MSE News: BT hikes costs but cuts up-front package charges

Premier_2

JustPassingBy wrote: »

If you mean this Plan

http://www.bt.com/pricing/current/Cust_Opts_Res_boo/FrameworkImpl187865.htm#FrameworkImpl187865

I wouldn't think so. Only the Unlimited Anytime and Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plans are eligible for the Line Rental Saver.

I don't quite understand what you are getting at. All 0p per minute calls within a Calling Plan are chargeable calls.

I'm not sure if that helps or confuses me more!

Whats the difference between the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan I have as per the link ( I think) and the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan that I could have on the Rental Saver deal?
(or is it simply that I don't currently pay any extra, or rather I get a credit equal to the extra it costs to upgrade from the Weekend only plan to the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan?)

Regarding the chargeable/inclusive calls, yes I am aware that at present the rules allow my as a Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan to make a chargeable or inclusive call as part of the requirements but I understood the weekend only plan needed to be chargeable (not inclusive) and that's one of the reasons I upgraded for free.
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25499#tab2

If they can change the requirements from one plan to another, who knows what the latest offer entails? (apart from uliltybroker who I see has kindly clarified the matter )



Edit: whoops looks like the link no longer works ... but it did use to say only chargeable when it was available. See here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1430001

Edit 2: Yes I see the calling plan I'm on is the one "at no extra cost" That's the important difference.

Premier_2

Now I'm really confused.

Can I upgrade to the Unlimited Anytime Plan in combination with the Rental saver deal all for just £113.88 for 12 months in advance, equivalent to £9.49 a month.

If so, that seems a cracking deal. Doesn't it...?

Albeit will probably raise to £131.88 (£10.99 per month equivilent) in later years, but that's still cheaper than the lower level calling plan I currently have?

Why would anyone stay on a lower callin plan with Rental Saver?

( I also have free caller display which I would hope to keep for free, as I'll be making at least 2 chargeable or rather inclusive calls per month)


Edit: Or are they saying the line rental only is covered by the charge, you then have to pay the upgrade fee to the relevent calling plan you desire, you lose the paper-free billing discount ...(and perhaps more)

In which case, I'll probably stick with what I've got even if it does cost me an extra 50p per month compared with today.

Edit 2: Think I've sussed it. Looks like I'll be sticking with my "at no extra cost" calling plan, (apart from the fact it's now going to cost me 50p per month more)

Premier_2

JustPassingBy wrote: »

Isn't it worse than this? As an existing customer you would also lose the £15 per year paper-free billing discount.

That's allowed for in the lower price Rental Saver deal.

Existing customers will still get the paper free billing discount if they don't change anything (although I suspect you may be right in that once a customer loses that discount, they'll never get it back even if they later come off the Rental Saver deal)

After 29th October, the overall saving with Rental Saver will be a paltry £12.60 per year (prior to that it'll be £30.60) compared to what current customers pay

... but for those on Unlimited Weekend & Evening plans at no extra cost, it isn't worth paying upfront- it'll cost an extra £35.88 per year (£2.99 per month). That's more than you'll save even before 29th October.

JustPassingBy

Premier wrote: »

Whats the difference between the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan I have as per the link ( I think) and the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan that I could have on the Rental Saver deal?

£2.99 and a contract. The Line Rental Saver gives BT the contract; they also want the £2.99.

(or is it simply that I don't currently pay any extra, or rather I get a credit equal to the extra it costs to upgrade from the Weekend only plan to the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan?)

Yes. But take note: you are not on the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan.

Regarding the chargeable/inclusive calls, yes I am aware that at present the rules allow my as a Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan to make a chargeable or inclusive call as part of the requirements but I understood the weekend only plan needed to be chargeable (not inclusive) and that's one of the reasons I upgraded for free.
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25499#tab2

"Inclusive" does not mean what you think it means. And to confuse you further: it is impossible to make an inclusive call on the Unlimited Weekend Plan.

JustPassingBy

Premier wrote: »

Can I upgrade to the Unlimited Anytime Plan in combination with the Rental saver deal all for just £113.88 for 12 months in advance, equivalent to £9.49 a month.

No. It will cost you £2.99

If so, that seems a cracking deal. Doesn't it...?

If you could, it would be.

( I also have free caller display which I would hope to keep for free, as I'll be making at least 2 chargeable or rather inclusive calls per month)

No, it's more likely you make 2 chargeable calls. I bet you do not make any inclusive calls.

Edit: Or are they saying the line rental only is covered by the charge, you then have to pay the upgrade fee to the relevent calling plan you desire, you lose the paper-free billing discount ...(and perhaps more)

Yes, that's it.

Edit 2: Think I've sussed it. Looks like I'll be sticking with my "at no extra cost" calling plan, (apart from the fact it's now going to cost me 50p per month more)

Very wise.

JustPassingBy

Premier wrote: »

That's allowed for in the lower price Rental Saver deal.

I thought I was ok with sums. Apparently not. Thanks for putting me right.

... but for those on Unlimited Weekend & Evening plans at no extra cost, it isn't worth paying upfront- it'll cost an extra £35.88 per year (£2.99 per month). That's more than you'll save even before 29th October.

That sums it up for me too.

sheppertonsound_2

I note that, although there is an apparent saving for signing up to BT's Annual Line Rental Saver (LRS), not only is one losing out on the (admittedly pretty small) interest on 9 months-worth, but, if one already takes advantage of the Paper Free Discount (4x£3.75 = £15/annum), this is LOST when one signs up for LRS.

Thus, for such subscribers, the overall saving would seem to be fairly marginal.

hgm

The £24 discount quoted for the Line Rental Saver is off the current paper free price. You are not losing £15 as well. So with the 50p increase it is £30 saving on the year (plus avoiding the VAT increase from January until end of the one year contract).
It really doesn't say anything about what will happen to a paper free discount at the end of the year. I can't see it vanishing as everyone would just ask for their paper bills again.

Premier_2

JustPassingBy wrote: »

..."Inclusive" does not mean what you think it means. And to confuse you further: it is impossible to make an inclusive call on the Unlimited Weekend Plan.

What does inclusive mean?

I thought it related to a call that would normally be charged, except for the fact it is included free as part of the calling plan.

It was those type of calls that I used to make when I was on the weekend only plan, but because that wasn't deemed 'chargeable', I was charged anyway for weekend calls.
If I made one call per month outside the weekend that I would be charged for (what I consider is a chargeable call), then the weekend calls were free as they were inclusive (by my definition)

That's why I upgraded where it's now chargeable or inclusive calls, so I make free inclusive (by my definition) calls so I don't pay any extra other than the basic monthly fee.
Saves me the cost of 1 call per month, and I get free eveing calls too.

Premier_2

JustPassingBy wrote: »

No. It will cost you £2.99

.

Actually £4.99 p.m. for the Unlimited Anytime plan - £2.99 for the lower Weekend & Evening plan