B T price changes

allanmc

Hi Bufflowbill,

Wish I had posted this at a quieter time. I'm really struggling to reply in a timely manner to the excellent points being raised.

I think what will happen is that they show £12.50 on your bill (minus the VAT) as the standard monthly line rental charge.

In the credits bit they will show the monthly credits of £1.50, direct debit credit, and £0.50, paperfree credit (both of these will also be shown minus the VAT).

They will then total it up for the quarter, take off your credits, add the VAT and charge you £31.50, plus any other chargeable calls that you may have made via BT (daytime landline, mobile, 0870, 0845, etc).

This is what they do with my DD and parerfree credits at the moment. I think they include the "Discount is via bill credit" phrase as a legal requirement so that it is clearly stated what is going to happen and why £12.50 (minus the VAT) is shown on your bill for the monthly line rental.

Once again, if anyone knows any different, please feel free to correct me.

I have been through the "Evening & Weekend calls (Option 2) FREE with 12 month renewable contract" T&Cs again and can find NO mention of a monthly chargeable call requirement. I can only find that detailed on the Free Weekends (option 1) package.

twins4384

Is this 'monthly chargable calls' thing not something to do with keeping the free 1571 service and not the actual calling package?

Heinz

twins4384 wrote: »

Is this 'monthly chargable calls' thing not something to do with keeping the free 1571 service and not the actual calling package?

No - see the (greyed) footnote 2 in the below pdf.

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumer/consumerProducts/pdf/Changes_to_BT_Pricing.pdf

It's different to the requirement to make 2 chargeable calls per month (or 6 per quarter if you're billed quarterly) so as not to be charged £1/month for 1571 and/or £1.75/month for Caller Display.

paulby_2

As I already have broadband with PlusNet I've opted to move from BT to their calling plan which is £9.99/month for evening and weekend calls (inclusive of line rental) and also allows the use of override codes such as 18185.

There's also no requirement to make a minimum call spend or to sign up to a lengthy contract (you can leave anytime after the first 30 days). The only stipulation is that you have one of their broadband packages so it would only suit those with, or who want, broadband.

The only downside is that if you want voicemail or caller display you'd need to add on £2 to have both.

The irony is that they're owned by BT!

BritBrat

^ could be a big mistake.

If I was you I would check out the HERE link in Heinz signature.

and also allows the use of override codes such as 18185.

They may do now, but only BT have to allow it.

paulby_2

I had a look through that.

As we're both out during the day we rarely make daytime calls (nor could I trust my wife to dial prefixes). We've been on PlusNet's service for 3 months and have yet to pay more than £9.99 for the phone (i.e. all our calls have been inclusive).

That combined with their £9.99 broadband package (one of Martin's best buys) gives you a combined bill of £19.98/month (which is not bad if you can't get TalkTalk's package). There's also no tie in so , if it does prove to be a "mistake", I can switch without penalty.

I just wanted to point out a simple option that may be of interest if you wanted an evening and weekend calls package (with braoadband) that didn't involve a 12 month "renewable" contract.

alanq

BritBrat wrote: »

I don't intend to enter a new contract, but I would guess to exit it will be £70 Max.

Unless they change that too.

BT Telephony Services price terms
Ending the service

40. If you take service on or after 1st May 2007 the charges for ending either a new line or a line that you take over before the end of the minimum period will be the lower amount of either £70 or the total of the monthly line rental left in the minimum period.

BUT
See 41 & 42.

41. The charges for ending BT Together Option 2 (b) are:
the total of any monthly line rental and BT Together Option 2 (a) calling package fee charges left in the 18 month minimum period for BT Together Option 2 (b). This charge is £14.45 a month....

BritBrat

I could get TalkTalk, but no way I will go with them.

If O2 unbudle my exchange then I may think about changing.

allanmc

Yes Paulby,

Plusnet is an excellent option and well worth considering. Having had experience of their Broadband service over the last 8 years I think they are a very reliable company. Can't comment on their phone support but their Broadband support is excellent.

I would point out that they charge for £1 for 1571 Voicemail and £1.50 for Caller Display (£2 for the pair) which lifts them up to £12 for your phone if these services are important. BT include these services in the £10.50 rolling contract if you sign up for their BT Privacy service. If these services,are not important Plusnet should be seriously considered. Be aware that the future use of override codes with Plusnet may not be as well supported as it has to be by BT; even though Plusnet are owned by BT, they are a completely seperate company and are not as heavily regulated and restrained.

Having had recurring problems with TalkTalk, since moving my calls to them when they started, I would only use them if the deal was particularly outstanding. Too much hassle trying to sort simple things out.

I can understand the reluctance of entering a 12 month contract but find it hard to find a better deal, including all the bells and whistles, that involves as little hassle as possible. Sign up for the year and review it when you get the renewal advice. If it can be beaten at that point, then move, if it can't, or it's not worth the bother, stay for another year.

jhp

allanmc wrote: »

I can understand the reluctance of entering a 12 month contract but find it hard to find a better deal, including all the bells and whistles, that involves as little hassle as possible. Sign up for the year and review it when you get the renewal advice. If it can be beaten at that point, then move, if it can't, or it's not worth the bother, stay for another year.

Yes we no you like this offer.:D Do you work for BT by any chance ?

I would rather stick to Heinz trusted plan, and i suspect others would also.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1598074&postcount=3
Why tie yourself to a rolling contract when their is no need to.