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BT raises pay phone charge to 40p |
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#26 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1,381
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40p for 20mins sounds fair enough to me.
I remember the days when they were 10p, but you got cut off after about 20 seconds!! I think we have to bear in mind that hardly anyone uses phone boxes these days, so the costs are going to be higher to offset this. Personally, considering all the calling cards that are in them, they're probably more use to prostitutes than the GBP! |
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#27 |
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Between the gutter and stars
Posts: 6,825
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SweetyPie2006
yeah i agree. mobile phones are actually CHEAPER now than using phone boxes.
its a joke |
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#28 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: overseas
Posts: 379
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I have a pay as you go mobile but I rarely use it for calls as it's too expensive.
I use the phone box over the road to call my family on land lines, it's good value for a 15 minute chat for 30p and much cheaper than on my mobile. A 10p rise is a cheek though, it's not long that it went up to 30p. |
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#29 |
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Banned User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,469
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Let's say my house landline phone stops working and I have to contact BT. I usually go to a phone box to report the fault and dial 151 ( or whatever the number is for BT faults ) and it's free.
If I used my PAYG mobile I think that I am charged to get thru to BT faults and my Virgin tarriff is 75p for the first five minutes and then 5p per min. I may have to wait a very long time before I can speak to someone at BT faults so this gets very expensive. |
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#30 |
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Costa Del Sol, Spain
Posts: 1,805
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I think phone boxes should go down to 10p for a 1 to 2 minute call or something like that. Imagine this situation: You've had your coat stolen with your wallet and mobile and you need a phone. Someone will happily part with 10p if asked nicely, as it isnt much and would make a big difference, but 40p is a bit awquard.
People dont want to make long calls from phone boxes. Stood up in a cramped space for 20 minutes? No thanks. But if im out of credit and want to call a taxi or something then they're handy. But not at 40p a call! Bring it back down to 10p for a 1 to 2 minute call and people will use them again. |
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#31 |
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfster
Well, privatise a public service and it no longer is a public service. Blame the government (any of them).
BT is now a public company responsible and accountable ONLY to its shareholders. They have absolutely no legal requirement to keep the public phones going. Maybe an ethical one but again the government removed that when WE stopped paying for it via our taxes. Bring back hanging, I say. However, you can see why they are raising the minimum charge can't you? 1) They are trying to get a few more quid in the coffers - usually making money out of those who cant afford it. 2) If they can demonstrate the a particular payphone is uneconomical, then they can apply for it's removal, and increasing the minimum charge is a way making it uneconomical isn't it? Most people have mobiles now anyway and even Pay & Go ones are cheaper than 40p to call aren't they? At this rate phoneboxes will be a thing of the past, BT would like that. |
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#32 |
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AubreyStevens
Let's say my house landline phone stops working and I have to contact BT. I usually go to a phone box to report the fault and dial 151 ( or whatever the number is for BT faults ) and it's free.
If I used my PAYG mobile I think that I am charged to get thru to BT faults and my Virgin tarriff is 75p for the first five minutes and then 5p per min. I may have to wait a very long time before I can speak to someone at BT faults so this gets very expensive. BT came and replaced the pole outside once, and at same time replaced the cable into the house, that was late 80's. If your landline goes faulty and there's no phone box near you (not everyone lives near one) you nip round the neighbours and call dont you? It's free after all. |
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#33 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: West London
Posts: 3,182
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BT telephones are still far better value than payphones you get in pubs/ garages etc. About a year ago, I tried to use a phone in a petrol station and put in 50p for a quick call to let my spouse know I had arrived safely, but I had time to say hello and my money had run out. I had about 3 seconds for 50p and when I complained to the gentleman behind the till he just said that's how it is. At the rate my money went in it would have cost £10 for one minute!
Now that is a rip-off! Bigger Al |
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#34 |
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrsHurley
I have a pay as you go mobile but I rarely use it for calls as it's too expensive.
I use the phone box over the road to call my family on land lines, it's good value for a 15 minute chat for 30p and much cheaper than on my mobile. A 10p rise is a cheek though, it's not long that it went up to 30p. Has to be better than standing in an oversized urinal that we call a phonebox? |
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#35 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 2,904
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40p! Nonsense! I use them if I have no credit on my mobile, and it's usually just to say that I'm either coming home, do you want to meet me, or I'm not coming home yet. 5 minutes max. 40p is a rip off.
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#36 |
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Banned User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,469
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlarmsBloke
How often does a landline go faulty though? My parents have had a phone since 1971 and have NEVER had a fault.
BT came and replaced the pole outside once, and at same time replaced the cable into the house, that was late 80's. If your landline goes faulty and there's no phone box near you (not everyone lives near one) you nip round the neighbours and call dont you? It's free after all. It's still much handier and cheaper for me to use a phonebox than my mobile to call BT faults. Some people especially elderly don't have a mobile and may not want to disturb neighbours and ask to use their phone or they may not have any close at hand. Also if I want to call a freephone number I will be charged on my mobile but not from a phone box. I myself don't have any neighbours. I live in a remote area and have had a number of tel faults since I moved here. Last edited by AubreyStevens : 27-09-2006 at 13:44. |
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#37 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3,673
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I suspect that BT will probably leave the rural boxes in place, as it's these ones which are most important.
