Bt Phone Line

millwalll

Hi All,

Ive been with BT for the last three year and each year my Line rental has gone up.

£169 - 2015
£194 - 2016
£205 - 2017

These are all with the discount for paying it off. My monthly bill is between 29 - 40 depending on calls. Is there anything I can do about this or are there any better alternatives.

Thanks
Jamie

macman

BT are one of the most expensive providers around. Look at Plusnet, and also TalkTalk and Sky if they are available LLU on your exchange.
Also look at the relevant section on the main board.

millwalll

I looked at plusnet an TalkTalk but they both use a BT backbone so essentially the service is still BT so the phone line fee will be the same.

onomatopoeia99

millwalll wrote: »

I looked at plusnet an TalkTalk but they both use a BT backbone so essentially the service is still BT so the phone line fee will be the same.

Apart from Virgin Media, all domestic fixed telephone lines in the UK (Hull excluded) are part of the BT local loop. BT provide wholesale access so there are many providers that can offer a service over the BT owned line, setting their own charges for rental and calls.

Bigphil1474

Jamie - I'm with plusnet, and it's much cheaper than BT.
They increased their prices in September 2016. Currently, they have an 'evening/weekend & mobiles' package for £4 a month which is free calls for up to an hour. They also have an 'anytime' package which is £8 a month, and includes mobiles. Last time I looked (before Christmas I think), their line rental saver deal was about £185 for the year - monthly it is £17.99. So even if you paid monthly LR and the anytime deal, you wouldn't be paying more than £26 a month including all calls. You just have to remember to hang up before the free hour is up.

Ian011

millwalll wrote: »

My monthly bill is between 29 - 40 depending on calls.

Why are you spending so much on calls?

Around £8.50 per month gives an unlimited number of calls at any time (as long as each call does not exceed 60 minutes) to
- UK geographic numbers starting 01 and 02, and
- non-geographic numbers starting 03.
Other providers also cover inclusive calls to
- UK mobile numbers starting 071-075 and 077-079.

Are you on a weekend or evening and weekend deal and making chargeable calls during the week?

Are you calling mobile numbers?

Are you calling premium rate numbers starting 070, 084, 087, 09 or 118?

Are you calling international destinations?

millwalll

I think making calls in the evening I get free calls after 7 but had to make some urgent calls this month.

AndyPK

millwalll wrote: »

I looked at plusnet an TalkTalk but they both use a BT backbone so essentially the service is still BT so the phone line fee will be the same.

Well having the same backbone for slightly less LR is a good thing isn't it ?

Also look at EE. (£199 LRS) Free caller display&voice mail)


TalkTalk no longer do LRS
Sky don't either IIRC

billsavings

If anyone wants to stay with BT and just wants Phone Service plus unlimited 01/02/3 calls only, no broadband, no line rental saver. BT do Home Phone Saver.

£21.99 a month and the price of Home Phone Saver 2019 is guaranteed to stay the same until 2019

What you get:
Your monthly line rental
Unlimited calls to UK landlines at any time, for up to an hour
Inclusive calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers at any time, for up to an hour
Free 1471 Call Return
Inclusive 1571 Call Return if you have the BT Answer 1571 voicemail service
BT Privacy with Caller Display and Anonymous Call Reject for free when you opt-in
You can pay for Home Phone Saver 2019 by any means of payment.

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/55814/~/learn-about-home-phone-saver-2019


Bearing in mind that BT currently charge 18.99 a month for line rental and shortly will be charging £8.99 for unlimited calls to Uk Landlines.

And line rental works out at £17.09 a month if you take line rental saver.

This represents a saving of 6.99 a month £83 plus a year and the price is fixed to 2019.

Or a saving of £5.01 a month. £60 plus and the price is fixed to 2019 if you currently use line rental saver.

littleboo

millwalll wrote: »

I looked at plusnet an TalkTalk but they both use a BT backbone so essentially the service is still BT so the phone line fee will be the same.

The wholesale price of the line is about £8 - it doesn't matter what BT charge their retail customers, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk are getting it for ~ £8 and apart from the VAT, the difference is the retailers margin.