Phone Customers ‘May See Rise In Monetary Pressures’
BT customers could find themselves coming under more financial pressure, it has been suggested.
According to uSwitch, despite the telecoms company lowering the monthly cost of its BT Together Option 2 and Option 3 packages many customers could see their bills increasing. Moves by the firm will see the price of its Option 2 plan fall by 22 per cent from 3 pounds 45 pence to 2 pounds 75 pence per month. However, daytime calls will increase by just under a quarter (23 per cent) to four pence per minute, with line rental going up to 11 pounds 75 pence for people paying by direct debit. Those on the Option 3 tariff will also see their line rental costs rise to this amount, although customers who opt for paper-free billing will not face such an increase.
People on BT’s Together Option 1 plan will now receive free weekend calls, although the cost of using a phone during the daytime will increase by 23 per cent to four pence a minute. Meanwhile, people choosing to sign up to a 12-month contract will also get free evening calls.
The new prices are part of BT’s complete overhaul of its calling plans and will come into full effect from the beginning of April.
And in facing an increase in the cost of their telephone bills, it is possible that consumers could develop problems in meeting other demands on their finances. Such areas could include loans, credit and store cards, mortgage repayments and electricity bills.
Steve Weller, head of communications services for the price comparison website, claimed that the announcement could see Option 3 customers save up to 24 pounds a year. However, Mr Weller claimed that for those on Option 1 and 2 tariffs, BT’s announcement “holds a slightly different tune”. He said: “From the beginning of April, they will see the cost of daytime calls rocket 23 per cent to four pence per minute. Those making evening calls more than three minutes long will also be hit by the rise - while these are currently capped at 4.5 pence an hour, from the 1st April they will cost 1.5 pence per minute. This means that a one hour call on a weekday evening will cost 90 pence, a 1,900 per cent increase. Moreover, for the estimated 60 per cent of BT customers still opting to receive their bills through the post, bills will rise by 80 million pounds a year from the line rental hikes alone.”
As a result, the uSwitch representative claimed that those who do not want to pay increased costs or who are unwilling to secure themselves to a 12-month contract should take the time to search for a better deal and change telecoms provider.
Those concerned that pressure on their finances may increase as 2008 progresses may wish to take out a cheap debt consolidation loan now. In applying for a low-rate loan it is possible that borrowers can merge a number of demands on their spending into a single affordable monthly repayment. This could prove to be of particular assistance to people worried about the prospect of rising energy bills. Last month, Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch, warned that homeowners cannot afford to stay with expensive providers after EDF Energy announced its standard tariffs on electricity and gas are to rise by 74 pounds and 28 pounds respectively, hiking the average dual fuel bill up to 1,007 pounds.
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