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Changes to the BT service |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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Changes to the BT service
Just had an email from BT about changes to there service.
Dear Customer, At BT, we’re always looking for ways to give you more value for money. That’s why we’ve come up with a few changes that could save you money. Make FREE calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers. Having to pay for calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers can be a source of irritation for everyone. Whilst BT customers have always benefited from cheap calls to these numbers, we’ve now decided to go one step further and as of 16th January, make calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers FREE within your inclusive call time. Depending on the type of calling plan you have, these calls are FREE during the weekend (with Unlimited Weekend Plan), evenings and weekends (with Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan) or any time (with Unlimited Anytime Plan). So now you can make the calls you need to make, without worrying about the cost. We’re making a few other changes too. At BT, we listen to your feedback. That’s why from 1st April we will be changing our Friends & Family discount scheme. We’re introducing two new discount options, Friends & Family Mobile and Friends & Family International that are better suited to the type of calls our customers make today. From this date the current Friends & Family scheme will no longer be available, however our two new products will allow you to save money on all calls to UK mobiles and all international calls. We’ll keep you informed, so look out for more details, including instructions on how to opt in to these products, in your bill from April. We are also making some other changes to our prices and terms and conditions, which are detailed below. They include an increase in the price of basic line rental of £1 a month, from 1st April. Manage your account conveniently online. We’d also like to remind you how easy it is to manage your account online. You can: • Change your Calling Features in just a few clicks. • Keep on top of your spending by viewing the cost of your calls. • Set up automated payments like Direct Debit or Monthly Payment Plan. Plus now if you order a new product from us like BT Total Broadband or BT Vision you can track the progress of your order online. Visit Your Account now. Thank you for being a BT customer. Yours faithfully, Nigel Stagg Managing Director, Customer Service Anyone else get this email from BT and what will it mean to the likes of me that are on the BT friends and family and the Mobile Saver 12-month renewable contract. At times we phone a landline more than a mobile and its lucky if the cost of calls we make cames to just under £10 every 3 months for if we do make a call in the evenings we use Broadband Talk to get the free landline call. We do use the phone but there can be maybe 2 sometimes 3 days a week where the phone is not used to make calls. Darren |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 15
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Only last week we were celebrating the changes to 0845 and 0870 pricing. Now we are hit with significant additional charges from 1st April
Line rental up £1 Unlimited Anytime up 10p Calling Features (2-4) up £1.57 Total Rise on my bill will be £2.67 per month Looking at my most recent bill under the new pricing structures I would save 37p for 0845 numbers (I usually use Saynoto0870.com) 4p with the changes on 1st April from Mobile Saver to Friends and Family Mobile (I use my mobile for to call mobiles using up the inclusive minutes) Last bill I had a refund of 18p on Friends and Family, so will lose any savings there! The loss of FF does not make up for the 0.34p/min saving there is to be on Mobile Calls Mobile Calls on Mobile Saver are presently 7.34p/min Mobile Calls on Friends & Family Mobile will be 7p/min As ever, BT highlights the savings, but the increases are hidden in the small print. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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Quote:
Only last week we were celebrating the changes to 0845 and 0870 pricing. Now we are hit with significant additional charges from 1st April
Line rental up £1 Unlimited Anytime up 10p Calling Features (2-4) up £1.57 Total Rise on my bill will be £2.67 per month Looking at my most recent bill under the new pricing structures I would save 37p for 0845 numbers (I usually use Saynoto0870.com) 4p with the changes on 1st April from Mobile Saver to Friends and Family Mobile (I use my mobile for to call mobiles using up the inclusive minutes) Last bill I had a refund of 18p on Friends and Family, so will lose any savings there! The loss of FF does not make up for the 0.34p/min saving there is to be on Mobile Calls Mobile Calls on Mobile Saver are presently 7.34p/min Mobile Calls on Friends & Family Mobile will be 7p/min As ever, BT highlights the savings, but the increases are hidden in the small print. I dont use Unlimited Anytime as I get free evening and weekend via broadband talk and I dont think I make enough calls during the day for me to be needing the Unlimited Anytime package. For as I said above I can go 2 days a week sometimes 3 were I dont use the phone at all. I also pay my BT broadband via the BT bill and pay £5 a week towards bill with the BT payment card. So when bill comes in about 70% of the BT bill is already payed for. Darren |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Retford
Posts: 20,449
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I have to admit, that when I heard about this, two thoughts sprung to mind:
a) won't companies just switch to 0844 and 0871? I have had a letter from a couple of days ago which requires me to call an 0844 number. b) Free 0845 and 0870 calls - the old phrase "too good to be true" springs to mind, particularly when I see the increases elsewhere. |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Arley, Worcs
Posts: 1,334
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One way to save is to make your BT bill monthly instead of quarterley.
