BT One-off charges - Should I move to o2 Home?

talk2alex

Hi

I noticed that my BT bill was £3.59 more than previous months even though I never make any calls.

Apparently this is due to the 1571 and caller-display services, which are only free if I make a chargeable call. Is there any way to not have to pay for this? (except for making 2 one penny calls per month)

I have no general problems with BT to be honest, but I've worked out that if I move to o2 Home Phone (I already have o2 Home Broadband) I can probably save £7 a month or so. Should I do it / is it generally worth the hassle?

Mainly want to go to o2 as their customer service is usually decent...


Thanks

macman

There is no hassle involved in moving to 02 Home Phone, especially since you are already on their broadband. If it's going to save you £84 a year, and give you a better service than BT (which it will), why would you not do it?

talk2alex

macman wrote: »

There is no hassle involved in moving to 02 Home Phone, especially since you are already on their broadband. If it's going to save you £84 a year, and give you a better service than BT (which it will), why would you not do it?

Good point! Seems a bit obvious now when I think about it

macman

Exactly, log into your O2 account and it will take about 1 minute to add Home Phone.
Not sure if Quidco cashback is available on ths upgrade.

iniltous

Caller display is not free with O2 so you would need to add the cost (£1.75/month I think) to whatever the O2 line rental is, if you dont want or need caller display you can ask BT to remove it (then you obviously wont get charged for it when you dont make any calls)..or remember to make a couple of calls per month, they can be 'inclusive' calls so if you have free weekend calls for example make calls at the weekend, call a number that would be free anyway...so not to mobiles or speaking clock (123) just ordinary 01,02 numbers..
As you are already a O2 broadband customer where does the £7/month saving come from ? as the O2 phone offering when you add caller display/1571 is about the same as BT,
If you do move to O2 I would check that you are not inside a minimum term contract with BT before you switch coz if you are the exit fee's may be more that you save by switching, if you are not in contract the standard inducement to stay is £36 off for another year of line rental ( £2/month) so with this you should be able to get line rental for the equivelent of £9.54/month (direct debit/paperless billing)

Heinz

iniltous wrote: »

If you do move to O2 I would check that you are not inside a minimum term contract with BT before you switch coz if you are the exit fee's may be more that you save by switching, if you are not in contract the standard inducement to stay is £36 off for another year of line rental ( £2/month) so with this you should be able to get line rental for the equivelent of £9.54/month (direct debit/paperless billing)

£36 is £3 per month discount (effectively taking the line rental down to £8.54/month if you pay by direct debit and opt for paper free billing).

Making the necessary calls costs nothing (they can be the inclusive ones you get at weekends) and, if you've nobody to phone, call 020 7043 1320 (a geographical number for the Speaking Clock) a few times each weekend.

iniltous

Heinz wrote: »

£36 is £3 per month discount (effectively taking the line rental down to £8.54/month if you pay by direct debit and opt for paper free billing).

Making the necessary calls costs nothing (they can be the inclusive ones you get at weekends) and, if you've nobody to phone, call 020 7043 1320 (a geographical number for the Speaking Clock) a few times each weekend.

oops...maths never my strong point