BT - minimum charge?????

jay_bee2007

:mad: I have been working away and out of my flat for 4 months, but continued to pay all my bills by direct debit etc. I cannot BELIEVE that all of a sudden my quarterly bill as come through with 'one off charges' added. (See below)

One-off charges
Minimum calls fee
BT Answer 1571W16 Jan 11 £ 3.00
The minimum calls have not been made. To avoid future charges, make 6 chargeable or inclusive calls per quarter or more with BT

BT Caller DisplayW16 Jan 11 £ 8.10
The minimum calls have not been made. To avoid future charges, make 6 chargeable or inclusive calls per quarter or more with BT
Total one-off charges = £ 11.10

I haven't been there to MAKE calls! And the only reason I have ever really had BT was to get broadband because we can't get cable in our area.

Has anyone else had this problem? Seems a bit unreasonable to me (and obviously I don't remember reading this in the small print when I took out the BT contract 7 years ago). :mad:

lpgm

Yes, it's right.

If you're away again for that length of time, you'll need to get someone to pop in and make six calls for you, one after the other. A bit of a pain.

mjm3346

jay_bee2007 wrote: »

I haven't been there to MAKE calls! And the only reason I have ever really had BT was to get broadband because we can't get cable in our area.

If you are not there just get rid of the caller display and 1571 then you do not have to make any calls.

lpgm

mjm3346 wrote: »

If you are not there just get rid of the caller display and 1571 then you do not have to make any calls.

Ah yes, that might be easier!

But also bear in mind that if you sign up for the Line Rental Saver option, this also comes with the 6/quarter rule.

Heinz

lpgm wrote: »

Yes, it's right.

If you're away again for that length of time, you'll need to get someone to pop in and make six calls for you, one after the other. A bit of a pain.

True, a bit of a pain but a few minutes' work at most.

It involves making two 10 second calls one weekend each month (so they're 'free') to one of the below geographical numbers for the Speaking Clock:

020 7043 1320 or
01798 808111 or
0131 550 0892 or
01923 287748 or
024 7629 5000

N.B. The clocks to which you get connected via these numbers frequently aren't accurate, but that doesn't matter when used for this purpose.

TighterThanTwoCoatsOfPain

As already advised.... dont mess about getting someone to go in and make calls.. jsut cancel the damn things! Easily re-activated online but I suspect you wouldnt bother! If your landline is "only for Broadband" - as is mine - then surely you never use those features anyway :-)

jay_bee2007

Thanks for your suggestions. I've removed the services and am on a mission to have my £11.10 refunded as I was never told about a minimum use charge. Wish me luck!

jay_bee2007

Whoopeee! Maybe BT aren't so bad, aren't all. :beer:

brewerdave

jay_bee2007 wrote: »

Whoopeee! Maybe BT aren't so bad, aren't all. :beer:

You mean someone in Mumbai "told you that you would receive a credit"??
Flying and pink pigs come to mind:rotfl: