Ask our expert pages
Ask our expert - Page 2
- How do I pay my phone bill?
- Can I get a second phone line installed?
- Can I get an incoming calls-only package?
- How much do calls cost with BT?
- Can I switch from the BT Light User Scheme?
- How can I reconnect to BT?
- Can I get a phone line installed just for broadband?
- How do I switch my home phone service?
- I’m with TalkTalk - Why can’t I switch?
- How much do calls to 0870 and 0845 numbers cost?
- Virgin Media or BT landline?
- Who offers free calls to the Channel Islands?
- Which suppliers offer cheap international calls?
- Where is my supplier’s customer services based?
- Are there any alternatives to BT for a landline in a new build house?
- How are extra calling features priced?
- Do any phone providers offer one-month contracts?
- What if there’s a fault on my line?
- Will switching supplier affect my broadband connection?
- Phone line installation options
- Switching to a BT phone line from Virgin Media
- Who supplies my home phone?
About our expert
Do you have a question about your home phone calling plan or landline? Contact Simon Piper, our home phone expert, at OurExpert@homephonechoices.co.uk
Home phone Ask our expert
What is a call connection fee?
Dear Simon, I read recently that some home phone providers are putting up their call connection fees. What is a call connection fee and how much does it cost?
Best wishes,
Laura Gillard, Redhill, via email, Updated: Wednesday 5 January, 2011
|
|
Our expert says...
Hi Laura, thanks for your email to Homephonechoices.co.uk.
Call connection fees, sometimes called call set-up fees or minimum call charges, are charged by all home phone providers, except Vonage.
These fees are charged for all calls made outside of your calling plan at a one-off cost - regardless of the call’s duration. For example, if you are on an unlimited evening and weekend calls package with TalkTalk (www.talktalk.co.uk), every call you make during the day (i.e. outside of the evening and weekend period) will cost an additional 12.5p, as well as the cost of the call.
Recently, BT (www.bt.com), Direct Save Telecom (www.directsavetelecom.co.uk) and cable phone line provider Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) all increased their call connection fees.
Have a look at the table below to find out how much your provider charges for each call you make outside of your inclusive calls.
Call connection fees
The table below shows the UK’s biggest home phone providers and the one-off call connection fee they charge for all calls made outside of your calling plan:
| Home phone provider | Provider details | Call connection fee |
| AOL | www.aol.co.uk | 11.13p |
| Auracall | www.auracall.com | 9.5p |
| BE broadband | www.bethere.co.uk | 9p |
| BT | www.bt.com | 13.1p |
| Direct Save Telecom | www.directsavetelecom.co.uk | 10.5p |
| O2 | www.o2.co.uk | 9.2p |
| Orange | www.orange.co.uk | 7.15p |
| Plusnet | www.plus.net | 12.5p |
| Post Office | www.postoffice.co.uk | 9.6p |
| Primus | Primus review | 12.9p |
| Sky | www.sky.com | 11p |
| TalkTalk | www.talktalk.co.uk | 12.5p |
| Tesco Home Phone | www.tescobroadband.com | 8.2p |
| Virgin Media | www.virginmedia.com | 12.24p |
| Vonage | www.vonage.co.uk | No call connection fee |
| YourCalls.net | www.yourcalls.net | 9.5p |
Hope this helps you understand call connection fees Laura, and helps you save money on your landline bills.
Ask us a question
If you have a general switching or provider query please email us at ourexpert@homephonechoices.co.uk
Comments
I contacted BT today about a billing issue and raised the subject of call connection fees with. The operator informed me that BT have to charge this fee by law.
Do you know what law they are referring to? I find it hard to beleive that ringing my mother (who is on the same exchange as me) warrants a 12.5p charge given that the call is setup using an automated, non mechanical, switch in the same exchange.
Thanks.
Martin McCoy. - Oct 7 2011 9:01AM
|
|
Copyright © 2005-2012 Homephonechoices.co.uk. All rights reserved. (v5.63.05)
