BT charges

Mytheroo

I presume from all this that as a non-DD quarterly online-banking customer, I should be charged £1.50 for processing my payment and not the £4.50 stated?

merit_mark_2

I'm a Primus Saver 2 user (free evening and weekend calls) and have just had my BT Option 1 bill. Without warning, BT are now charging for all the previously free services including 1571 (£1 per month), 1471 (6p per use) and 'privacy'/caller display (£1.75 per month). Have e-mailed to ask for refund.

Yes you can avoid this by putting two calls per month through BT by prefixing 1280 - but I'd never always remember to do this. So have just ditched all the above 'free' services .... this is quite hard to do online (BT website is set up to sign you up for things rather than enable you to opt out - crafty B's). Easiest to ring 0800-077-771 for direct connection to BT's messaging services folk who can take 1571 and caller display off for you - after all, for most, these are non-essential 'services' ... and taking 1571 off will save your callers money too!.

Apologies if this has all been discussed to death before - but I didn't know before I got my bill - and given the devious nature of BT (I have 20 years experience of their shinannigins) it does no harm to continue to keep everyone alert to their doings!

Surely it must be illegal for BT to continue to promote these as 'free' services without making the change in the terms crystal clear and bringing it to customers' attention - but then they always have sailed close to the wind when it comes to ethics and customer care!.

Heinz

Mytheroo wrote: »

I presume from all this that as a non-DD quarterly online-banking customer, I should be charged £1.50 for processing my payment and not the £4.50 stated?

For those billed quarterly, it's £4.50 (i.e. equivalent to £1.50/month).

Heinz

merit_mark wrote: »

I'm a Primus Saver 2 user (free evening and weekend calls) and have just had my BT Option 1 bill. Without warning, BT are now charging for all the previously free services including 1571 (£1 per month), 1471 (6p per use) and 'privacy'/caller display (£1.75 per month). Have e-mailed to ask for refund.

Yes you can avoid this by putting two calls per month through BT by prefixing 1280 - but I'd never always remember to do this.

Yes, it has been discussed at length - but it won't hurt!

My way of avoiding the charge (not that I use 1571 - see the bold DUMP 1571 link in my signature below) is:

BT will charge you £1.75/month (£5.25/quarter) for Caller Display if you don't make 2 chargeable calls per month (if you're billed monthly) or 6 chargeable calls per quarter (if you're billed quarterly).

Similarly, BT will charge you £1/month (£3/quarter) for 1571 if you don't make 2 chargeable calls per month (if you're billed monthly) or 6 chargeable calls per quarter (if you're billed quarterly).

So, that's either 2 x 4½p calls or 6 x 4½p calls with the 1280 prefix if you make sure those calls are evening or weekend calls of less than an hour to UK 01/02 numbers. These can be the same 2 (or 6) calls.

In summary, the cost to keep both (not each) is 27p per quarter. But PLEASE don't use 1571.

My workaround is to have the number of my local Indian takeaway (which doesn't open until 6pm) programmed into one of my DECT phones with a 1280 prefix. I easily pass the 6 calls per quarter threshold!

Be aware though that dialling 3 after 1471 will still incur a charge (7½p incl. VAT) - I don't think you can cancel that.

sargentusuk

for the direct debit charge

i'm having a appointment for a free 30 mins with a soliciter on wednesday to discuss possible claiming my money back through the legal system.

under law these charges are legal under a 1991 law

but under the main laws of the land they could be unlawful

i'm going to fight that these charges are in breach of section 12 of The Bill Of Rights Act 1689 and Section 29 of Magna Carta 1297

these laws both over-ride new laws so the 1991 act, that says it's legal, has to be over-ridden

BexTech

merit_mark wrote: »

Surely it must be illegal for BT to continue to promote these as 'free' services without making the change in the terms crystal clear and bringing it to customers' attention - but then they always have sailed close to the wind when it comes to ethics and customer care!.

BT do make it clear you have to place 2 calls through them for them to be free and even tell you the 1280 BT code to do so.

They also informed people way way back when it came in too.

jhp

BT could not be clearer about charging for caller display.I quote

" BT Privacy helps stop unwanted sales calls by registering you with the Telephone Preference Service and giving you BT Caller Display at no extra charge. From 1st October 2006, customers who do not make some chargeable calls with BT will be charged for BT Caller Display. Customers with other call providers can still benefit from BT Call er Display at no extra cost if the following calls are made. Customers who are billed monthly must make at least two chargeable calls with BT in that month, other wise BT reserves the right to charge £1.75 a month for BT Caller Display. Customers who are billed every three months must make at least six chargeable calls within those three months, otherwise BT reserves the right to charge £5.25 a quarter.
If you do not currently make calls with BT and would like to start making your calls with us again, please call 0800 121 8088. Alternatively, if you would like to make one-off calls that are chargeable to your BT bill then simply dial the numbers 1280 before you dial the phone number you wish to call."

Mytheroo

Heinz wrote: »

For those billed quarterly, it's £4.50 (i.e. equivalent to £1.50/month).

I was talking about the payment processing fee. Not a charge per month for something (I know what it says and what you mean also :-)

Why does it cost less to process Mr A's monthly payment as to process Mr B's quarterly payment?

The only real answer is that it isn't a payment processing fee.

Heinz

Mytheroo wrote: »

I was talking about the payment processing fee. Not a charge per month for something (I know what it says and what you mean also :-)

Why does it cost less to process Mr A's monthly payment as to process Mr B's quarterly payment?

The only real answer is that it isn't a payment processing fee.

AFAIAA, the charge is £4.50 if you're billed monthly and £4.50 if you're billed quarterly.

i.e. £4.50 per bill not paid by Direct Debit.

BritBrat

AFAIAA, the charge is £4.50 if you're billed monthly and £4.50 if you're billed quarterly.

i.e. £4.50 per bill not paid by Direct Debit.

We have been here before a few times.

Wether it is monthly or quartely it is only one process, so why does it cost more per quater than it does for monthly.

It's because it is not a fair charge for processing the bill, it is in fact a hidden charge for using the system. (stealth tax)

The only real answer is that it isn't a payment processing fee.

I agree and have proved it every month since May, I pay by online banking and get no charge.

Why do I get no charge? because I registered for direct debit but pay before it's due.