advising that there has been a change to the terms and these calls don't count so I have to chase them for £7.50 back every quarter (now increased to £7.77 because of the VAT rise).

There are numerous other increases and alterations to charges allegedly down to the VAT rises. Rewind a second though, there hasn't been an increase in VAT, it has returned to the 17.5% it was in 2008. Now did BT reduce ALL their prices by 2.5% when the VAT reduction came in because I don't remember them doing so.

Now what were rounded figures like unlimited weekend plan being £12.50 is now £12.79 a month.

Couple this with calling bands changing from 6AM - 6PM to 7AM-7PM

Talk about customer confusion, its unbelievable. You certainly need to be a mathematician and english professional to be able to disect a BT bill and make sense of it in plain English. Not at all impressive for a company that has been in business for 30 years!.

If you are reading BT, have you ever seen a mobile phone bill from the '3' Network, you could certainly learn a few lessons from them on the CORRECT way to lay down billing on paper to customers!.

Christina1982

Yeh we had to leave AOL as connection was terrible, kept crashing neighbour did exactly the same. Have been on the phone and BT are saying that something is extra when it was on the website as included in plan - you are def right their billing isn't as clear as it should be.
I feel really sorry for elderly people - how are they supposed to cope.
Not got a problem with BT Broadband connection def the best for this area just a shame about their billing service!

brown1950

Have to agree about BT and their charges. BT bills are the hardest to understand (on purpose?)

Last year changed to BT for telephone/broadband and the last 12 months have cost me over £700. Bills include :-

Processing payment fee
Late payment fee
excess usage fee

Comparing BT with say the new combined O2 phone/ broadband package (premium) allowing for £70 rebate from Quidco and first 2 months free i will pay O2 £230.00 for first year ! After 1st year O2 will charge £330.00

So by changing to O2 i will save around £400 per year !

Christina1982

its crazy isn't it
we will never change from bt for phone but might have to for internet but don't know who we'd go to due to location
nevermind bt seems to rule

bargains83

Christina1982 wrote: »

its crazy isn't it
we will never change from bt for phone but might have to for internet but don't know who we'd go to due to location
nevermind bt seems to rule

Is there any particular reason you wouldn't change provider for phone?, we were of that mindset out of loyalty more than anything and my parents have been with BT since they started for Phone service. You hear a lot of awful reports about the other Telco's, and there were far more severe reasons for being complaints in the past (dialler boxes, access codes, being left without service, unable to dial out, etc). It's very different these days though as its all seemless. They were finally persuaded to switch calls package after BT started doing rolling contracts. I.E if you go on the Evening and weekend plan its a 12 month contract and unless you tell them otherwise when the initial 12 months are up you are tied in for another 12 at least!, which is very underhand IMO. It's not always the case but you have to check the small print.

I am currently with AOL Talk and get unlimited free calls 24/7 included with the £9.99 a month broadband subscription with a month to month contract (can quit with 30 days notice), I have been looking into letting them take over the line rental as well and have been told total cost will be around £22/month for broadband, calls and the line rental.

The billing is all online but its very clear, if anything is going up or down in price or there are service changes they have always emailed me to tell be and given AT LEAST 30 days notice.

None of the stupid billing system that BT operate on where "we charged you £x.xx for calls but refunded you £x.xx because prices changed on x-date so we re-charged you £x.xx after deducting £x.xx and adding on £x.xx"

Confused?, now you know how I feel after the last 2 BT bills I recieved this and last quarter.

The Bill is 4 double side A4 pages long! and I haven't even made any calls!. Not exactly good for the environment is it?, I think I'm going to start a new thread about BT's awful billing system!.

Christina1982

The account is still in my Dads name he won't change from bt (still live at home I'm 28) my parents leave the broadband up to me as they are a bit dumbstruck when it comes to it.
Yeh when we were aol we got offered aol phone thingy but my Dad wouldn't change hes one of these people who will stay bt for ever, Scottish Power for electric etc
Just with BT's billing was made more simpler!
Thanks everyone though