BT's latest unnanounced charges?

topherxp

dlnk wrote: »

I've just spoken to the bank. It costs each company precisely nothing to collect Direct debits from us and exactly the same to receive a bacs payment. How can this 4.50 be legal?

Because essentially, and i see where your coming from in respect to the cost of BACS, one of the cost factors involved with payment collection is chasing up on late payments and as paying by BACS is not an automatic payment system like DD, there maybe an element of chasing up.

Now I know there is a late payment charge, but that only applies if payment isn't ledgered 10 days after the red reminder. So the justification comes from the additional costs in chasing up payments before lpc applied.

Good to see you got the charge refunded, which is the exception to the rule.

dlnk

Thanks for that, but I am still unsure why I should have to pay for bt to chase someone else up! I am never late with bill payments.

topherxp

The other factor with the payment processing fee is that it is VAT exempt.

So before the PPF, BT charged £1 more per month on the line rental for non direct debit customers, of which BT would receive £0.825p with the other £0.175p going to Gordon.

After the PPF, BT charge £1 less per month on line rental, so receive £0.825p less per month, and charge £1.50 per month for PPF, of which BT will keep £1.50 and Gordon's successor will get £0.00 (exc. tax on profits)

dlnk

topherxp wrote: »

The other factor with the payment processing fee is that it is VAT exempt.

So before the PPF, BT charged £1 more per month on the line rental for non direct debit customers, of which BT would receive £0.825p with the other £0.175p going to Gordon.

After the PPF, BT charge £1 less per month on line rental, so receive £0.825p less per month, and charge £1.50 per month for PPF, of which BT will keep £1.50 and Gordon's successor will get £0.00 (exc. tax on profits)

Ah,now we're getting to the main reason, I suspect!

col_w

i am with eprimus how can i make 2 bt calls a month any codes etc

Heinz

col_w wrote: »

i am with eprimus how can i make 2 bt calls a month any codes etc

Dialling a 1280 prefix causes an individual call to 'hop back onto' BT.

So, make 2 evening or weekend UK 01/02 calls calls of less than an hour per month using that prefix (they'll cost 5½p each at the moment but only 4½p each from 1/8/07) to qualify for (nearly) free Caller Display and (nearly) free 1571 (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!

orangecat

Hi Drunkstar

As a B.T employee could you explain what a "Call Return Fee" is ?

I only have line rental with B.T and all my calls are with "Talk Talk" which have been so over the past 12 Months. This is the first I have heard of this charge in my Line Rental Bills from B.T.

The duration of the call was "NO DURATION" number of calls (One) NO FURTHER DETAILS ???

I have been a customer of B.T for over 40 years and have always paid my bill on time, over past few years by "Internet Banking" recent bill paid (Including £4:50 proccessing charge) was paid via Intrenet on 18th June 2007 and was in B.T's accounts on 19th June 2007. My bank infroms me that this type of payment is as good as "Direct Debit" there is no delay and no cost in proccessing. So how can B.T justify such a charge?

I don't have any silly numbers such as 1571 or any other number.

Thanks for any comments you make or information.
Kind Regards

BritBrat

Someone dialed 1471 - 3 would be my guess.

I have been a customer of B.T for over 40 years and have always paid my bill on time, over past few years by "Internet Banking" recent bill paid (Including £4:50 proccessing charge) was paid via Intrenet on 18th June 2007 and was in B.T's accounts on 19th June 2007. My bank infroms me that this type of payment is as good as "Direct Debit" there is no delay and no cost in proccessing. So how can B.T justify such a charge?

See my post and full thread:

BT Direct Debit, How To Beat It

Full Thread Here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=446084

Drunkstar

BritBrat is spot on, Call Return Fee is the 1471-3 (and the 1571- 3 I think), and BT charge for that not your CPS provider.