MSE News: BT to announce price hikes this weekend

homehunter

I have just had the email fr BT. Had to read several times to make sense of it. Am I right...?

I pay a year upfront to save. But BT say I will automatically be put on to (IMO) a pointless 'Line Rental Plus' package which is more expensive. So how am I saving by paying upfront??

The only way to opt out of the forced expensive Plus option is to go direct debit. But this means I pay more because I am not paying upfront?

I just don't understand it.

Furthermore - I am on BT broadband. If I cancel line rental do I have to switch broadband too? Already ditched the awful BT vision I'm favour of sky when MSE had their half price code deal a short while ago.

TIA

mjr

homehunter wrote: »

I have just had the email fr BT. Had to read several times to make sense of it. Am I right...?

I pay a year upfront to save. But BT say I will automatically be put on to (IMO) a pointless 'Line Rental Plus' package which is more expensive. So how am I saving by paying upfront??

The only way to opt out of the forced expensive Plus option is to go direct debit. But this means I pay more because I am not paying upfront?

I just don't understand it.

I think if you still have a Direct Debit set up to pay for any calls outside your call package, the Line Rental Plus thing doesn't apply to you. But the message was so unclear that I'm just totally fed up with BT, and after last year's messing about to retain Caller ID, I've decided to move to Zen for voice calls when my pre-paid BT line rental expires.

homehunter

mjr wrote: »

I think if you still have a Direct Debit set up to pay for any calls outside your call package, the Line Rental Plus thing doesn't apply to you. But the message was so unclear that I'm just totally fed up with BT, and after last year's messing about to retain Caller ID, I've decided to move to Zen for voice calls when my pre-paid BT line rental expires.

I called BT today and they confirmed the following for my current package:
£141 paid upfront in March 2014 for line rental - this will be £169.92 in March 15
£19.15 for BB Infinity 1 and eve/weekend plan, plus £1.75 for caller ID.

Offered new home hub 5 (current hub 2 is unreliable), free caller ID and to put me on to anytime call plan as we have made callsin the day totalling av £8 per month. But I would pay for it,will be £24 pm under new regime! So their offer for me to stay is...er...paying £5 more a month. With a new hub that was supposed to be sent months ago anyway, when I was told my current one was faulty by one of their overseas chaps. But it just never materialised and I had neither the time nor patience to chase it up. Hmm.

They confirmed no penalty fees to cancel all within 30 days,as long as I request a Mac code. So now to see what others are offering which may necessitate a callback to BT for that code.

AndyPK

I got my letter this weekend.

If you pay rental in advance, is that going up too ?

rdn

Bad news for those who use the upfront 12 month payment of line rental saver:

I have line rental saver until Feb 2015, plus I have broadband and TV via BT.

I phoned in to cancel the TV and Broadband due to the upcoming price change. They were happy to do so, however, it would start my line rental contract over with a new 12 month contract!

My only other choice was to cancel everything, and lose what was left in my line rental saver period (4-5 months).

I had them note the last day I could cancel due to the price change notification (Nov 7th for me). That way I can at least only lose ~3 months of line rental saver.

Quentin

They are trying it on by telling you that you cannot have a refund.


This issue (line rental advance being used by BT to prevent leaving following the price increase) is discussed here:


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5069511

dadrock

I requested my MAC to leave BT. The eventual deal offered persuaded me to stay.
They dropped my unlimited broadband to £6/month for 12 months (I was paying £15), keep paying annual line rental (due in Dec), pay £2/month for evening and weekend calls, keep CallerDisplay.
Happy with that, the bit that swung in their favour for me was keeping BT Wifi. I couldnt find an equivalent service and our household uses it quite a bit out n about. Sky Cloud and O2 doesnt match it.

Thought I'd share my deal so others can compare against their offers.

VisionMan

I also got the email and my contract is up for renewal. So I rang retentions and after some negotiation - after the price rises on 01/12/14 I will be paying £1 a mth less than my current discounted package. And that now includes 24/7 free landline calls and half price to mobiles (6p per min). Happy days.

VisionMan

Re advanced line rental saver - If anyone gets told they cannot have a refund for your remaining mths the advisor is talking bollox. Ofcom have stipulated all customers can leave their ISP/phone contracts without penalty.

All one needs do is escalate it as a complaint and you'll get your money back.

roxy28

VisionMan wrote: »

Ofcom have stipulated all customers can leave their ISP/phone contracts without penalty.

Do you mean within 30 days, once they have informed us of price changes etc, and only then without a penalty.