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BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

jfatherley13 — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:14:15 GMT

Hello

My father in law has just moved and taken out a new BT digital phone line £ 11 a month, he received a new smart hub with it. It has broadband built in which is live, how much will he pay for the broadband or is it free?

Naturally as he's 88 he doesn't want excessive charges if he uses it

Thanks

James.

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:17:53 GMT

@jfatherley13

Welcome to this user forum for BT Retail phone and broadband customers.

The broadband is needed to provide the phone connect and does not involve any extra charge.

Although the broadband is live, I would not expect any access to the Internet, its just there to connect to the new Digital Voice service.

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

jfatherley13 — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:24:46 GMT

Hi Keith

Thank you for your quick reply appreciated.

I did connect my phone to the Smart Hub and was able to browse the internet, the speed also seemed very fast as well. Will BT restrict how data you can browse for free, he has a smart TV so I was thinking of connecting it to the Hub.

Thanks

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:33:17 GMT

I have asked a moderator to comment, as this is the first time anyone has posted about this, so a definitive answer would help.

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

licquorice — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:36:05 GMT

Hmm, it sounds as though he has a full broadband service. I didn't think any form of Digital Voice only service was being rolled out yet.

Can you post a screenshot of the hub manager stats page please? 192.168.1.254 > advanced settings > technical log > information.

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:40:41 GMT

£11 seems rather cheap, as its normally £26.35.

Could this be a home essentials package?

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

jfatherley13 — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:46:16 GMT

Hi yes no problem will do, he's a different address so will pop across and get a screen shot.

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:49:00 GMT

@jfatherley13

I think its this that he may have. That is close to the price you mentioned.

Home essentials (for those with no income) - £11.99 upfront then £15/month for up to 36Mb plus unlimited minutes calling plan

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

jfatherley13 — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:56:08 GMT

I think there is some discount if you don't want broadband! The irony is he got it anyway....

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

iniltous — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 12:24:06 GMT

Be interesting to get the exact details and price , if someone moved into a home that was FTTP , or even one with copper , but only wanted telephony, given there is no longer a way to order a ‘WLR’ phone line , and some type of broadband is necessary for Digital Voice , the assumption has always been that a very small bandwidth product (0.5Mb ) would be provided in the background , that enables calls ( because that only needs a tiny amount if bandwidth) , but would be almost useless for the ‘internet’ , even if a SH2 router were provided so there is a place to plug in the phone .

I suspect ( as already stated ) they will have been supplied with a cheap Home Essentials broadband deal , even if they think they ordered a phone only service, it would be an easy sell , as it’s cheaper than a traditional standalone phone line anyway , the broadband is effectively free , but do they qualify for the product ( which is normally dependent on being in receipt of certain benefits ) , or is it simply a way to get around providing a phone only service when copper phone service is no longer available ?

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

NeilO — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 12:38:50 GMT

@jfatherley13 If we've provided a line only customer broadband so they can get digital voice it should solely be for the use of digital voice.

If you can get us the name of the plan that has been ordered, we would be in a better position to answer.

Thanks

Neil

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

jfatherley13 — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:01:41 GMT

Hi Neil

From looking at the bill in the BT cloud it just says Broadband Services £ 11.73 a month, which what he was paying for when he had a normal line at his previous house.

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:50:46 GMT

Its possible of course, that the Internet part of it may well cease, once all the order are closed.

I would be a bit wary of using the Internet, until the situation has been clarified, just in case there are extra usage charges raised.

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

NeilO — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 14:22:50 GMT

@jfatherley13 I'll be happy to take a look at your father-in-law's account and clarify this. I'll send you a private message in a moment so you can send me his details.

Thanks

Neil

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

jfatherley13 — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 12:02:36 GMT

Hi - I have sent through the details requested via PM can I have a response please?

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 12:05:10 GMT

@jfatherley13

The Mods are a small team dealing with what seems like an ever-increasing workload in strict rotation So it could take a few days or so for your issue to reach the top of the pile.

Re: BT Digital Phone Service is the broadband free?

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 12:19:44 GMT

The mods have recently quoted a five working day response time.