Is BT OPtion 2 any good ?

ahll

Hi,
I am after some help. I am currently on BT Option 2 and route most of my calls through 1899. I can now see that 1899 have put up connection charge to 5p. My last 1899 bill was about £8.

I was wondering if it made more sence to change to the BT Option 2 as they have just sent me a letter with a special offer of £10.75 for rental and £3.95 for free weekend and evening calls.

Especially if BT are now going to be charging me for CIP..number id because I am putting calls though 1899 not them.

Can anyone who understand all the option around please give me some advice

Thanks

GaryS

I use BT Option 3 and I am happy with the service and level of bills received.

Inclusive calls 24 hours a day to geographical numbers.

The inclusive text messages (200 on option 3, I think it is 100 on option 2) is good, you can text the kids to come home for tea rather than ring them, therefore saving on mobile calls.

You will obviously need a text compatible phone to use this facility.

jaxxy00

Sorry no answers from me, but would just like to say im in exactly the same position as you. Im with BT but use 18866 and noticed my monthly charges going up so when the Bt bill comes in im getting more interested in their offers. I also use Talk Talk too for the free evening and weekend calls so bit more confusing

I watch with interest.

Heinz

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1598074&postcount=4

ahll

Thanks Heinz I was looking at you suggestions. I have not heard of Primius.
I am abit confused about how Primius Saver Option 2 works. You say there is no monthly free and calls are free Eve and wknds.

It says there is no access number so how does it work ?

I assume you have to pay if you use it at all other times ?

Sign up for Primus Saver Option 2 as your CPSФ provider. Be very specific about the name of the package - it's not widely advertised and so is not often asked for. Even though there's no monthly subscription charge, that gives you free (up to 90 minutes) evening (6pm to 8am Monday to Friday) and weekend (effectively, 6pm Friday to 8am Monday) calls to UK 01 & 02 numbers. Phone§ 0800 036 0094.

Heinz

ahll wrote:

I am abit confused about how Primus Saver Option 2 works. You say there is no monthly free and calls are free Eve and wknds.

It says there is no access number so how does it work ?

I assume you have to pay if you use it at all other times ?

Primus Saver Option 2 is a CPS (Carrier PreSelect) provider.

That means that, although you keep your BT landline, pay 'line rental' to BT (BT's Unlimited Weekend Plan is the minimum) and your incoming calls still arrive on BT (so Caller Display, 1471* and 1571* work normally), you will have opted to have the BT exchange programmed so that, by default, (nearly) all your outgoing calls are sent via the CPS provider (and BT don't even 'see' the calls even though they carry the first leg).

The 'default' part of that sentence is the key to CPS. It means that, if you want, you can use a prefix to send an individual call via another provider (i.e. override the CPS programming for a single call). For example, using just a 1280 prefix will send that call out via BT, using just a 18185 prefix (not 128018185) will send that call out via www.18185.co.uk and so on.

In other words, CPS allows you still to pick the best carrier for your calls even though you've opted, normally, to use one provider (in this case, Primus Saver because of the free evening and weekend UK 01/02/03 calls of up to 90 minutes each).

If you don't have to make many weekday daytime UK 01/02/03 calls (and the few that you do make are made for 5p each - regardless of duration - using 18185), it reduces your call costs to almost nothing.

* Don't dial 3 after checking who called on 1471 or dial 0 after checking a 1571 message (even though that nice BT lady's voice invites you to do so and it seems like the easy way to return the call). If your do, BT will charge you 17p regardless of whether the call is connected or not. Additionally, you'll have to pay BT prices for the call because such 'returned calls' do not route via your CPS provider but are sent via BT.

ahll

Heinz Thanks for explainging all that very informative.

Sounds good but is it easy/quick to opt out of Primus and does it cost anything ?
How long does it take to get it up and running ?

What calls would u recommend routing though BT if any ?

Looked on uswitch but couldnt see Primus 2 Primus 1 came up !

BexTech

ahll wrote:

Heinz Thanks for explainging all that very informative.

Sounds good but is it easy/quick to opt out of Primus and does it cost anything ?
How long does it take to get it up and running ?

What calls would u recommend routing though BT if any ?

Looked on uswitch but couldnt see Primus 2 Primus 1 came up !

Costs nothing to sign up to Primus Saver Option 2 (http://www.planet-talk.co.uk/SaverProducts.aspx?source=saver) , costs nothing to no longer be with them, though I don't see a reason to move away from them whilst they are still offering evening and weekends for free. Then it's simply a case of telling BT you want your calls back with them or go with another CPS provider.

Takes around 10 or so days for BT to flick the switch.

Primus peak rate doesn't start until 08:00 unlike BT, TalkTalk etc who start at 06:00, so you get 2 more hours each weekday of cheaper / free calls.

All the details you require are on the link Heinz provided you.

Heinz

ahll wrote:

Looked on uswitch but couldnt see Primus 2 Primus 1 came up!

Although, a few weeks ago it was, Primus Saver Option 2 is not currently one of the Primus packages which comes up if you go via Uswitch.

Instead, they are offering a package similar to the fee-free Primus Saver Option 2 (Primus Talk 1 @ £1.49/month with £5 quarterly rebate) and a package similar to the £8.49/month Primus Saver Option 3 (Primus Talk 2 @ £7.99/month with a £10 quarterly rebate). Frankly, I don't see the point.

JohalaReewi

Heinz wrote:

.... Additionally, you'll have to pay BT prices for the call because such 'returned calls' do not route via your CPS provider but are sent via BT.

Are you sure? somebody in my house regularly does 1471 3 to call back and none of the calls appear on the BT bill (just the 7.5p call back charge).

BexTech

I think now it's only the call back charge that BT bill you for.

However I have never seen the point of paying to be lazy like this.

In fact it's just as easy to press a button on the phone to see the last few numbers who called and then press to call that number, thus meaning you don't need 1471 and you don't need to pay BT for something you can do for free.

However if you place some of your calls via 18185 then 1471 - 3 will not get routed via them and will either go via BT or your CPS provider.