MSE News: BT reveals price rises - but you can escape the hikes

I_luv_cats

jhp wrote: »

I wonder why MSE overlooked these important facts in their summary ?

I thought that too but also not everybody is reporting both 1571 and Caller Display previously FREE (well 2 stupid calls a month) is going to be charged.


So it could be £15.99+£1.75+£1.75= £19.49 (+ £4.04 / +26.2%)



They are doing it by stealth! (Loved the paperfree discount they shelved)

So BT privacy is a load of dogs doo dars now

jhp

I_luv_cats wrote: »

I thought that too but also not everybody is reporting both 1571 and Caller Display previously FREE (well 2 stupid calls a month) is going to be charged.


So it could be £15.99+£1.75+£1.75= £19.49 (+ £4.04 / +26.2%)



They are doing it by stealth! (Loved the paperfree discount they shelved)

So BT privacy is a load of dogs doo dars now

ITV News suggest its only one £1.75 .

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-09-27/prices-set-to-rise-for-bt-customers/

jhp

Kite2010 wrote: »

How long until other phone companies charge for the previous free 1571 service?

Not long i guess.

Best dump it and get a cheap answering machine.

OldGreyFox

No wonder landline only users are switching to mobile.


EG Virgin Payg . Offer £10 a month Payg Tariff. Unlimited Landline Calls. 120 mobile minutes and you get to keep the £10 and use as you like.Comes with Free Caller Display.

http://store.virginmedia.com/virgin-media-mobile/sim-only/pay-as-you-go-sim.html

I_luv_cats

jhp wrote: »

ITV News suggest its only one £1.75 .

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-09-27/prices-set-to-rise-for-bt-customers/

Guardian -


Rates for international calls to some destinations will increase by 6.5%, and the voicemail service, Answer 1571, will now cost £1.75 a month. The service was previously free to those making more than two calls a month.

The same price will apply to BT privacy, which helps stop unwanted calls and was previously free to those making two calls a month.



We have had ambiguous various media reporting before.



Prices now are are weird: (new plans) £7 for unlimited anytime calls (as they'd added the £2 saver) and weekend plans, their weekday calls are hefty #all week# 9p min plus set up:eek:

Heinz

I_luv_cats wrote: »

Prices now are are weird: (new plans) £7 for unlimited anytime calls (as they'd added the £2 saver) and weekend plans, their weekday calls are hefty #all week# 9p min plus set up:eek:

I really cannot understand why those with BT don't simply open an account with 18185 and pay only 5p connection and 0p/minute for off-plan (i.e. non-inclusive) 01/02/03 calls of unlimited duration.

Sparx

jobdone1 wrote: »

Its about time we was able to receive broadband without the use or should i say force of a land line. Most people use mobiles. I understand that a land line for some is necessary that's fine but don't force people to have landlines just so they can access the internet. The cost of landlines just keeps going up and bt know they have got you buy the short and curlys, Even if your with a different provider.

The problem is, the 'line rental' you pay is not just to 'have a phone line'. As you said, you need a phone line for your broadband to be run on (unless you're on Virgin Cable or another Fibre ISP). Your 'line rental' is mostly going to BT as that is to cover their running costs of the whole BT network, it's just damn bloody expensive!! :eek:

BT should have a bare bones or basic package where you pay £5-8 per month and you don't get a phone number allocated and can't make outgoing or receive incoming calls. You just pay this as a 'maintenance' fee to keep BT happy and then you can go with whatever ISP you want for broadband. Then if you want an actual landline to make/receive calls you go on a 'call package' and pay the usual £15 odd per month.

Ian01

When it comes to price rises, BT is in a difficult position. BT's call prices for 084, 087 and 09 numbers are still capped by the "NTS Condition". This means BT are not allowed to make any profit on call origination for those numbers. A similar restriction covering calls to 01 and 02 numbers was lifted way back in 2004.

When BT raises prices, it is the monthly line rental, inclusive call package prices, call connection fees, calls to mobile numbers, and options such as caller ID and 1571 that go up in price. For those customers without an inclusive call plan, the out-of-bundle price of calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers may also go up. As an aside, landline operators are finding it harder to increase the cost of calls to mobile phones as the termination rate has been dramatically reduced in recent years after intervention by Ofcom.

Other operators can charge more than BT for calls to 084 and 087 numbers. They have no restrictions placed on them by Ofcom. A call that's 1p/min plus 14p connection fee on BT is 4p/min plus 16p connection fee on Virgin Media. A call that's 5p/min plus 14p connection fee on BT is 12p/min plus 16p connection fee on Virgin Media. Those same calls cost 20p to 41p/min when made from a mobile phone.

The "NTS Condition" will be lifted from BT in 2014. Their 084 and 087 call prices are likely to rise after that.

Ofcom's unbundled tariff will soon split 084, 087 and 09 call prices into a Service Charge and an Access Charge. Each phone network will have to set and declare their Access Charge. The "NTS Condition" means that BT currently charges the equivalent of zero. On the other hand, Virgin Media charge the equivalent of between 3p and 7p for 0844 numbers and slightly higher for 087 numbers. Mobile operators charge the equivalent of between 15p to 40p/min for 084 and 087 numbers. BT will be keen to keep the cost of these calls down (as it has an interest in preserving their market in 0845 call termination). However, I'd guess they'll also be keen to see some profit from 084 and 087 call origination.

When Ofcom's "unbundled tariffs" come into force, call connection fees will be scrapped for 084, 087 and 09 calls. It will be interesting to see what level of Access Charge each network sets for these calls. It's sure to bring down the overall cost of ringing these numbers from mobiles, but what it will do for the price of these calls from landlines - and especially from BT landlines - is anyone's guess.

Phone tariffs are complicated. See also:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=63247800&postcount=70

MillicentBystander

I saw the writing on the wall when they spent £1 billion on BT Sport and offered it for 'free'. It's payback time BT customers. Why don't they act like a responsible company and charge a fee for BT Sport instead of getting even their punters who don't even use it to help pay for it in constant price increases? That would be the fairest approach...

Graham1

According to

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/nmr-13/statement/statement-summary

"we are removing BT's obligation to offer carrier pre-selection (CPS) and indirect access (IA) where BT's retail arm provides the retail access line"

This could be bad news for people who rely on indirect codes for making their calls.

Removing the obligation does not, of course, mean the facility will definitely be withdrawn immediately but, in time, I think it will.