It means you only pay your line rental one month in advance instead of three months in advance. The money's better in your account than with BT. |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 717
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If I remember correctly last time I paid my paperless (e-mail) quarterly bill online it said I couldnt set up a monthly payment plan. Dont know why, just assumed it was BT making life awkward for its customers again??
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#7 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: The Little Village
Posts: 3,984
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BT also offer whole bill month DD and not just monthly dd payment plan. When I was with BT I chose whole bill monthly DD, as do other family members still. Some BT operators however might try and convince you it doesn't exist.
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Arley, Worcs
Posts: 1,334
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Quote:
BT also offer whole bill month DD and not just monthly dd payment plan. When I was with BT I chose whole bill monthly DD, as do other family members still. Some BT operators however might try and convince you it doesn't exist.
Last time they put their rates up I cancelled both my Calling Features and finished up paying BT less than before they put their prices up. Unfortunately I nothing else left to cancel to negate this price rise. Isn't it about time Ofcom started insisting on BT producing a line for broadband without the need to have a telephone service of any sort at a much reduced rate. If Ofcom thinks anything about the consumer it would press for such a product instead of people being forced to take a phone service they neither want or need. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 534
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Quote:
That's exactly what I have. As I never use BT for chargeable calls, my bill is always about £10.57.
Last time they put their rates up I cancelled both my Calling Features and finished up paying BT less than before they put their prices up. Unfortunately I nothing else left to cancel to negate this price rise. Isn't it about time Ofcom started insisting on BT producing a line for broadband without the need to have a telephone service of any sort at a much reduced rate. If Ofcom thinks anything about the consumer it would press for such a product instead of people being forced to take a phone service they neither want or need. The price Openreach charge for the 'rent' of a line is regulated by OFCOM, the wholesale price is the same regardless of the service provider, thats why there isnt a massive difference between BT retail, Sky, Talk Talk etc. Openreach are entitled to make a return (profit) on their asset (the line) the price is set and should Openreach need to put up the price OFCOM have to OK it. BT/Openreach is a business (not a social service) and is probably the most regulated business anywhere, so are not allowed to 'charge' what they like, the price is as low as it can go....a line used for broadband only is no cheaper to install or maintain then a line used for calls and broadband |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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It just seems crap at times when BT claim to be trying to save you money then they put the service charges up a little to cover the cost of the savings they are ment to be given you. The loss of friend and family come April will mean some will loss a saving there.
Darren |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Swansea
Posts: 4,346
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Apologies if this has been asked elsewhere.
I have sent an email to BT without reply, but having received notice of the changes does anyone know if this means I have the option of changing providers without incurring a termination charge? I am on the Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan and it is unclear, only referring to 'Exclusions and conditions apply', which I can't find relevant to the Plan, although I did find this in the General T&C If we have made a change which is to your material disadvantage, you will not have to pay a charge if you decide to end your agreement early, unless the relevant price terms say otherwise. However, once we have told you about such a change, you must let us know that you want to end the agreement within ten days. When we make a change that we reasonably believe is to your material disadvantage we will also let you know that you may end the agreement early without paying a charge for doing so. So, Termination charge for changing or not? ![]() These increases suck on principle so I'll be changing anyway even if there is a charge.
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere on planet earth
Posts: 11,320
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They should have a service where you get a landline to use for BB only and a lower line rental charge.
