Low-cost phone service for those on qualifying benefits

fredandwilma

Just a reminder for those on low incomes, BT Basic offers a low-cost phone (and broadband) service :



http://www.btplc.com/inclusion/ProductsAndServices/BTBasic/index.htm


http://www.btplc.com/inclusion/ProductsAndServices/BTBasic/Whatdoyouget/index.htm

Who can get BT Basic?

You can usually get BT Basic if you are claiming one of these benefits:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Pensions Credit (Guaranteed Credit)
Employment and Support Allowance (Income related)
Universal Credit (and are on zero earnings).
You must be the named account holder to apply

[Deleted User]

AFAIR you won't get it if you have internet from BT

Diary

venison wrote: »

AFAIR you won't get it if you have internet from BT

If you had glanced at the links kindly provided you would see that simply isn't true.

AG47

How much cheaper is it work out

fredandwilma

venison wrote: »

AFAIR you won't get it if you have internet from BT

The service is provided by BT.

AG47 wrote: »

How much cheaper is it work out

Very much cheaper.


£15.30 every three months for line rental (this includes £4.50 to spend on calls) which has to be paid in advance.

I.E. - £5.10 a month for line rental, which includes £1.50 of calls, (if you split this on a monthly basis.) Call allowance is summarised in the links already provided.


For broadband - £14.55 every 3 months, which is £4.85/mth plus the BT Basic line rental.


So, with your BT Basic line rental included, the total cost including Broadband, will be £29.85 for every three month period (that is £9.95 a month)

You also get free paper billing.

Bear in mind, this is a service which replaced the BT Light User Scheme, but still a bargain if you are a low user. The Basic service is available to customers based on need, rather than the number of calls they make.

What do you get with BT Basic + Broadband?

BT Basic + Broadband includes:

Broadband with up to 16Mb/s download speed
10GB usage, which typically means you can:browse the internet for up to 30 hours a month
Stream up to ten hours of video a month
Download one film (standard definition) and up to ten albums a month.
BT Parental Controls
Unlimited wi-fi.

With BT Basic + Broadband, your broadband will cost £14.55 every three months. So, with your BT Basic line rental included, the total cost will be £29.85 for every three month period (that is £9.95 a month)

Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1676020/Bills-to-rise-as-BT-scraps-Light-User-Scheme.html#ixzz4Q9dq3O7q

micky2phones

Hi, what stopped me having this before was i think a limited download per month.

But yes its a god deal IMO if you dont use the internet a lot. I now have Sky anyway.

bigbulldog

Also as it might be obvious that you need to have a BT telephone line also to qualify.

Bogalot

Diary wrote: »

If you had glanced at the links kindly provided you would see that simply isn't true.

They are partly correct, if you have one of the regular internet tariffs, or Fibre, you wil not qualify for the line rental offer. The internet offering is inadequate for all but the most limited of users.

As with any service, you should compare all offerings and choose one which meets your needs. Also keep in mind that Sky offer some excellent deals if you're willing to barter, for instance you could pay full line rental but get free unlimited internet plus tv etc. You could also have line rental from BT but then take your internet provision from another provider.

Bananas123

10gb per month is rubbish, unless you are sticking on text based internet services.

but it's good value for the basic basic "getting on the internet" (and not encountering flash websites).

i think you can get unlimited internet @ 17mb/s for around/under £20 p/m if you pay for the year in advance, which seems a better service for me etc > no costs incurred going over also / peace of mind / can browse wherever.

thanks for the heads up though

fredandwilma

Bananas123 wrote: »

10gb per month is rubbish, unless you are sticking on text based internet services.

but it's good value for the basic basic "getting on the internet" (and not encountering flash websites).

i think you can get unlimited internet @ 17mb/s for around/under £20 p/m if you pay for the year in advance, which seems a better service for me etc > no costs incurred going over also / peace of mind / can browse wherever.

thanks for the heads up though

You're welcome

It isn't brilliant, but it's better than nothing, bearing in mind some people on a low income, couldn't afford to pay a year in advance, for anything?


Note - For those who don't want broadband, it's only £5.10 per month for line rental and £1.50 in calls, (pro rata.)

Bananas123

...do without internet (*at home) 6 months.

= 1 year unlimited acess, for following twelve months.

*free internet all around places.

---

if you can't afford, to save ~£240 for a years unlimited internet, then you don't get internet.

for me, anyway.

...would probably rather go find free internet with a coffee somewhere, for cheaper then £10 /pm, baring in mind, the 10gb ...also get coffee.

baring in mind internet is a luxuary / expensive anyway.