Yet Another Crooked BT "Deal"

[rbz5416]

Noticed this morning that I have an option to renew my package at the same price. With yet another inflation busting increase due next March I'm unlikely to do so, but had a look anyway. I've posted numerous times in the past about how when I looked at my phone options, I was offered the chance to "upgrade" from PAYG for free, to PAYG for £3pm.

Well now if I want renew my package "at the same price", I'm forced to reselect PAYG with the £3 charge.

When taken in context of the posts we see daily, I can't quite decide if BT are the most incompetent organisation I've ever dealt with or the most dishonest. Given that this "deal" not only shows an image of a SH2 but also names it, despite the fact that we know the have no intention of supplying one, I'm minded more & more towards thinking it's both...

[stereohaven]

For a business supposedly going through a simplification process, they do your head in don’t they? 🤣

No wonder the staff can’t keep up!

By the way, PAYG calls for your phone if you move to EE is £5 per month 😲

I thought future annual increases are capped now at £3 for broadband and £2 for TV?

I accept that may still be higher than inflation, but at least we know the number in advance now, unlike other providers or the CPI + 3.9%.

[rbz5416]

Yes, the increase is fixed at £3. But as I've alluded to previously, that disproportionately penalises those on lower speeds. So for me it's in excess of 10% & a further 10% if I was to accept their gracious offer.

[iniltous]

Many  people complained in the past about having to take a phone service with broadband that was not wanted , and were adamant that broadband without a phone must be cheaper than a broadband service with a phone service , so that’s what is now offered .

Telephony has a cost ( or put another way , standalone broadband costs less )  the ‘cost ’is £3 ( or discount) the £3 provides a phone service on a pay as you go basis ….if the cost of broadband included this £3 and the provider said telephony on PAYG  basis is included, then you are back to the original setup , and the complaints from  many that they are forced into paying for a phone service they don’t want .

If you don’t want a phone service , take a stand alone broadband service and then you don’t pay the £3 , if you expect the phone to be included , and would prefer the £3 to be added to the broadband bill , how do you stop the complaints from those that object to paying anything for a  phone they don’t want ?

[rbz5416]

@iniltous 

You seem to have missed that I already have PAYG at no cost, but BT now want to charge me £3 if I recontract.

[imjolly]

@rbz5416 

so basically the discount you got when taking out last contract is no longer available so £3pm or no phone.  Maybe harder negotiating will get it for free again then again maybe not

[iniltous]

I had ‘free’ Evenings calls when telephone was mandatory with broadband ( not really free , it was a part  of the broadband price , so telephone was provided even if it wasn’t wanted ) , when those legacy calls packages Evenings , Evenings and Weekends, and Anytime were discontinued and new packages introduced, including PAYG , there still wasn’t an option to remove telephony , at my last renewal, I could have broadband without any telephony if I wanted ,  or for  £2 more ( so a £3 discount off the official price ) keep PAYG , I chose to keep telephony.

Some may be able to negotiate that £5 PAYG ‘fee’ to lower than the £2 I pay , perhaps as low as £0, but as a principle I see no issue in having to pay a little more than someone who has no telephony service at all .

If your current deal allows you to keep telephony without a cost ( or it’s listed as a separate item but at £0 ) but renewal either makes it a billable item or increases the cost from £0 , then presumably you do have a choice, don’t renew ( but potentially pay more overall than within a new minimum term )  renew  , and although the telephony is now charged for ,take the total pricing into account, if the overall price is better ….or remove telephony completely.

[garybs29]

It can't just be me struggling to understand how a deal can be "crooked" & "dishonest" when they're being completely upfront with all options on the website anyway

[stereohaven]

I’ve always had PAYG with BT and never paid a monthly charge for it discounted or otherwise over the last 5 years.

When I recontract I’ll just drop Digital Voice completely like most people I suspect would, it just doesn’t get used enough.

Meanwhile, the second biggest ISP in the country offers PAYG, so if a “landline” was really important I would probably just leave completely.

I think BT/EE should offer PAYG DV as part of the basic cost of your broadband, but charge for everything beyond that, adapters, handsets, call packages etc.

Even the handset I got with BT DV was included and I did use it occasionally for which they earned some money. This way they will get nothing as most will realise how much they don’t need it.

[iniltous]

It’s impossible to have had PAYG before the current plans were introduced, with the ‘Evenings’ plan , all calls outside the ‘free’ period were effectively PAYG but obviously calls after 6pm until ( AFAIR ) 8am  Monday to Friday were included 

As stated ( repeatedly ) if DV on a PAYG basis we’re included in the BT broadband  price ,that’s back to the previous setup , a phone regardless of wanting one , and there undoubtedly will be those that say ‘why do have to pay for a phone service I dont  want ? ,  don’t tell me it’s free  ,  it must cost something to provide it , provide a  bill for it , maintenance of it , so take it away and give me a reduction in price ‘ .