BT cashless Payphones now offering free calls

[MNroshandel1]

Some of BT's Payphones were made cashless some years ago the way to make calls to chargeable calls was via the BBG Global which was long and very lousy service and has given up due to COVID.

However, BT have agreed to allow free calls to UK landlines starting 01,02 and 03 and most UK mobile number.

This is incase people need to make an urgent call.

Signage will go up shortly!

Calls to free phone numbers can also be made.

Should you find one not working call 0800661610

No date has beem confirmed

[ljm]

Have I understand this correctly?... we will be able to make free calls from BT Payphones? 🤔

Presumably, when Digital Voice has completed, would that mean BT payphones will cease to work?? 

[Bob1001]

I believe that BT have an obligation to maintain some phone boxes particularly where they are in a location where there is no mobile reception.

[Tim123]

I fear that payphones will be the forgotten victims of digital switchover. Hasn't it already been confirmed in some Ofcom report that most of those which have so far escaped the axe will go? And how will the 'battery back-ups' in the select few 'digital kiosks' work, and for how long? Surely it would just be easier for mobile phone operators to build new masts in areas of poor mobile phone signal.

One of the last solid reasons for retaining payphones, free calls to 0800 numbers (typically used by helplines and charities) went a few years ago, when mobile operators made them free.

[MNroshandel1]

No they are far from being forgotten, digital next gen phones are being tested and most of the existing ones will move to VoIP and mobile access.

5 million calls per year still go through BT Payphones.

New world Payphones owned by clear Channel has really invested in the payphone business and still operates a credit/debit card service.

The InFocus public networks Payphones owned by Jcdecaux also offer free calls to Landlines as they had to make the phones Cashless, these actually use mobile lines, BT's!

[MNroshandel1]

Yes cashless Payphones only, there's about 3000 of them I think.

No they will still work and will also move over, some companies use mobile lines and sim cards.

[MNroshandel1]

BT makes £7 from just 1 ten minute call to a freephone number called Payphone access levy. They have plenty of pros to continue with some boxes. Ofcom has protected 5000 from removal that are seen as vital.

BT will remove Payphones that get less than 52 calls per year, free calls and calls to freephone numbers are included in the usage statistics the same as chargeable calls.

[MNroshandel1]

It's already working having used one in South Kensington by the museum's to a mobile number.

New world Payphones still have a card service and works the same way as BBG but is much better

[Bob1001]

Once payphones are converted to DV they will have to have battery back up that will last for at least 3hours (Ofcom) it is a shame they did not put the same requirements for residential phones.

[MNroshandel1]

I must admit despite today's usage BT maintains the network of them pretty well and many countries have got rid of them completely but over here we have not just 1 but 4 companies operating them and they are brilliant for emergencies.

One scenario is if a child doesn't feel safe enough to call Childline at home and they don't have a mobile phone or scared that the call history will come up, they can simply go out and make that call for help.

Another scenario is getting mugged and they take your mobile and your many miles away from home, at least you can call the police or make a Reverse charge call.