Where do BT get off hiking Line saver 17%?

macman

ask66 wrote: »

Actually I think OFCOM *should* be interested - particularly if all providers follow suit - because the practice could be seen as exploiting consumers. By the way I think the way you've phrased your comment is needlessly rude to the OP.

Since there is no regulatory requirment to offer LRS at all, what makes you think that that OFCOM would have any remit here? The sole purpose of offering it is to improve cashflow and reduce churn rate by locking customers in for 12m: if the provider decides that the benefits no longer outweigh the reduction in income, then they will reduce or abolish the discount. Sky abolised LRS nearly a year ago and I don't recall anyone suggesting that the regulator should get involved then?
There is nothing remotely rude in my reply, the only 'needless' thing in this thread is suggesting that OFCOM have any part to play in the pricing of a discount? How is it 'exploitation', since there is no increase to existing customers using LRS, and they are free to drop it or switch provider at the end of their LRS term?

ask66

macman wrote: »

what makes you think that that OFCOM would have any remit here?

I hear what you're saying macman, and technically you're correct. However I'm sure LRS has always made the providers a profit, albeit a smaller one than they get out of "standard" line rental. So it's less a case of LRS being massively discounted, and more a case of "standard" line rental being an absolute rip-off. Those of us not wishing to be ripped off have been able to use LRS up to now. If the so-called LRS "discount" is reduced or removed, the danger is that we all end up getting ripped off - and I think that most certainly *should* be in OFCOM's remit. I for one don't want to pay more for my telephone service just because my provider feels like chucking money into sports broadcasting, and I'm sure many others feel the same.

macman wrote: »

There is nothing remotely rude in my reply

I disagree. Do you think there might be a nicer way you could have phrased your thoughts to the OP?

littleboo

If you think you are paying for Sport and don't want to, the answer is to move providers. However, Talk Talk raised their price from £141 to £172 and then to £180 last year, they don't have Sport .

For those who require a landline for their broadband, what matters is the cost of the two together. If the total cost is £30, it could be billed as £27.50 for the landline and £2.50 for broadband, or the other way around. However, people have started to believe that they really can have broadband for £2.50/month.

Swipe

brewerdave wrote: »

I've renewed mine as well at the current price.Worth me doing it, because I get free weekend and evening calls included as its a "legacy" product

Me too, that's my main motivation

brewerdave

Swipe wrote: »

Me too, that's my main motivation

Also, PN still allow the use of 18185 etc -so my daytime calls bills are absurdly small, currently.:)

Somniac

The problem with moving supplier is that the cheaper offers mean a drastic reduction in speed or the necessity of changing supplier at the end of every offer period when the price inevitably goes up. You may have nothing better to do than shop around for cheaper deals every 6, 12 or 18 months but I have a life and don't see why I should have to do that. OFCOM actually are interested even if they don't act on individual cases. I had a reply from them about the records of complaints they keep.The more people complain in an individual capacity, the more interested they will become.

Somniac

Thanks for all the input BTW. Even the snarky ones!

littleboo

Somniac wrote: »

The problem with moving supplier is that the cheaper offers mean a drastic reduction in speed or the necessity of changing supplier at the end of every offer period when the price inevitably goes up. You may have nothing better to do than shop around for cheaper deals every 6, 12 or 18 months but I have a life and don't see why I should have to do that.

You don't have to do anything. In the same way that you don't have to look around for the best rates for home insurance, car insurance, mortgages, savings rates, gas, electricity etc.

wongawonga

So BT offered a cheaper rate for line rental if you pay in advance. They decide to increase it because its not cost effective. Its a commercial decision and of no interest to Ofcom whatsoever. Others increased theirs again of no interest to Ofcom.Sky Talk stopped offering it altogether was Ofcom interested not at all.

Line rental goes up every year sadly. Does the regulator do anything about it, not a lot.

zolablue25

Somniac wrote: »

The problem with moving supplier is that the cheaper offers mean a drastic reduction in speed or the necessity of changing supplier at the end of every offer period when the price inevitably goes up. You may have nothing better to do than shop around for cheaper deals every 6, 12 or 18 months but I have a life and don't see why I should have to do that. OFCOM actually are interested even if they don't act on individual cases. I had a reply from them about the records of complaints they keep.The more people complain in an individual capacity, the more interested they will become.

It actually takes about 10 minutes every 12 months (maybe less often depending what you sign up for) by using a comparison website or, indeed, this website to find the best current deal. But if you don't have 10 minutes then I understand why you would be hesitant. You seem to have 10 minutes to spend writing about BT but not to do something about it. We are lucky that we live in a country with a relatively free market meaning that if you don't want to pay the money your current supplier is asking for you can change quickly and easily, but if even disgruntled customers aren't prepared to take their business elsewhere why wouldn't BT milk them for everything they are worth? You aren't confusing BT with a charity or even a company with ethics are you?

BTW, I also have a life and paying for that life is the reason I take the aforementioned 10 minutes to get the best deals available.

Edit: Sorry, just re-read your response and it appears you actually have nothing better to do than to write to OFCOM. Now I'm the one who is confused, do you have a life or not?