Home phone Guides

BT Basic explained

Updated: Tuesday 24 August, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Home phone giant BT has replaced its Light User Scheme with a new package called BT Basic - but is it the right landline deal for you?

BT’s Light User Scheme has been replaced by a new tariff called BT Basic. However, not all BT Light User Scheme customers will qualify for the Basic package, so they may find they are transferred onto the BT standard calling plan - a more expensive tariff that may not suit their household’s calling habits.

Whether you’re a Light User Scheme customer that’s being automatically switched to BT Basic or you are just looking to save money on your home phone bills, BT Basic could be the answer. Read our guide to help you decide if it’s the right option for you…

What is BT Basic?

BT Basic is a new low-cost phone package being offered by home phone and broadband provider BT (www.bt.com) as a replacement to its Light User Scheme and In Contact Plus call plans.

Designed especially for customers who receive benefits or who are state pensioners, the Basic call plan combines line rental and a select amount of calls for an affordable quarterly price.

There’s no minimum contract term for BT Basic and customers are free to switch to another supplier, however customers may be subject to a minimum contract for their BT line - ask BT for more details if you're considering switching.

How much does BT Basic cost?

BT Basic costs £13.50 every three months - this includes a call allowance of up to £4.50 every three months to spend on anytime calls to local, national and international landlines, as well as line rental for the three months.

This means customers get £4.50 worth of calls every three months and three months of line rental for £13.50 - a huge saving when compared to BT’s standard call plan.

The £4.50 allowance per quarter covers national, local and international calls. The number of calls you will be able to make depends on the length and type of calls. For example, if you call a national or local number, it will be calculated on a 10p per minute rate (plus 3p for each call). International calls are calculated on the standard BT calling package rates.

However, customers need to be aware that any calls made outside of their quarterly allowance will be charged for. For example, local and national calls made over the £4.50 allowance are charged at 10p a minute, as well as a one-off call connection fee of 3p for every call.

All other calls are charged using the standard BT pricing structure (see www.bt.com/personal/pricing for details). This includes:

• Calls to the Channel Islands
• Calls to mobiles
• Calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers
• Calls made through the operator

Also, customers should be aware that if they don’t use all of their £4.50 quarterly call allowance, the remaining calls will not be carried over to the following quarter.

Who is eligible for BT Basic?

BT Basic isn’t available to everyone, and even if you’re a BT Light User Scheme customer, you may find that you’re not eligible for it. You must be receiving at least one of the following benefits to qualify for BT Basic:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Employment Support Allowance (Income-based).

However, even if you’re getting one of these benefits, there are certain exclusions that apply, and you may not be able to get the BT Basic package.

If you have your phone service provided by another company, such as TalkTalk, Tiscali or Virgin Media, you will not be able to switch to BT Basic. You must be an existing BT customer to sign-up for BT Basic.

BT can arrange to transfer your line for you but you may have to pay a landline reconnection charge to do this (up to £29.99). Depending on your circumstances though, you can pay this over a period of time - speak to BT and see if you can arrange a repayment scheme. You may even find that you won’t have to pay to reconnect your landline at all.

Households with a second landline will not qualify for the new price plan either.

Can I have broadband with BT Basic?

Customers that sign-up to BT Basic service can also enjoy the benefits of BT Total Broadband, choosing any of the standard BT Total Broadband packages. This means you can have a broadband package that meets your needs and budget.

If you do sign-up to a broadband package, the price of it will be added to your quarterly bill. You can find out more about BT broadband packages and make your order at www.bt.com/broadband.

You can also choose a broadband package from another supplier, such as Plusnet or Be, so compare broadband packages before signing up to a contract.

Paying a BT Basic phone bill

Customers on the BT Basic plan can monitor their usage with an automated service called “Call My Bill”. By phoning 0800 44 33 11 from your landline, BT will tell you how much you have spent on phone calls since your last bill. Just follow these steps:

1. Dial 0800 44 33 11
2. Press one for billing enquiries, then
3. Press two for total cost since your last bill.

Customers can also manage their quarterly bills online at www.bt.com.

They can pay by cash, cheque, credit or debit card or direct debit, and there is no additional charge for any payment method.

Should I choose BT Basic?

If you meet BT’s eligibility criteria and rarely use the telephone, the Basic call plan may be an ideal way for you to save money on your home phone bills. It’s a cheap line rental and calls package that is easy to use and understand - ideal for those who hardly use their home phone.

It is also a good option for those who want to budget, as it’s easier to save money to pay your bills when you know exactly how much you’ll be paying every quarter. Customer controlled call barring also lets BT Basic users manage exactly what calls are made from their phone - this extra calling feature allows you to stop certain calls being made from your landline, such as calls to mobiles or premium numbers (calls to chatlines or TV shows). There is no charge for this service.

However, if you feel that you’re going to regularly exceed the £4.50 limit of calls per quarter, it may be worth signing up to a call plan and line rental deal that costs a little bit more each month but includes free evening and weekend calls. This way you won’t be penalised for exceeding the limit set by the BT Basic package.

Independent home phone providers such as Primus Saver and YourCalls.net (www.yourcalls.net) both offer cheap line rental when compared to deals from BT and TalkTalk.

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