BT - how to avoid the broadband price hike

breaking_free

Just got my latest BT bill for broadband and calls package.

I'd smugly thought that because I'd paid my line rental in advance I wouldn't be affected by the price increase from £16.99 to £17.99. What I didn't factor into the equation was that they were increasing the price of calls and broadband. Curses! How can they do that?!?

Anyway, I contacted them to protest, figuring they had me over a barrel because their massive cancellation charges make it uneconomical for me to get out of contract. The ever so understanding staff member took a look at my package and asked if I was using all the bells and whistles (cloud storage, etc). When I said no he offered me an identical unlimited broadband plus free weekend calls package without the unused frills. He was able to heavily discount the new package so that I'm now paying even less than I was before the price rise. Thanks BT :T

tomtontom

It's a good idea to set aside time to check you're on the best packages for your needs at least once a year, not just when you're notified of a price rise. That applies to your other utilities too - gas, electric, insurance etc.

Edwood_Woodwood

I wonder, how much of this £17.99 BT charge for line rental is profit?

I mean, does it actually cost something like £16 to maintain a line and a couple of quid is profit?

Why is the rise so massively above the rate of inflation?

Any idea?

Ectophile

Edwood_Woodwood wrote: »

I wonder, how much of this £17.99 BT charge for line rental is profit?

I mean, does it actually cost something like £16 to maintain a line and a couple of quid is profit?

Why is the rise so massively above the rate of inflation?

Any idea?

Most of the price is profit. Openreach publish their wholesale line rental charges. https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/products/pricing/loadProductPriceDetails.do?data=%2BrBpMW3XM9acnyJyysVXlUueE80IBTlV7sFIBygiOy9UNeIS4WkJBRh6z%2FRUAIt8maxtgrEro1A7w5V8nzAZpQ%3D%3D

Amazingly, the price has gone down every year for the past few years.

JJ_Egan

Edwood_Woodwood wrote: »

I wonder, how much of this £17.99 BT charge for line rental is profit?

I mean, does it actually cost something like £16 to maintain a line and a couple of quid is profit?

Why is the rise so massively above the rate of inflation?

Any idea?

So many use mobiles to call so BT profit on calls must have dropped .