BT charge to use 1471 callback

Curry_Queen

I'm not sure how many people are aware of this, and I certainly wasn't until this evening, but BT charge you for using the call return service 1471-3 even if your calls are charged to a different telecom provider.

My calls are charged to TalkTalk so I was rather surprised to see call charges appearing on my BT bill too I queried this by email and have just received a phone call from BT customer services who inform me the charges relate to using 1471-3 call back and are charged at 5.1p per call plus VAT, regardless of whether the call actually goes through or who provides your call service :eek:

So BEWARE the next time you use 1471 and if you need to call that person back then hang up and dial their number in manually.

fairenoughclough

It was in the BT update that comes with the bill about three months ago, in quite smallprint without any attention being drawn to it.

sergeant121

fairenoughclough wrote:

It was in the BT update that comes with the bill about three months ago, in quite smallprint without any attention being drawn to it.

But Martin did draw it to our attention on 22 July 2004 when it was announced.

There's also a thread on the subject in the old forum (closed but still viewable).

Curry_Queen

I've only been around this forum a few days and did have a quick look to see if it had been mentioned previously in this section but couldn't find anything. Sorry if I'm repeating stuff that has already been covered.

I don't get paper bills from BT so never received any information about these charges, hence it being such a shock to find the charges on my bill last month. It's a very underhand way of making money and I told them so!

raeble

Heh! I remember when these charges came out. BT didn't announce it with as much fan fare as there other charge rises and cuts. Some guy from one of the news programs asked them why not off camera and they said basically customers didn't care. Sad but true. They don't, if they did they would check before they used it. I know and I've used it. Not really very moneysaving of me.

Edinburghlass_2

In fact now, if you listen on to the message after they give you the number and tell you to dial 3 another voice tells you that "there is normally a charge for this service".

JohnCC_2

Our cheapie DECT phones have caller ID which is great Firstly you can avoid talking to people you don't want to talk to right now, and you can also achieve the same thing as 1471-3 with 2 button pushes for nowt.

IIRC caller ID is free but you have to ask BT to enable it.

Edinburghlass_2

JohnCC wrote:

Our cheapie DECT phones have caller ID which is great Firstly you can avoid talking to people you don't want to talk to right now, and you can also achieve the same thing as 1471-3 with 2 button pushes for nowt.

IIRC caller ID is free but you have to ask BT to enable it.

If Caller ID is free then that is new as I always understood there was a monthly charge for this service?

sergeant121

edinburghlass wrote:

If Caller ID is free then that is new as I always understood there was a monthly charge for this service?

It's one of BT's 'Calling Features' and, alone, would cost £1.75 per month.

How much will it cost me?
Caller Display costs £1.75 (incl. VAT) per month and is also available as part of a Calling Features Pack.

g33za

Also if you pay bills on receipt then be aware of the last date otherwise they now fine your £5!!

Curry_Queen

g33za wrote:

Also if you pay bills on receipt then be aware of the last date otherwise they now fine your £5!!

I hope not as I've just paid my bill today but noticed it asked for it to be paid by 28th Jan. However, I didn't even receive an email to tell me my bill had been issued (e-bill) and was ready for viewing/paying :mad:

It looks like BT are out to make money any way they can, as well as being very underhand about it, since all these other companies started undercutting their phone charges :mad: