Summer loving from BT with home phone price shake up

BT has announced a series of price changes, including immediate reductions to the Option 2 and 3 package charges by 13% and 20% respectively, while increasing the cost of daytime calls by 8% from 1st August.

Steve Weller, Head of Communication Services at uSwitch.com, comments: “It’s good to see BT not only listening to its customers but to its competitors. This is a constructive bid to halt the erosion of its home phone market share and its ever-loyal customers will welcome the move.

“Enticing customers into its inclusive packages will place BT in a stronger position to fight off the competition, although it won’t be long before competitors such as TalkTalk adjust their tariffs to remain competitive. However, if you’re one of the 11.4 million customers on Option 1 you may find your bills increasing from August: daytime calls are increasing by 0.25p per minute and set-up call charges are doubling to 6p per minute.

“Calls to mobiles and non-geographic numbers such as 0870 and 0845 are becoming increasingly prolific and we would like to see BT set an example by including these in their inclusive call packages. However, reducing the charges for these calls is a good first step.

“It’s good to see the cost of international calls falling but the BT International Freedom package, when taken with Option 3, remains approximately £2.50 per month more than TalkTalk Option 3. BT’s package does, however, cover calls to 36 mainland countries compared to the 30 covered by TalkTalk. Understanding when, where and to whom you make calls is more important now than ever before.”