Is BT the best way to go for Landline and Broadband?

BML

I have just received our telephone bill and thought that its time to consider a change. 

Current package. Fibre Halo 1 with Complete Wi-Fi.

34Mb - 38Mb Download speed16Mb - 18Mb Upload speed 31Mb Stay Fast Guarantee £59.95* a month

Contract end date: 14 Dec 2022

You could save by getting broadband without a landline phone service

Your regular charges 03 Aug - 02 Sep Broadband Package: £59.95/month £59.95

Unlimited Minutes Calling Plan: £14.37/month £14.37 Make unlimited calls to any UK landline number

What you've used - Landline usage charges £0.85

Plan summary Minutes 150 Unlimited Usage summary view detailed usage on page 4

Your total £75.17

"£59.95." Not bad I thought but then I noted, "Your total £75.17

Worse than that I noted, "You could save by getting broadband without a landline phone service" Strange I thought!
The other thing that disturbed my interest was the effect of losing the old copper wire to our house and the imposition of a fibre connection that forces us to input the whole Telepone number even the area code for local calls. Added to that we lose all telephone connections if we switch the router off.
Like many people of my age, mid 80s I'm a creature of habit so I stuck with BT when sold off but I'm now seriously looking for an alternative so any information or advice will be welcomed.    

littleboo

Copper retirement is a national programme, sooner or later there will be no copper lines no matter which provider you go with.

iniltous

You could probably get your total bill down to around £40 still using BT , current price for Fibre 1 with telephony is around £32 , plus whatever you could get the inclusive calls package, do you need complete WiFi ( as far as Zi know you pay extra for this )  ….by simply renewing and not calling to negotiate you are paying way more than you need, call BT and say you are leaving , and see what up they offer for you to stay , if the first offer isn’t acceptable, tell then that you will leave then call back after a few days to see if the deal improves…obviously the ultimate sanction is to move provider .
Having to dial  the nation number even on local calls is something that has been in place in some areas for years, and is required if using mobile phones and many alternative networks, so shouldn’t really be an issue 

steveE2

Are you eligible for BT Essentials?
https://www.bt.com/broadband/home-essentials

Download speed

36Mb

Your Stay Fast Guarantee 18 Mb

Upload speed 10Mb

700 minutes a month to call UK landlines and mobiles

£15 per month

12 month contract | 

£9.99 P&P 

EssexExile

Do you need the unlimited calling plan? Do you need the complete wi-fi? My router reaches all of our large 4 bedroom house. I have the 700 minutes call plan, Fibre Halo 1 but no "complete Wi-Fi" for £39.

QrizB

My answer to your question is that no, it's quite unusual for BT to be the best way to go for landline and broadband. There's usually a better combination of price and features from a different supplier. I've not been with BT in 20 years or more.

BML

I will contact BT and tell them I'm disatisfied with my latest bill and if they are not able to offer me their most inexpensive tariff I will move.  

BUFF

You will probably be hit with a contract termination charge if you move before the end.
 But as previously mentioned do you need Halo & do you need the unlimited calls pack?

flashg67

BML said:

I will contact BT and tell them I'm disatisfied with my latest bill and if they are not able to offer me their most inexpensive tariff I will move.  

It might be worth checking what else is available and the costs from other providers as 'ammunition'

matelodave

I changed from BT to Vodafone in January and halved my costs and got faster broadband as well. I get 100mbit/s and unlimited landline calls for £32. However I could have had it for £24, saved £8 and not had the landline calls

As said above, do you need all the other stuff, if not shop around there are plenty of other providers

wild666

My provider has a £29 a month option for up to 36 Mb connection with phone line or £29.95 for up to 67 Mb call rates are steep but as only my warden call is used once a month costing 33p.