Home Phone Price changes and Line Rental Saver

[#1]

I've been doing the sums to decide whether to stay with Plusnet or move back to BT, and I came to the conclusion that there're two things which make Plusnet's landline service not as cheap as it first appears. The first was mentioned by alanf earlier: the lack of included caller display. The other is a little harder to find though: the cost of phoning 0845 numbers. For those with a mobile phone, 0845/0870 calls are probably the only ones they pay for on a landline, so it's worth noting that whereas BT charge 2.0p daytime and 0.5p evenings for 0845 calls, Plusnet will be charging 7.5p. Of course, such calls are included in the Anytime package, but for infrequent callers the price difference is worth bearing in mind.

[#2]

I have Anytime package but still have been charged for an 0845 number.

[#3]

0845 numbers for dial-up internet and indirect access numbers are excluded.
"What's an indirect access number?
An indirect access number is any number which charges a cheaper rate to connect you to another number (that's both known by and could be directly dialled by you).
There are typically two types of these calls.
    You first dial an 0870 or 0845 number, and then, while still connected, you dial the intended destination number to be connected.
    You are connected directly to the intended destination number by dialling an 0870 or 0845 number, having previously routed the destination number through an 0870 or 0845 number, which can be done via the internet or by other means."
http://www.plus.net/support/phone/home_phone/billing.shtml#whichCallsFree
Was it one of the above?

[#4]

Over-riders such as 18185 might be useful as its (3p for 0845 peak)  & (2p off peak 0870).
Saves the messing about switching & the prospect of dealing with BT retail "respected" CSC  
Plusnet are excellent, when compaired to the other competition offering WLR in the sub £10 sector.

[#5]

Hi all,
FYI we're sending a payment reminder e-mail out tomorrow to all those that have pre-registered for Line Rental Saver.
Don't forget that this offer fully comes into effect on December 6th.

[#6]

Plusnet line rental price is to go up on 6 Dec., is the price of an inclusive call plan Talk Anytime at £3.50 a month to be fixed into next year ?

[#7]

Quote from: jetstar

... is the price of an inclusive call plan Talk Anytime at £3.50 a month to be fixed into next year ?

I asked that question but got no reply.

Quote from: alanf

BT are making the promise that following the December 2011 changes "... the cost of line rental, calls to UK landlines and the Unlimited Anytime Plan won't rise again until 2013." https://www.pricechange.bt.com/vision Will PlusNet do likewise?

Before locking in for a year we should be told whether other charges will remain unchanged - or would part of the prepayment be refundable pro rata if there was an adverse change in the Ts&Cs and the customer wanted out?

[#8]

I asked similar questions earlier and was told that they had no plans to raise the call plan charges "at the moment". However I got no answer to whether we could get a pro rata refund of the prepaid line rental if the terms and conditions of the call plan changed to our detriment and we wished to move. I will be interested to see the response that you get.

[#9]

Just had email reminding me about Line Rental Saver

Quote

Hello there. Just a quick reminder to let you know your payment for Line Rental Saver is due on your next billing date on 18/12/2011. We’ll be taking £113.88 for 12 months line rental which is a saving £42 a year. Remember your broadband, call plan, call features or any non-inclusive calls will continue to be billed monthly. Thanks for choosing Line Rental Saver.

[#10]

I've had four. At my age they probably thought I'd miss the first two and were playing safe.

[#11]

I got my Bill today but it had no mention of the Line Rental Saver, so can I assume that mine will be added to my Bill at the end of December will include the Line Rental Server?
I'm still paying my usual fee for Line Rental from 29/11/2011 to 28/12/2011.

[#12]

From the confirmation email

Quote

This will be added to your account from your next bill on or after 6th December 2011.

[#13]

Strat, sure you didn't get mine Nothing received here so far.....

[#14]

Hi all,

Quote

... is the price of an inclusive call plan Talk Anytime at £3.50 a month to be fixed into next year ?

We've no plans to change the price of that at the moment. If we were ever to (assuming that change was an increase) we'd need to provide you with 30 days notice and an option of cancelling mid-contract.

Quote

I got no answer to whether we could get a pro rata refund of the prepaid line rental if the terms and conditions of the call plan changed to our detriment and we wished to move.

It's a no to that one I'm afraid, so I'd advise anyone considering LRS that you are making a commitment for the whole 12 months at a discounted rate.

Quote

I got my Bill today but it had no mention of the Line Rental Saver

@theoddbot,
It's definitely on your account and you should be billed for that on the first bill after the 6th of December.

[#15]

Thanks Adam.
Perhaps you should remove the first three "Related Articles" links from http://community.plus.net/blog/2011/11/01/home-phone-price-changes/#more-19774. They are very much out of date.
e.g. "New Home Phone Pricing!" from the website refers to 2007 when Broadband was much more expensive (up to 8Mbps broadband with 1GB bandwidth for £9.99) and phone calls were much cheaper (£9.99 per month for E&WE - soon to be £12.99;  3p per minute for chargeable calls with no connection charges -  soon to be 7.5p per min + 12.5p connection).