Home phone News

Unhappy landline customers told to switch to a better deal

Wednesday 14 April, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Fed up with poor customer service and high prices from your phone provider? Unhappy customers are being urged to switch suppliers after a new survey revealed only 60% of homes are satisfied with their current provider.

Britain’s home phone suppliers are paying the price for increasing call charges and poor customer service, after a satisfaction survey by uSwitch.com found that just six out of 10 homes are happy with their service.

The survey of 7,604 Brits revealed less than 50% of phone customers believe their provider has them on the best deal for them. And following recent price increases, unhappy customers are being urged to switch to a better package.

Simon Piper, business development manager at Homephonechoices.co.uk, said: “Customers worried about the impact of the latest round of price hikes need to vote with their feet, and switch from their current provider to one that offers better value for money and a calling plan that suits them.”

From 1 April, daytime call rates with BT (www.bt.com) increased by 9%, from 5.4p to 5.9p per minute, and the call connection fee for chargeable calls rose from 9.3p to 9.9p per call. Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) also increased its line rental costs from £11 to £11.99 a month, as well as its daytime call costs and call connection fee.

Piper added: “Following the price hikes, customers will see their home phone bills rocket unless they change either their calling habits or calling plans.”

Worryingly, the research found that almost 7 million homes had never switched supplier, and customers are now being advised to compare calling plans and to switch to one that better suits their calling habits and budgets.