500 Minute Allowance

[AlexWeir39]

As a result of the current pandemic and the instructions from the government about contacting elderly relatives and other family members at this time of lockdown are BT looking at the possibility of extending the length of the 500 minute allowance for the duration of the lockdown. I have been able to use nearly all in 2 weeks.

[Keith_Beddoe]

@AlexWeir39 

Phone call charges are being capped at £5, excluding International and Premium rate calls, so you can carry on making calls,

[imjolly]

@Keith_Beddoe 

the £5 cap applies to landline only customers

[Keith_Beddoe]

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@imjolly wrote:

@Keith_Beddoe 

the £5 cap applies to landline only customers

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@AlexWeir39  has not specified whether they have broadband as well. There cannot be too many landline only customers these days.

[imjolly]

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@Keith_Beddoe wrote:

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@imjolly wrote:

@Keith_Beddoe 

the £5 cap applies to landline only customers

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@AlexWeir39  has not specified whether they have broadband as well. There cannot be too many landline only customers these days.

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that's why I posted just to ensure that if @AlexWeir39 has broadband then £5 cap does not apply

[AlexWeir39]

Yes i have broadband as well

[PaulBoocock]

I am in the same position... obviously needing to keep in touch during these worrying times with isolated elderly relatives... and already notified that I have burned 80% of allowance after 10 days of the month period. I think BT are about to make a huge and unjustified profit from the crisis. Every user is paying them £40+ already... and the use of the system costs them nothing extra... why do "land line only" customers deserve better treatment that the rest of us?

[gg30340]

If you and your loved ones have mobile phones and the Internet you should install the WhatsApp app and use that to make your calls. They are made via the Internet and do not cost anything. You can also do video calls if you are happy to use that medium. 

[annegray01]

I agree with Paul, it's very unfair that landline only customers get special treatment.

[-Richie-]

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@annegray01wrote:

I agree with Paul, it's very unfair that landline only customers get special treatment.

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I thought it was a kind gesture, took away the worry for people who were stuck at home with no outside contact.

Landline only customers with no broadband rely on using their phones to keep in contact with family, doctors and other services like telephone banking, during the lockdown people were urged to stay at home, so BT decided to cap any call charges so people didn't feel isolated or had options to survive.

Broadband customers were all upgraded to unlimited usage, customers who have a PC, tablet, laptop or smart phones can use hundreds of free options to keep in touch with family, the likes of Zoom, Whatsapp, Skype, Discord etc
Doctors were doing online video consultations, online shopping, online banking, video streaming to stay entertained.

Landline only and broadband customers were both given special treatment, the only difference is the broadband allowances are gone for good, the £5 cap was never permanent.