MSE News: BT prices to rise this Saturday

BargainMad_3

Hi SquareMeal

It is the calls package of the landline that the contract has auto renewed - for free evening and weekend calls. The new contract is for 12 months with a penalty equal to the months remaining at what the package would cost so I would incur a 12 month penalty


It renewed a few days ago just before these rises come into effect. So the spur to move supplier is restrained by them holding onto me with this darn penalty.

Auto Renewals of contracts are banned from 1st January 2012 so BT are obviously delighted that for several months they can still continue with this practice even though they have been deemed unfair. Typical !

Looks like line rental in advance might be my only option - £120 upfront but at least a saving of £50 over the year. Then in December 2012 I am moving from BT FOREVER !!!

hermante

Looks like paper bills for me from now!

derrick

SquareMeal wrote: »

Regarding this "line rental saver", it sounds like an easy way for us BT chumps to save £13.80 per quarter. (£14.60*3 - 120/4). And no brainer as you can move to it mid contract. I wonder how much they give you back if, having paid the £120, you decide to switch suppliers.

Nothing, it is "non-refundable".

BT , click on "the legal stuff";-

"Line Rental Saver. Available to BT Calling Plan customers paying £120 for 12 months in advance by debit/credit card – equivalent to £10 a month. Any additional charges to be paid by Direct Debit with e-billing. At least two BT calls must be made per month or six BT calls per quarter to avoid a monthly charge of £1.50 or a quarterly charge of £4.50 being added to your bill. If you cancel Line Rental Saver within seven working days of your order you will get a full refund of your advance payment to the debit or credit card you paid with. Otherwise the advance payment is non-refundable. Exclusions and conditions apply."

.

Pincher

I find the combination of Line Rental Saver, Anytime and Friends and Family Mobile (7p per minute) is very good. Mainly because 0845 and 0870 are included in Anytime.

I just don't know what is happening with these extra numbers like 0844. Are they overspills because 0845 is all used up, or is it 0845 is free to Anytime customers, so they create another code that isn't free?

HappyMJ

0844 is a premium number it could cost anything to call.

PeteM1967

I_luv_cats wrote: »

good day BargainMad

Initially I spoke to somebody in Billing Dept who said the only option was Line Saver. (12 month upfront) I said I am leaving as too dear and got put through to customer options who offered the £3 off deal for a 12 mth contract.

So am 85p up in the end!!!

I think the £3 discount is available to anyone that threatens to leave and is willing to be tied in for 12 months. I was given it back in August when my free Unlimited Evening & weekend 12 month deal came up for renewal. As I have BB with Sky moving the voice and line rental to them would have saved a lot of money so I threatened BT with that and instantly got the £3 discount in return for renewing.

In conjunction with the paper free discount and inclusive 0845 calls it made BT a little more competative.

Incidentally I wasn't really intending to move the voice side to Sky as that would involve going full LLU which might cause problems in the future if I ever wanted to change supplier - but BT didn't know this.

Now the loss of paper free discount and associated line rental increase is making me think again. Wondering if anyone has managed to get a bigger phone only discount out of BT?

mat5664

I have the 3 pounds a month off offer.

I see if you want to do the rental saver deal, you have to start a new 12 month deal and therefore lose the £3 a month off.

I presume paying the 12 months up front and losing the £3 a month is the cheaper option given the price rise?

Woodyrocks

Once again MSE saves the day and pocket I have been wanting to exit my BT contract for a few weeks after realising I was paying on average of £45 a month for my package option 3 including b/band. I literally make about 12 calls a month if that on my landline and stay on the phone no longer than 3minutes as I have my mobile. I also paid my line rental im advance so I couldn't fathom out why it was so costly. Anyhoo, decided to go with TalkTalk but BT told me I was in contract until May and would have to pay a sum to buy myself out. Thought I was stuck until I saw the post about the price hike. Gave them a call and was released by the end of the call. Happy days!

darkeyes_2

mat5664 wrote: »

I have the 3 pounds a month off offer.

I see if you want to do the rental saver deal, you have to start a new 12 month deal and therefore lose the £3 a month off.

I presume paying the 12 months up front and losing the £3 a month is the cheaper option given the price rise?

I just moved to Plusnet. £13/month, but only £113.88 if using Line Rental Saver (=£9.49/month). You need to take their 'Value' broadband (ie not very high bandwidth, at only 10GB/month) as well, but at £6.49 and half-price for nine months, why wouldn't you? In any case, I can download as much as I like overnight.

Also by the way, a tip for heavy users. Go for their 'Extra' (60GB/month), and you'll pay £11.49/month, but take the half-price 'Value' (10GB), and then upgrade to 'Extra' in time for month 2, and you'll still keep the £3.25 discount for the remaining 11 months, without an penalty for altering your package! I think £8.24 for 60GB/month is about the best deal out there currently (correct if I'm wrong, please).

MiserlyMartin

The calls are now very expensive and especially when you include the connection fee. At this rate it will soon be cheaper to use your mobile if it isn't already, then people will ditch the landline completely if it weren't for the fact you need one for decent broadband!