BT's latest unnanounced charges?

P.Pilcher

I have just downloaded my latest BT bill to discover that my line rental charge has had a payment charge of £4.46 additionally imposed. Now I do not use BT to bill me for calls, but First Telecom, with whom I have no complaint. On telephoning BT's Indian call centre and after waiting for the usual age (thank heavens for "on hook" dialing), the dusky lady at the other end asumed that the charge was due to me not paying by direct debit. I advised her that I had been doing so for the last 10 years! She enquired further and stated that it was because I had made no calls on the line which BT had been able to bill me for. To avoid the charge in furture, I was advised, I need to make at least two calls which BT charge me for in the quarterly billing period and then I will avoid the charge. Coo!
I advised the lady that I had not been notified either in writing or by e-mail of the imposition of this additional charge before it was made. She went away again, thought about it some more and decided to refund the charge, however I was advised that the charge would be imposed in the future. Ha!
I replace the receiver, telephoned First Telecom who answered immediately and I asked them to do as advertised and take over my line rental, so as from now I shall be paying £10.85 per month!

Who the hell do BT think that they are?

P.P.

Note to mods: I have tried hard to search about this subject befrore posting but have not been able to find it mentioned elsewhere on this board. Please delete this post if the above is common knowledge (except to me).

P.P.

utilitybroker

Did you by any chance have what was Free Caller Display. BT are now charging for this if you dont put 2 chargeable calls a month from them.So the the simple solution to avoid this charge is to make 2 evening and weekend calls via them a month at 5.5p each =11p a month.

BT monthly Line Rental with nearly free caller display £10.75p(Online Billing)+11p = £10.86p a month

First Telecom monthly line rental with caller display. £10.85p plus £1.75p for caller display= £12.60p a month.

If your really interested in saving money on your Home Phone Bill. Have a read of this post . http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1598074&postcount=4

BritBrat

I would give it some more thought before jumping out of BT.

My first thought was it was for caller display and not direct debit.

Take a look at the Hienz post that utilitybroker posted.

Heinz

Your title may be your perception but, in reality, the 'if you don't make 2 chargeable calls per month you'll be charged for these services' has not been concealed (leaflets which accompany bills have been providing warnings).

I think you have bitten off your nose to spite your face by moving your line rental.

BexTech

These details as posted above were sent to everyone, however you chose not to read them.

Now you will be paying more for line rental and caller display.

Also maybe First Telecom will be blocking you from making low cost calls via alternative providers.

Bufflowbill

If your on the First Telecom price match tariff,its pretty useless as it only matches you against BT,Homecall,and Talk Talk.

dlnk

BexTech wrote: »

These details as posted above were sent to everyone, however you chose not to read them.

Now you will be paying more for line rental and caller display.

Also maybe First Telecom will be blocking you from making low cost calls via alternative providers.

I have just checked my bill, too, having just received the email. I have a £4.50 charge on it, also unannounced. The website admits not telling us. This is a payment processing fee, because, apparently, it costs more to collect money if it is not done by direct debit. I pay electronically from my bank account to theirs. The bank say it costs the same as d.d. This is a rip off!

BexTech

Yes, I'd say it was a rip off.

dlnk

Any suggestions on how to get a refund for it? I've made a complaint online, but that doesn't usually get you anywhere.

BritBrat

I have a £4.50 charge on it, also unannounced

Where have you been ?

I emailed the CEO of BT about it and was told it's a corporate decision.

So I am now following Hienz advice and taking most of my calls away from BT.

I have already saved £5 a month by just going DD and removing all my options and that's on top of any savings I make on calls.

Yes it's a rip off but BT has lost out with me.

Drunkstar

dlnk wrote: »

I have just checked my bill, too, having just received the email. I have a £4.50 charge on it, also unannounced.

Is this a joke? Its been all over the newspapers, the internet, TV, in leaflets sent to people as well as on the BT updates. HOW did you miss it?

Plus its actually only 50p a month more than it was anyway.