In reply to a post by Oliver341:

And I don't think the anger towards line rental increases is in sympathy to those people, anyway.

I expect you're right about that. But I do find the whole thing very annoying - it is effectively cross-subsidising one part of the business from another, which may not technically be illegal but it is the sort of thing that is frowned upon and sometimes results in action being taken.

In reply to a post by kasg:

But I do find the whole thing very annoying - it is effectively cross-subsidising one part of the business from another, which may not technically be illegal but it is the sort of thing that is frowned upon and sometimes results in action being taken.

True, but really, how many landline users do not have broadband these days? Most people point towards pensioners, but all the ones I know have broadband. I would like to see some official statistics on the subject, it would be interesting.

And of course BT Basic is available to those who are hardest up, at a reasonable £5.10 per month.

Plusnet & all other isps don't have Basic package like BT Basic package for pensioners and unemployed.

The line rental, calls increase are to blame due to BT rights to boardcast BT Sports even thought it so unfair because what IF we don't have any BT Sports (not interesting in football)?

I'm happy about big-boy hiked line rentals now . Keeps my broadband cheap. Line rental now £14 with Pulse8, including caller display and 1571 and very cheap calls. I see Aquiss, which is a much better-known name, is £13, but calls and add-ons more expensive.

Who can get BT Basic? (pdf download)

You must be getting one of the
benefits below:
�
Income Support
�
Income-based Jobseeker�s Allowance
�
Pensions Credit (Guaranteed Credit)
�
Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
�
Universal Credit (and are on zero earnings)

Pulse8 fibreoptic package from £38 a month, too much for me even if I could get Superfast BB.

Yes, but after the Sprat, BT is £16:99, with line rental now going up to £17:99, then to avoid the scandalous call connection fees and call charges, you need to add about another £8 for anytime calls, then your chosen add on's such as 1571 etc, then get tied into a long contract. Much dearer than Pulse8. Even Plusnet are not cheaper on my Market 1 exchange, but you have the bonus of poor customer service and long contract thrown in.

Don't forget that includes line rental.

BT have started selling another product Home Phone saver 2018 which is locked until 2018, but last years deal was better, Because they have increased the min term from 12 to 18mths as well as the price
You get a few addon services free basically,
For me i would save around £2 per month when compared with LRS and my existing any time plan with free caller ID , choose to refuse , anonymous caller reject , and 1471 call return ring back would of been a better add-on to of had inclusive could of made more use of that, not really value for money IMO at £20.99 a month

Edited by tommy45 (Thu 30-Jul-15 18:24:08)

LOL £20.18.

So its like the fuel companies, a price lock in in anticipation of future inflation busting price rises, £20 for copper line rental is just insane.