BT packages - help please.

fitzroy

I've moved to an area which is BT only (i.e. it's not unbundled) and don't need broadband. I've looked at current BT phone offers both online and spoken to them on the phone.

For the Anytime package it seems my choice is this:

18 mths contract; pay discounted connection fee of £30; £13.90 rental; £4.70 p/m calls (make minimum of 10 calls per month).

or,

12 mths contract; pay £130 connection fee; £120 12 mth rental in advance; £4.70 p/m calls (no minimum calls required).

If my figures are right, the 1st option works out, over 12 months, at £21.11 p/m; the 2nd option over 12 months is £25.55 p/m.

It looks like a "no brainer" when cost is worked out this way but is there a catch with this £30 discount?

HappyMJ

Unbundled is good..It means you go go with any provider using BT Wholesale. Post Office, Tesco, TalkTalk, Sky...... Any of them and more. Do you already have a BT line in the property? If so, then there is no need to pay the installation fee unless you are the first occupier of a brand new property.

Anyway, in answer to your question the catch is you must use BT for calls. Don't connect another supplier for the calls. If you want to make cheap calls then use 18185 or similar override providers. Avoid Sky Talk from automatically bundling itself if you get Sky TV.

Heinz

It used to be the case that you could take BT line rental (with its inescapable minimum Unlimited Weekend calls plan) and immediately opt for a CPS (Carrier PreSelect) calls provider whilst still being able to use a prefix (1280) to 'hop back onto BT' to make whatever calls you wanted (e.g. the mandatory 10 calls per month by using your inclusive calls at weekends allowance).

Many on here are still in that fortunate position (being on a legacy tariff like Penny Mobile 2 with Primus for example) but trying to find providers who will allow CPS for new customers now is next to impossible (Primus most certainly don't).

That probably means seriously considering BT's £4.70/month Unlimited Anytime Plan (which is really good value now that it includes 0845 and 0870 calls too) but opening a www.18185.co.uk account online for use where necessary (e.g. calls to mobiles or overseas).

fitzroy

Sorry folks, have edited my post - what I meant to say was I've moved to an area that's not unbundled! Hope the rest of it now makes sense. So, am still not sure which of the two options makes the better deal in the long-term.

DVardysShadow

fitzroy wrote: »

Sorry folks, have edited my post - what I meant to say was I've moved to an area that's not unbundled! Hope the rest of it now makes sense. So, am still not sure which of the two options makes the better deal in the long-term.

You do of course have the choice of Post Office telephone service, which has far more satisfactory customer service

HappyMJ

fitzroy wrote: »

Sorry folks, have edited my post - what I meant to say was I've moved to an area that's not unbundled! Hope the rest of it now makes sense. So, am still not sure which of the two options makes the better deal in the long-term.

Long-term...Option 2 over 18 months the monthly cost is £21.60 per month. If at 12 months you recontract for another 12 months assuming it is still £120 then the 24 month price would be £20 per month. Are you sure you have to pay the £130 connection charge? Very few people do.

jhp

Another thing to consider when you sign-up for a BT 12-month anytime calls contract it gives the first three months free making it £3.53/month over the 12 months.

fitzroy

HappyMJ wrote: »

Long-term...Option 2 over 18 months the monthly cost is £21.60 per month. If at 12 months you recontract for another 12 months assuming it is still £120 then the 24 month price would be £20 per month. Are you sure you have to pay the £130 connection charge? Very few people do.

Even though there is line in the property used by the previous occupant, I was told today by BT that the engineer's visit would be £130 if I went for the 12 month rental in advance.

jhp

fitzroy wrote: »

Even though there is line in the property used by the previous occupant, I was told today by BT that the engineer's visit would be £130 if I went for the 12 month rental in advance.

Have you plugged a phone in is there still a dial tone ?

fitzroy

jhp wrote: »

Another thing to consider when you sign-up for a BT 12-month anytime calls contract it gives the first three months free making it £3.53/month over the 12 months.

But BT told me today that I can only have one "offer"; either first three months free or £120 line rental in advance - not both.

fitzroy

jhp wrote: »

Have you plugged a phone in is there still a dial tone ?

The property has been vacant for 2 months and there's no dial tone.