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The Latest 'Service' From BT But... There's A Catch!


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Old 08-12-2005, 09:05
Polarknight
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At this time of year we're all looking to save a bit of money so imagine my excitement when in the latest edition of BT Update I read about their new service, 'Friends & Family Update' which reads as follows:

"BT Friends & Family - now updated for you. Save 10% on calls.

If you don't have the time to update your list of most dialled numbers, let us do it for you. Sign up to Friends & Family Auto Update now and save 10% on at least 5 of your most-called eligible numbers with BT Together."

Well, I simply don't have the time to update my list of most dialled numbers so, of course, I gave them a call right away! When I got through to Customer Service I asked if there was an additional charge for 'BT Friends & Family Update' and I was told there was not and that they could sign me up for it immediately so, of course, I said do it now without delay. I was then asked if I wanted to change my Best Friend number and I said no, keep it as it is for the moment. The adviser then said, "That's fine, you'll continue to receive a 20% discount on calls to your Best Friend number and a 10% discount on any subsequent five most-used numbers". Just at that, realisation dawned and I said: "Er, what about the other numbers in my Friends & Family list? Will I still receive a discount on them?" The adviser said "Nooooo, only the next five numbers." "Oh, I said," so the Friends & Family Update in effect cuts your Friends & Family numbers down by half!" At that point I thought it would be more economical to keep to the 11 discounted numbers I have at present (Best Friend and a further 10) and continue to update as I go when each bill comes in and asked if I could just stay as I am, to which I was told: "That's ok, but now you've registered you'll have to re-enter your list of numbers to receive the discounts!" And of course, when you do that... the changes don't take effect until 12midnight so any calls made before... So beware!!
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Old 08-12-2005, 10:46
dawson
 
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Ah, but if you are on BT Together Option 2, they offer 10 numbers...and BT Together Option 3 increases the number available to 15

And remember that 10% off 10 numbers that are never called equals no saving updating the numbers after you receive your bill will not affect the bill you have just received - with auto update you will save 10% off the 5 numbers (or more) that provide you with the greatest discount (F&F only applies to certain numbers) on each bill.

I agree, if you want to take the time to carefully monitor your calls to ensure you have the 10 most beneficial F&F numbers on your BT Together Option 1 account, you would be wise to opt for the manual method.

However, if you have the spare time & effort to do that, it would probably be better spent identifying cheaper, or free, call providers in the first place.
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Old 08-12-2005, 16:51
Polarknight
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That may be so but if I have 11 Friends & Family numbers and BT introduces an improvement to the service, then I expect that to affect ALL the numbers I have registered, not just half of them because I am not prepared to pay more for an increased BT Together option (which, let's face it, only lulls us into a false sense of security that we're getting something extra so that makes us feel complacent about calling more which means that ultimately we end up shelling out more; whatever you save with BT Together you're paying for a percentage of what they're giving you in a discount by your subscription to the service). No, the only ones who are the winners here are BT and once again the customer is losing out.
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Old 08-12-2005, 18:18
dawson
 
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Originally Posted by Polarknight
No, the only ones who are the winners here are BT and once again the customer is losing out.
Not necessarily

As you say, you can keep the old system if you prefer

However, looking at my last bill, I only received discount on 1 F&F number as I had not called the other nine.

Now, with auto update I will automatically receive discount on the five most frequently called numbers (subject to them being allowed as F&F number)

Whether you opt for auto update is up to you, the customer.
The winner is the customer who now has a choice
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Old 08-12-2005, 19:33
timboy
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[quote=Polarknight]"Sign up to Friends & Family Auto Update now and save 10% on at least 5 of your most-called eligible numbers with BT Together."

......

"That's fine, you'll continue to receive a 20% discount on calls to your Best Friend number and a 10% discount on any subsequent five most-used numbers". Just at that, realisation dawned and I said: "Er, what about the other numbers in my Friends & Family list? Will I still receive a discount on them?" The adviser said "Nooooo, only the next five numbers." "Oh, I said," so the Friends & Family Update in effect cuts your Friends & Family numbers down by half!" QUOTE]

Should have gone to Specsavers. that way you would have read the information properly before calling up.

Seriously though, the average person will save more on the new system. Most people only have 2 or 3 numbers on their list that they save on as they have not bothered updating them in years.

As dawson says, you have the choice. If you register online it is easy to keep the 11 number option and update yourself each quarter.
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Old 09-12-2005, 10:12
poppasmurf
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This tale further proves that I am right NOT to use BT to make any calls at all. By using 18185 and 18866 I'm saving too much money even to consider using BT for calls, I'm paying 5p a minute for calls to mobiles during the day from my BT phone on 18185.co.uk, and 4p a minute to 0870 numbers. Even with their 20% off, BT don't come near.
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Old 09-12-2005, 13:09
dawson
 
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Make one chargeable call with BT per billing period and get Caller ID for FREE

...and if that chargeable call has a discount of 20% attached, so much the better
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Old 09-12-2005, 18:43
poppasmurf
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Make one chargeable call with BT per billing period and get Caller ID for FREE
Correction, yes. That's 5p per quarter well spent by me.
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