BT Price Increases and changes in T&C . (From 1/5/2007).merged

shalimkhan

Some interesting thoughts here.

I have always been against DD for non-fixed amounts because we are authorising them in advance, to take an unspecified amount of money.

Also, apologies for duplicating a topic that was started in another thread.

karmapolice_2

The big problem I have with direct debits is that when you set them up you can't choose the day of the month you want them to go out, so if you're on a basic bank account and it's set up at an awkward time of the month then there's a higher chance of it not being paid (and you get charged further for it!) My parents had terrible problems with this with Wanadoo/Orange internet who ONLY deal in direct debit, and when the Carphone Warehouse took over Tele2, and bill payments were (forcibly) changed from bank giro credit to a ridiculous choice of cheque in the post or direct debit. Nowadays I deal with my house's TV/Phone/Internet (now all Virgin Media) and it's much easier as I have a student bank account with an interest-free overdraft, but obviously not everyone has facilities like these.

Surely it should be a routine option on direct debit forms as to what day of the month payments should go out?

billsavings

BritBrat wrote: »

Yea I think I got it now, I pay using online banking and I cant see why I have to pay more than DD customers so in the future I am going to pay through the post office so at least BT get a little less profit.

If you have virtually free caller display with BT it hardly be worth it as Post Office charge £10.95p a month for Non d/d line rental plus at least £1.50p a month for caller display.= £12.45p against BT,s £12.50p.Plus BT allow you to use the likes of 1899/18185 where as PO can bar them.

billsavings

Already a thread here : http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=397339

and here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=342453

iceicebaby

I pay £15 a month to BT anyway to cover line rental and calls so I dont get charged te fee for dd. I prefer to pay in monthly as I know where i am and dont get a big bill I have to pay all at once

suffolkb

Just received this offer from BT. If I change to option 2 (from op 1), it`s the same price of £10.75pm, but I will get free UK Evening and weekend calls and 100 inclusive landline texts (not sure what they are yet). Cost goes up to £14.75 after a year and you must sign up for 18 months.
This seems like a good idea and use 18866 for calls during the daytime.
Add £1.25 if not paying by DD.

BritBrat

Thats not what I meant, I meant I will pay through the post off counter for my monthy BT bill.

I pay using online banking at the moment and would think paying through the post office every month is going to cost BT far more than if I continue to use online banking.

Your already be paying £1 an extra month for paying by non- dd. Bt have increased it by 50p a month from 1/5/2007

Thats true but only because DD customers get a reduction, it is my choice not to have it. But if they change this to having to pay for not using DD then that is a different matter, which is what I think they are doing.

Once it is set up and running you can be sure the cost will rise in the future.

utilitybroker

suffolkb wrote: »

Just received this offer from BT. If I change to option 2 (from op 1), it`s the same price of £10.75pm, but I will get free UK Evening and weekend calls and 100 inclusive landline texts (not sure what they are yet). Cost goes up to £14.75 after a year and you must sign up for 18 months.
This seems like a good idea and use 18866 for calls during the daytime.
Add £1.25 if not paying by DD.

Dont fool for that offer.;)

Leave your line rental with BT and switch to Primus Saver 2 for completely FREE evening and weekend calls. (No 18 month contract)

http://www.planet-talk.co.uk/SaverProducts.aspx?source=saver

and use 18866 sister company https://www.18185.co.uk who offer cheaper overall calls.EG Peak Mobile 6p a minute.

sgue9

BT is only just in the process of introducing this charge whereas Telewest (now Virgin) have had this charge going on for years.

I refuse to pay by DD and charging me to pay by DD is outrageous.

I prefer to pay my bill through PayPoint. This is all done electronically and there is no administration involved.

As with bank charges and credit card charges I think this is unlawful.

Although I have the option of an alternate way to pay my bill rather than the way that Virgin Media would like, I am being penalised for having this alternate option.

Is it not time that all customers now started to reclaim any non DD fee they have been charge over the last 6 years???

While I am on the subject....... Is the £10 late payment charge legal??? Can Virgin Media justify charging £10 for a late payment???

It is high time that these companies were challenged and not enough people can be bothered.

I want to claim all of mine back and I would like some feedback and some backup on these matters please.

billsavings

BritBrat wrote: »

Thats not what I meant, I meant I will pay through the post off counter for my monthy BT bill.

I pay using online banking at the moment and would think paying through the post office every month is going to cost BT far more than if I continue to use online banking.



Thats true but only because DD customers get a reduction, it is my choice not to have it. But if they change this to having to pay for not using DD then that is a different matter, which is what I think they are doing.

Once it is set up and running you can be sure the cost will rise in the future.

Sorry i got wrong end of stick.Heinz sums the situation better in another thread.I quote

"BT used to say their line rental was £12/month but you could get £1/month discount if you paid by DD - reducing the price to £11/month.

However, at the same time as increasing their line rental by 50p/month - about 4% (to £12.50/month), some BT bright spark decided to reverse the way the figures were presented so that, instead of saying monthly line rental was now £12.50/month but you could get £1.50/month discount if you paid by DD, they said the standard line rental was £11/month but that you had to pay £1.50/month extra (£12.50/month) if you didn't pay by DD."