BT customers face massive inflation-busting price hikes

[dutchman]

BT has announced a wave of inflation-busting price rises - despite making a massive £6.27BILLION profit.



Around 10million customers will be hit with hikes of up to 6.9% from September 20.

The biggest impact will be another rise in line rental, which is going up £1 a month to £17.99 for direct debit customers and to £19.99 for others.

Call charges are also rising, with the set-up fee leaping 6.8% to 17.07p and the rate for UK landline and 0870 numbers jumping 6.89% to 10.24p a minute.

BT says more than 80% of calls are “free” as they’re made as part of inclusive packages.

Yet the cost of the firm’s most popular package - Unlimited Anytime - is rising 50p to £7.95 a month.

On top of that, BT is also putting up broadband prices.

The company said price rises would vary by customer but are “going up by not more than 6.9%.”

BT tried highlighting recent price rises by rivals Sky TalkTalk and Virgin Media.

But at £17.99 a month, BT will have the most expensive line rental, which is paid by both landline and broadband customers.

BT is upping prices despite making a whopping £6.27billion profit last year.

However, the company has also spent a fortune on snapping-up Premier League and European football rights.

It has also announced a mega £12.5billion takeover of mobile phone giant EE.

John Petter, chief executive of BT Consumer, said: “We realise that customers never welcome price rises, but we have ensured that low-income customers avoid price rises.

“And we continue to highlight money-saving options for all customers, including those who just want a great value package of a line and calls, such as Home Phone Saver 2018.”

David Hickson, of the Fair Telecoms Campaign, said: “BT customers will no doubt be annoyed at the continuous increase in charges.

“Many people will be concerned that the increases they are paying for telephone services are being used to fund for footballers’ big salaries.”

[rebbonk]

David Hickson, of the Fair Telecoms Campaign, said: “BT customers will no doubt be annoyed...

Understatement of the year!

[dutchman]

I just cancelled my BT landline, I hardly ever used it in any case.

It wouldn't be so bad if the extra rental was going towards Coventry City but the chances of us playing in the Premiere League any time in the near future are pretty remote.

[rebbonk]

Plusnet have just increased my landline. Not a happy bunny, but I still need it and I'm not prepared to put all my eggs in one basket with my internet supplier.

[dutchman]

Plusnet have just increased my landline. Not a happy bunny, but I still need it and I'm not prepared to put all my eggs in one basket with my internet supplier.

I held out for as long as I could. The trouble is that BT have not only increased prices for their own subscribers, they've also massively increased the rates they charge other providers for using their landlines. That means it's no longer economic to rent a phone and broadband from two different suppliers.

Ofcom as usual have played dead while all this was going on