Are BT ripping my 87year old mother off?

plynneg5

My mother is being charged £80.48 per month for her broadband AND 30p fer minute for phone calls by BT (mobile and premium rates are charged at a higher rate). She does not have anything other than terrestrial TV her broadband use is minimal, any ideas for a cheaper company.

Isthisforreal99

Use a comparison site, Uswitch for example.

El_Torro

Does she use a landline? If not then fibre would be a lot cheaper than broadband. 

I know a lot of people with a landline are attached to it and don't want to get rid of it. Many people these days get by with just a mobile phone though.

Neil49

First step is to get details of her current contract. It certainly seems like she is on the wrong one for her requirements and I'm guessing it has been like that for a while. 

JSmithy45AD

Are BT ripping your 87year old mother off? No, although obviously the price is obscene. There's been 100's if not more of similar stories over the years on here. Has Martin or MSE ever tried talking to BT (and probably others) about this?

Follow the suggestions above.

littleboo

Have you spoken to BT? If she's out of contract, which it sounds as though she is, then you would undoubtedly get an improved offer if you wanted to avoid a change of supplier. 

Brie

You could try contacting BT on her behalf (her in the room to approve you talking for her) and tell them that you think mom has been missold something by an over eager customer service person or they had not adequately informed someone of her age what she might be agreeing to.  Or even if she didn't know she had to respond what she would end up being charged.  Basically going down the line of the poor old non techy nice old lady who didn't know that she could tell BT to butter off when they raised her tariff.

molerat

Brie said:

You could try contacting BT on her behalf (her in the room to approve you talking for her) and tell them that you think mom has been missold something by an over eager customer service person or they had not adequately informed someone of her age what she might be agreeing to.  Or even if she didn't know she had to respond what she would end up being charged.  Basically going down the line of the poor old non techy nice old lady who didn't know that she could tell BT to butter off when they raised her tariff.

Why do you assume they have been missold something by an over eager sales person ?  The majority of these cases are purely down to the obscene out of contract prices that BT, and many others, charge and people just ignoring all the letters telling them their contract is coming to an end.  My BB costs £24.99, out of contract £35.37.  My SIL is paying £29.99, out of contract £42.99.

iniltous

Are you sure it’s £80 a month and not £80 a quarter ….if she pays 30p a minute then mobiles are the same not more expensive, obviously premium rate calls are more expensive, that’s with every single provider.
If it’s £80 per month , post the breakdown of the bill , it may be the broadband is perfectly reasonable price , but she’s on the wrong call plan for her usage ….if she is on PAYG calls paying 30p a minute, and making a 5 minute call every day ,thats £1.50 x30 days , £45 on calls , plus for example £33 for broadband and ‘line’ that’s around £78 instead of (for example) paying £12-18 for Unlimited minutes , plus £30 for broadband that’s £48 a saving of £30 , being on the inappropriate call plan is not a rip-off, that’s a poor choice of call plan .
BT do say for anything more than the occasional very short outgoing call , an included minutes plan is the better choice , anyone paying £12 for Unlimited ( that’s a price obtainable after negotiations ) would need to make less than 40 mins of calls a month to be worse off on Unlimited and better off on PAYG 

john1

BT offers a discounted package called BT Home Essentials for eligible pensioners and other low-income households, it is not a dedicated senior tariff. For qualifying customers, it includes fibre broadband and phone line, with prices starting at £15 per month for 36Mbps speeds and 700 minutes of calls, or £24 per month for 67Mbps and unlimited UK calls. 

BT Home Essentials Fibre Essential: £15 per month for 36Mbps fibre broadband and 700 minutes of calls to UK landlines and mobiles. 

BT Home Essentials Fibre 2: £24 per month for 67Mbps fibre broadband and unlimited UK calls. 

BT Home Essentials Call Plan: If you only want a phone, there is a landline-only option for £10 per month with unlimited calls. 

Eligibility and application

Eligibility: You must be receiving certain government benefits, including Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit). 

 You need to apply directly through the BT Home Essentials web page, not the standard home broadband page. You will need to provide information, such as your National Insurance number, for an instant eligibility check. 

You / mum could call BT  on 0330 123 4150  if you  need additional help,