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Telecoms giant BT has said it will increase call charges by 10% and its monthly line rental by 50p from the beginning of October.       >:(

The majority of customers will be informed of the move by letter this week.

The cost of connecting a call will go up from 9.9 pence to 10.9p, while the daytime rate rises from 5.9p to 6.4p.

Customers who sign up to a year-long contract upfront will avoid the increased charges.

BT said it estimates the impact of the changes will be just 1p a day, because its average customer makes only 80 seconds of daytime calls each day, and more than half subscribe to inclusive packages.

It said "calling plans enable customers to avoid the set-up fee and charges for most calls altogether".

Cheaper rates
 
From October, BT customers will pay a landline rental charge of £13.29 a month, or £12.04 if they receive their bills by e-mail.

The price changes are part of a concerted move by the company to get customers to sign up to longer-term contracts and special bundled packages.

They are offering cheaper rates for those that do.

After 1 October, the standard cost of a landline will be £159.48 to those who pay the entire sum upfront, but for those who sign up before the end of October, the cost will be £113.88, which works out at £9.49 a month.

BT said it understood the price increases would not go down well with customers, but said it would be happy to discuss inclusive packages to reduce bills or different payment options, such as inclusive packages.

See:-   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10676934

Hi MH.  It appears a bit got missed out. ;) It actually says.

"After 1 October, the standard cost of a landline will be £159.48. For those who pay the entire sum upfront, it will be £131.88. If they sign up before the end of October, the cost will be £113.88, which works out at £9.49 a month."

If your interested in the Line Rental Saver bear the following in mind .

Its only available with paper-free billing (view your bill online and receive no paper bill)

You must set up Direct Debit to cover any call changes made throughout the year

You need to make at least two BT calls per month to avoid monthly charge of £1.50 being added to your bill

Line Rental Saver payment is non-refundable

At the end of the 12 months you'll revert to monthly line rental unless you tell them otherwise

If you currently get a discount for paper-free billing, this will stop

Some calling plans aren't available with Line Rental Saver( The unlimited weekend plan for example unless taken with broadband).

See: http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=29984

And: http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13962/c/345

Nice exploration Bj, thanks for the info  :)

Thanks for the additional details BJ.        :)

I wonder why the weekend plan is excluded ?        :-\

I note that you pay for a year in advance, but BT will refind ziltch if you leace BT:-


Be warned about this.       ???

Is there a better alternative to BT now ?  Is the discounted offer from Primus telecom, posted here (http://www.foneforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,1494.msg7765.html#msg7765), still available do you know BJ ?        :-\

not a great news