BT to amend residential prices - the ups and downs

Heinz

Victors_Bruvver wrote:

Just look 1471 which was free for many years and then they whacked a charge onto it, that for many months the innocent consumer was unaware of.

I think you mean 1471 - 3 now incurrs a charge (1471 itself is still free).

hurrah

Victors_Bruvver wrote:

BT will get the connection charge plus the minimum call charge

Their wont be a min call charge from 1/10/2006 . Your pay the 3p set up fee and the cost of the call rounded UP to the nearest minute.( Per minute billing).

bbb_uk

There appears to be a discrepancy between t&c with regards to "Whole Minute Charging!"

The t&c printed on BT's website here state that the whole minute charging will not apply to NTS calls, etc but yet we got a letter from BT informing us of their new prices and a booklet of changes to the t&c, and under "Whole Minute Charging", I quote the following:-

From 1st October 2006, each call will be rounded up to the next whole minute for national and local geographical calls, international calls, landline-to-mobile calls, premium rate service calls and NTS calls (e.g. 0845, 0870)....

I've read this several times and I've definitely read it correctly so the obvious question is which version of their t&c is correct? I suspect it is that latter one that I got through the post simply because this would mean more money for BT!

Heinz

I see what you mean but, if that's the case, why did they not just say, "From 1st October 2006, each call will be rounded up to the next whole minute" and leave out the rest?

oldwiring

bbb_uk wrote:

There appears to be a discrepancy between t&c with regards to "Whole Minute Charging!"

The t&c printed on BT's website here state that the whole minute charging will not apply to NTS calls, etc but yet we got a letter from BT informing us of their new prices and a booklet of changes to the t&c, and under "Whole Minute Charging", I quote the following:-


I've read this several times and I've definitely read it correctly so the obvious question is which version of their t&c is correct? I suspect it is that latter one that I got through the post simply because this would mean more money for BT!

What is the reference code of the booklet? I asked for some hard copy info and the idiots sent me something totally unconnected:mad:

bbb_uk

Heinz wrote:

I see what you mean but, if that's the case, why did they not just say, "From 1st October 2006, each call will be rounded up to the next whole minute" and leave out the rest?

That would have been easier. It depends on which t&c are actually correct!

oldwiring wrote:

What is the reference code of the booklet? I asked for some hard copy info and the idiots sent me something totally unconnected:mad:

The letter has reference "C18/00559452" at the bottom of the page - just above the tear-off slip for joining their Option 2 for nothing except being subject to an 12month contract!

I was not able to see any reference on the changes of t&c booklet that came with the letter.

izatu

bbb_uk wrote:

There appears to be a discrepancy between t&c with regards to "Whole Minute Charging!"

The t&c printed on BT's website here state that the whole minute charging will not apply to NTS calls, etc but yet we got a letter from BT informing us of their new prices and a booklet of changes to the t&c, and under "Whole Minute Charging", I quote the following:-


I've read this several times and I've definitely read it correctly so the obvious question is which version of their t&c is correct? I suspect it is that latter one that I got through the post simply because this would mean more money for BT!

However, here - http://www.callsave.bt.com/faq.html#faq8 BT says 0845 and 0870 calls "are charged per minute and include VAT."

bbb_uk

izatu wrote:

However, here - http://www.callsave.bt.com/faq.html#faq8 BT says 0845 and 0870 calls "are charged per minute and include VAT."

We're talking about the "rounding" up of the call for any call that does not exactly end on a whole minute. BT's old policy was rounding to nearest ?? (i'm not sure of exact figure) but it appears now that it is rounded up to the next whole minute. So if you make a call that is 1min and 1sec then they will now treat the call as if you had rung for a whole 2mins. This is what i'm referring to and not the charged per minute.

I agree it does sound the same but are slightly different things.

macminiuser

DonnyDave wrote:

Why not call it a connection charge? Therefore will this apply to all calls; even those that ring unanswered?

I have always assumed that legislation such as the Communications Act prevented charging for:

• The initial ringing tone
• Engaged tone
• Unavailable; as in the case of a mobile phone out of coverage area or switched off
• Out of service; number unobtainable (NU) or not receiving incoming calls

Thus, the widespread prevailence of answering services and Ringback when the line is engaged.

Can someone clarify this?

Traditionally, BT's 'set-up fee' applies only when the call is answered, either by a person or an answerphone service, not from the moment you dial. They've had these set-up fees on their Business Plan product for a while.

What gets my goat is that they've replaced the 5.5p minimum call charge with a 3p set up fee, which looks great - you think - that's 2.5p cheaper - but then you remember it's now per minute billing, and Peak Rate UK landline calls are 3p per minute.

So a 30 second Peak Rate UK landline phone call before WOULD have cost 5.5p because of the minimum call charge. Now a 30 second call will cost 6p - 3p set up fee plus 30seconds rounded up to 1 minute at 3p per minute = 6p.

I wonder where else they've put the price up but sold it to us as a reduction?

Heinz

macminiuser wrote:

I wonder where else they've put the price up but sold it to us as a reduction?

They didn't succeed in selling it to me - I'm going to carry on paying just 3p connection for my 01/02 calls (using https://www.call1899.co.uk in case you hadn't realised).