Is it Genuine or Spam about @btinternet.com?

Crazy_Saver

Hi Guys.
I've tried to find out on here but can't find a thread about my recent e-mail from BT.

Is it a scam, or are BT genuinely closing their free e-mail service.
Just want to check before I trawl through my study to work out who I need to inform.
Thank you.

kwikbreaks

Try google instead.

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/45245/~/changing-the-bt-email-service---product-closures

twokcc

BT were going to do this about September last year but then called it off and I thought at the time that they said would keep runnning until sept 2014. Got an e-mail yesterday now saying that have to pay £1.60 month if I want to keep account open. For £20 year will keep account open but last time they rescinded the closing date so will wait until last week before closure date then sign up.
Concerned that they will quickly up the monthly charge so will start to look for a new e-mail provider so less reliant on talk21

Mr_Crunch

It seems that finally, BT is going to force people who have had free BT email addresses dating from Pay-as-You Go Dial-up days onto 'Premium Email'. The alternative is to lose email accounts from 14 April - the notice is diabolically short.

When I called them last year (helpful Northern Ireland Call Centre) - I was assured that the free service would continue. Obviously, entirely mendacious and deceitful management has now done a u-turn. It's bonkers - storage space costs so little nowadays, so this is just a 'gotcha' revenue-generating exercise.

'Premium Email' will be free for 12 months (although you have to endure advertisements), thereafter it will be £1.60 per month. Diarise to give 28 days' notice before the direct debit kicks in for month 13.

This confirms the arrogance of a supplier which is still living in the Dark Ages of monopoly supply. I have switched to the Premium Email which I will now use for up to 12 months during which time I will switch to other Gmail addresses or get my own domain name for email so that I can be totally independent. I'll certainly never switch back to BT for broadband or phone line supply. It' a shame - their engineering people are good.

God I despite BT management and its attitude. Ringing up its 0800 numbers to rant just gets a confused Indian, although I did get some satisfaction by calling BT's main switchboard in London on 020 7356 5000 (make sure you use an override provider like 18185 or an account with inclusive calls for further satisfaction) and speaking with a crazed woman who evidently has never had training in dealing with potential customers and seems to delight in arguing with them. In the end, I put the phone down on her.

cajef

Mr_Crunch wrote: »

It seems that finally, BT is going to force people who have had free BT email addresses dating from Pay-as-You Go Dial-up days onto 'Premium Email'.

Why do you think BT should provide something free if you are not one of their customers, I doubt that there are many companies that provide a service free nowadays.

Mr_Crunch

cajef wrote: »

Why do you think BT should provide something free if you are not one of their customers, I doubt that there are many companies that provide a service free nowadays.

Gmail does. Microsoft does. AOL does.

cajef

Mr_Crunch wrote: »

Gmail does. Microsoft does. AOL does.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=64996775&postcount=2

twokcc

Just an update to my post above re talk21.com e-mail
BT seem to have got there act together regarding this change. Details on webpage on how to determine which is primary and secondary accounts. Looking in my account details on talk21 account this is shown as username.t21@btinternet which is a secondary account to my username @btinternet.com.
Signe up for free 12months (£1.60 thereafter)on username@btinternet.com and asked for confirmation that both accounts will still be accessable after changeover. Had prompt response saying yes and various e-mails cofirming changeover details.
So on face of it looks OK just hope I don't regret posting this at end of April

twokcc

After posting above went to use tomtom on android smartphone. 1st smartphone and had to sign up to google play to buy(which I would have only done reluctantly dont like goolge collecting data from me). Used talk21 account to set up now getting startup message on tomtom saying that my google play license for your application is not valid. Got an app ive paid for and cant get into it!!!!

Daveswife

Well, the deadline has come and gone. I ignored their ultimatum as I did last time BT said they were closing non-customer email access. All my email addresses from when I was last a customer (over 3 years ago) are still working normally. Glad I didn't fall for the sign-up trick :cool:

N9eav

cajef wrote: »

Why do you think BT should provide something free if you are not one of their customers, I doubt that there are many companies that provide a service free nowadays.

They can use it to advertise for business.