Many people don't make any voice calls with BT. I think the connection fee for each call you make thru BT is going up. Give some freebees with one hand and take back with the other. |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere on planet earth
Posts: 11,320
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Just read elsewhere the minimum call fee,or is it now residential call set up charge, connection charge or whatever the name is and it's already up to 8p.
![]() Guess they have to try and get some extra money after so many customers giving them the heave ho. |
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 534
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Quote:
They should have a service where you get a landline to use for BB only and a lower line rental charge.
Many people don't make any voice calls with BT. I think the connection fee for each call you make thru BT is going up. Give some freebees with one hand and take back with the other. The fact is that if a company wanted to offer broadband without telephony they would charge more, not less, because they would be missing out on the revenue from the calls....virgin for example charge more for their stand alone broadband, less (for the broadband part) if you take their phone and tv as part of a bundle... |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 638
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Quote:
Just read elsewhere the minimum call fee,or is it now residential call set up charge, connection charge or whatever the name is and it's already up to 8p.
![]() Guess they have to try and get some extra money after so many customers giving them the heave ho.
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere on planet earth
Posts: 11,320
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It's like saying yo get a discount if you don't get a paper bill, many pensioners don't have internet and want a paper bill.
I like to keep my bills in a folder and I like a paper bill. My mother used to like to get her bill and she'd go down the same day and pay it at the post office. |
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 62
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It's a business, which is there to generate a profit for the shareholders, not to provide a public service. That went out with Post Office Telephones - and all the little Sidlets who voted for that have got what they deserve.
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,749
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Quote:
It's a business, which is there to generate a profit for the shareholders, not to provide a public service. That went out with Post Office Telephones - and all the little Sidlets who voted for that have got what they deserve.
Yes - I still think people think BT are there as a public social security service rather than a business. Particulary the issue over Public Call Boxes. If you wanted a Public Telephone Service (and Red Phone boxes in every village) you shouldn't have let Thatcher and Tebbit sell YOUR BT to shareholders. |
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#19 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: The Little Village
Posts: 3,984
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For almost 4 years I didn't have a traditional phone line, as I live in a cable area I have cable broadband and used VoIP, spent less than £20 in calls in that time, would have still been VoIP only if a VM retention deal didn't give me such a good deal to include a phone line, now I just use the VM phone for the inclusive calls and continue to use VoIP for the others, no one's even known until I told them I was using VoIP.
Obviously if you don't live in a cable area this can't be done. |
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: ♂
Posts: 11,500
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Quote:
And I guess even more people will be leaving after this increase comes in. I really feel sorry for all the OAPs who don't have internet access and will never think of changing providers - they are the ones really being ripped off by BT
![]() as mentioned, the rise in rental etc is downplayed in the small print at the bottom had enough ... phoned Post Office this morning and switched to Post Office Homephone which sounds superb... my switchover date is in 2 weeks... Good riddance BT
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: ♂
Posts: 11,500
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Quote:
It's like saying yo get a discount if you don't get a paper bill, many pensioners don't have internet and want a paper bill.
I like to keep my bills in a folder and I like a paper bill. My mother used to like to get her bill and she'd go down the same day and pay it at the post office. they can switch by phoning them on freephone 0800 092 0514 it's great value, and you can keep quarterly paper billing paid over the counter without being penalised for it as BT does
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere on planet earth
Posts: 11,320
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I'm not a pensioner but I'm heading that way.
![]() I like the idea of a paper bill every three months that you can pay at the bank. I've gone off of DD recently after a problem with my electricity company. I don't like companies helping themselves to my bank account. |
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 813
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Quote:
I'm not a pensioner but I'm heading that way.
![]() I like the idea of a paper bill every three months that you can pay at the bank. I've gone off of DD recently after a problem with my electricity company. I don't like companies helping themselves to my bank account. |
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 919
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We've at last overcome the inertia and left BT for the TalkTalk phone and BB package. The transition was seamless.
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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Quote:
I would recommend pensioners - and indeed anyone - to switch to Post Office Homephone, (click link in my above post for details)
they can switch by phoning them on freephone 0800 092 0514 it's great value, and you can keep quarterly paper billing paid over the counter without being penalised for it as BT does ![]() Darren |
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