MSE News: BT announces steep price rises for home phone and broadband – how to beat t

PhylPho

Thanks stockton and aurichies. I don't know what BT has in mind for me because having entered my account number and phone number three times now on the page that invites you to check the new broadband and phone prices, all that happens is the little red wheel spins in the middle of the screen and keeps on spinning. I've done this when logged in / when not logged in so, um. . . Heigh ho!

[Deleted User]

It sounds like you've got a content blocker/ad blocker/security feature running. I had to disable Ghostery temporarily, refresh to login to the page.

PhylPho

aurichie wrote: »

It sounds like you've got a content blocker/ad blocker/security feature running. I had to disable Ghostery temporarily, refresh to login to the page.

Pure genius . . .

Dammit, I should've thought of that. Ghostery is running on this computer. I'd normally realise the implication of that when a web page stalls on me but, by coincidence, I earlier today finally had enough of NoScript and its endless interference in my online activity even after clicking allow this site, allow this page, allow that and t'other.

I'll temporarily disable Ghostery now and go back to the bt site. Thanks again for saving me from my own stupidity.

PhylPho

aurichie wrote: »

You can go here to see how the price rise will impact you:
https://www.bt.com/static/wa/account/pricechanges/login/login.html?s_cid=con_FURL_myprices

They'll show what you are currently paying, and what you'll pay after the increase. They also confirm how they will notify you in writing about the change.

Thanks for the link: Ghostery is disabled so all's well. The page tells me I'm paying £19.20 a month for BT Infinity + calls. From July 3rd that will rise to £21 a month. BT's phrasing is disingenuous; it's necessary to hit a drop-down elsewhere on the page to discover that the line rental is going up by £1 a month. That should be at the top of the page along with the so-called "package price".

Anyway. Not sure if I want to spend any time, haggling over the extra 65p a week.

stockton_2

aurichie wrote: »

12, 18 or 24 month contracts are almost irrelevant at this stage as BT are hiking prices every 10 months and that gives you an immediate right to exit penalty-free.

Yes: Things can change very quickly. Last week a friend of mine rang BT as she knew that they had just upgraded locally to Fibre Broadband. They told her there were no deals available as she was contracted until October. She was not happy.

Then on Friday it all changed with the price hike. She can now go back and (hopefully) get a good deal.

sm27650

Hi Folks,

Currently I have my landline / Broadband as a package but have also added on BT Mobile.

If I cancel my landline & broadband and move elsewhere within 30 days as I can do penalty free, does anyone know what my position would be re: mobile? Understand if I continue I would forego the £5/month discount, but would I also be able to cancel my mobile early penalty free?

Cheers,

buglawton

The line rental and calls hikes are very unfortunate for the elderly and disabled who can't use a mobile and fear any break in service or change of phone number. I'd say that it's these least able people that BT expects to raise the most new revenue from. For such people BT is in a de facto monopoly position. Has OFCOM got anything to say?

brewerdave

buglawton wrote: »

The line rental and calls hikes are very unfortunate for the elderly and disabled who can't use a mobile and fear any break in service or change of phone number. I'd say that it's these least able people that BT expects to raise the most new revenue from. For such people BT is in a de facto monopoly position. Has OFCOM got anything to say?

...have to agree -my late mother's phone bills from BT were horrendous when I went over them after her death -and she had all her marbles - she was paying ~ £40 per month WITHOUT b/band :eek:

tgroom57

John Petter, chief executive of BT Consumer, says: "We realise that customers never welcome price rises, but we have again ensured that low-income customers avoid increases.

err, no. You only ensure people who are already on your low-income scheme avoid increases. Anyone else will automatically be hit by increases, and I'll bet many of your customers aren't even aware that you offer a low-income scheme.

buglawton

Just trying to make sense of the BT Basic deal which may apply to disabled/on benefits people.
e.g.
http://www.choose.net/media/guide/faqs/bt-basic-benefits-broadband.html

Now, like a lot if disabled people, the person I organise the phone for may make a lot of calls, also visiting relatives and carers do. Her line has a minimal Plusnet broadband (not all that cheap nowadays), for visiting grandchildren etc.

So she needs: Unlimited local calls and a broadband connection.
Possible with BT basic? I think not.