As a matter of interest, BT have the technology to monitor your line and have a notification raised if a fault develops. They use this very technology to monitor the lines of vulnerable people (such as those with a link to a warden over the line) If you consider your line to be essential (i dont know your circumstances) then a chat to BT might come up with some useful things. (If you can get the CS operator to understand your needs!) |
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#38 |
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: a whimsical world
Posts: 20,959
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some other countries have free local calls & the equivalent of about 10p or less for unlimited time from a payphone
how can they manage it & ripoff BT cant? |
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#39 |
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Join Date: Jul 2005
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#40 |
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Guest
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,312
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spot
I do not have a mobile phone as I rarely make phone calls when I am away from home. In fact I don't make many calls when I'm at home either. Recently, I had to use a payphone in London to call a friend to confirm arrangements for a visit before making my way to his home. This must have been the first time in ten years - probably a lot longer - that I used a payphone. The call cost 30p but for that I got ample time without having to put any more money in. I can recall that the time allowed for the basic cost was nothing like 15 minutes back in the 1960s and 1970s when I last used payphones to any extent.
Now I'm rather surprised to find that people are suggesting that it would be cheaper to get a mobile phone. I find it hard to believe I could have owned one for ten years and have paid out less that 30p in all that time. But I shall investigate further - because that sounds like such a bargain that if it turns out to be true, even I might decicde to get one! ![]() Besides - I dont really use my mobile for phoning (something like 15p per minute on my tariff!) so I just text. If I need to make a call when i'm out, I usually look for the nearest phonebox. Making a call in public is not usually a good idea when you have naughty people around! |
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#41 |
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Banned User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 838
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Pixie
To be fair to BT, they aren't actually raising prices, they are just saying your minimum call length is now 20 mins if you want to get best value for your money.
Before minimum charge - 30p = 15 mins. Now minimum charge - 40p = 20 mins.
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#42 |
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Engerlandddddd!
Posts: 3,469
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ricky77
40p for 20mins sounds fair enough to me.
I remember the days when they were 10p, but you got cut off after about 20 seconds!! I think we have to bear in mind that hardly anyone uses phone boxes these days, so the costs are going to be higher to offset this. Personally, considering all the calling cards that are in them, they're probably more use to prostitutes than the GBP! It's perhaps true that not many use call boxes these days, but I think they are important when you need them - flat phone battery, or had your phone nicked? Stranded in a strange area? I think they can be an asset for public safety. But you can hardly find one these days. I think my town used to have about 11 that I can remember, now theres 2 left on one street (I'm sure it'll be down to one, before long). BT seems to want to reduce their popularity more and get rid of more by upping the price of usage every year, while Ofcom lets them. Perhaps BT should rent out advertising space to ladies of the night to subsidise them .
Last edited by Chunes : 27-09-2006 at 21:43. |
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#43 |
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Engerlandddddd!
Posts: 3,469
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I think it's a shame that this topic was moved to "landline telephony" a petty niche forum, that personally never browse, as I think this topic is of general interest to most people.
I hope there were no perdants that moaned to the mods that it shouldn't be in general discussion. Perhaps I should moan to have it moved back to GD .
Last edited by Chunes : 27-09-2006 at 21:49. |
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#44 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: South Notts (Waltham TV TX)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Seven
And about time too I hope there priced off the streets. Get rid of these ad-hoc urinals, there an eyesore
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78171906@N00/253982852/ That street wouldn't be the same without them. |
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#45 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: a whimsical world
Posts: 20,959
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tried to use a BT payphone in the city centre today, put a 20p coin in first and it jammed in the slot. wouldnt go down on pressing the coin slot button, & it was too far in to retrieve.
phoned the BT payphone fault reporting line & explained. the guy said they will be sending their repair team round. i said but what about my 20p & basically his reply was too bad i am expected to write off my 20p. ok i know most people can live with losing 20p, but its the principle of it. how dare BT keep all the money lost in dodgy payphones that they refuse to refund? its basically a mini-scam. ![]() & its hardly going to encourage people to use payphones Last edited by Ovalteenie : 26-10-2006 at 03:09. |
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#46 |
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Banned User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 4,837
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Well it's because the chavs keep smashing the windows, what do you expect, somebody has to pay for all that criminal damage...
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#47 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: NE Essex,6½m SSW of Sudbury TX
Posts: 7,107
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ovalteenie
& its hardly going to encourage people to use payphones
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#48 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: a whimsical world
Posts: 20,959
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Heinz
Nor does the smell of urine.
also i once saw someone using a payphone & he was drooling saliva onto the mouthpiece. yuck. i always give a payphone receiver a good wipe clean before holding it to my ear.
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#49 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2,202
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfster
Well, privatise a public service and it no longer is a public service. Blame the government (any of them).
BT is now a public company responsible and accountable ONLY to its shareholders. They have absolutely no legal requirement to keep the public phones going. Maybe an ethical one but again the government removed that when WE stopped paying for it via our taxes. Bring back hanging, I say. |
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#50 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: NE Essex,6½m SSW of Sudbury TX
Posts: 7,107
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We've still got 2 (old-style, red boxes) on the main road through our village (about 2,500 homes).
I've lived here 3 years and have never seen anyone use either (for their designed purpose or any other). |
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