Forum Topic

BT Costs - Phone, Broadband & TV

My in-laws have asked me to look into their bills from BT as they seem to be overcharged each month.It seems ludicrously high to me, but as I don't use BT, and have no experience of BT Vision (which they really like) can anyone confirm this please?Current charges:- Line Rental Saver (paid annually in advance): £15.29 per month- Friends and Family Mobile: £1.81 per month- BT Total Broadband Option 1 (10GB limit): £19.26- Internet Phone Evening & Weekend Calls: £3.72- BT TV Essential: £5 per monthTotal = £45.08 per monthThey seem to be getting a worse deal than I get on Virgin - but with TV on top - and paying £20+ per month for the privilege.They have a "Home Hub 2.0", which is quite an old model, I believe.Any suggestions as to what sort of deal they should be pursuing?Thanks!

Phil Kay ● 3962d12 Comments

It's 3/Three and I have better reception than any other network at home. I was previously with Vodafone and O2. Yes, unlimited 4G where transmitted. I used to be sceptical about this network but I habe a second mobile which I have had for years on 3 and it's the only one that has not given me reception or network or any other problems.

Joanna Dabrowska ● 3920d

Thanks Joanna - which mobile network do you use?Is that unlimited 4G data?

Phil Kay ● 3920d

I have Unlimited BT Infinity (78mb or sthg) for about £18 per month. If you buy line rental in advance one doesn't have to pay the caller ID, etc etc (rules changed last year). Although I had to demand a refund when they started charging unnecessarily. Line rental paid in advance as per the annual sum as mentioned by others. Mobile wise I have a £18/mth for unlimited data and texts, and 600 mins. Also includes free tethering, free data, texts and calls abroad in some countries (I visit the USA). So free roaming effectively.

Joanna Dabrowska ● 3921d

Forgot to say that BT charged them £6.95 to deliver their Home Hub 5.0 but waived the £30 fee that they'd originally demanded for the home visit by the BT OpenReach technician.

Phil Kay ● 3921d

Thanks for everyone's responses.  It's SO much easier to negotiate when you have a starting point.After a lot of messing me around and promising to call me back, which never happened, the following has met with my in-laws' approval:- Line Rental Saver until November 2015: c. £13.33 per month- BT Infinity 2 (unlimited "super fast" broadband) = £20.00 pcm- Anytime calls = £7.45 pcm- BT TV Essential inc BT Sports = £2.00 pcmTOTAL = £42.78 (Contract length 18 months and free Caller ID for 12 months)

Phil Kay ● 3921d

Yep - giffgaff is the way to go !

Charles Campbell ● 3961d

Hey hey, a fellow giffgaffer!

Nigel Brooks ● 3961d

It sounds about right, I pay line rental yearly @ £159.84(last August) My monthly bill is about £32 (without line rental)unlimited broadband £19.15, unlimited anytime calls £5.30Barring withheld  calls £5.05 privacy (so you can see the phone number who called)£1.75, so if you take into account line rental,45 is not far off

John Charles Todd ● 3961d

Unless your BT broadband is infinity - then £19.26 is high. Normally, you can negotiate substantial discounts. They do have a number of options attached which hikes the price. The only option I found useful is the call waiting (consulting business)which is £3.70/month.  I pay £296.50 for the year with free weekend calls and the call waiting.  However, having said that I also pay £10/month to Giffgaff for 500 min mobile usage.

Charles Campbell ● 3961d

Thanks Nigel - that's really helpful. They're not being overcharged to quite the degree I feared but enough to be annoying.With 2 young grandchildren visiting, 10GB of downloads is never going to be enough!

Phil Kay ● 3961d

Thanks Nigel - that's really helpful. They're not being overcharged to quite the degree I feared but enough to be annoying.With 2 young grandchildren visiting, 10GB of downloads is never going to be enough!

Phil Kay ● 3961d

I don't have BT TV Phil but I negotiated a rate of £18.00 for unlimited BT Infinity (38Mb/sec) on a Home Hub 5 including evening and weekend calls. With Line Saver I pay just over £33.00 month.Mobile wise I signed up the whole family to giffgaff and calls between our mobiles are absolutely free. Happy to let you have more details.

Nigel Brooks ● 3961d