I've received the "Changes to BT's Pricing and Terms & Conditions" and I agree, someone's made a mistake somewhere. Notice how it's printed in black and white, no colour, yet the covering letter from Ms Lewis is colour. "Option 2. Sliced by over 28% a year." This, being British Telecom makes me ashamed to be British.

The spin that is put on this leaves all but the most saavy thinking that prices are coming down for all. 

On billboards up and down the country there is the message "BT has cut it call package prices." Whilst this may be true, it has increased certain chargeable calls by introducing whole minute charging and a call setup fee. 

I've noticed something else as well in the booklet!?

It only states "Reductions in 0870 Rates." and nothing about reductions in 0845 which is mentioned here.

Even on this BT update page, it only states reductions in 0870 rates!!

Another question now is, is the cost of 0845 being reduced as well?

Has anyone found any definitive answer to the question posed by lompos in thread #38?
When does the 3p 'call setup fee' charge actually kick-in?
My suspicions are because it's not called a 'connection' charge, it will mean a 'connection' doesn't actually have to be made (BT marketting ARE sharp - think of what they've got away with previously!!) and so might we be paying 3p every time we lift the phone, regardless of whether it is answered or not.
I need convincing otherwise!

bbb_uk wrote on Aug 24^th, 2006 at 5:09pm:

We should make sure we keep a copy of any webpages or other literature that says 0845 is reduced, in case they go back on it.

However, it is only weekend 0845 calls that will be cheaper. And it's 0870 that had been getting most of the bad press, so it's hardly surprising that they want those reductions to be featured more prominently.

omy wrote on Aug 25^th, 2006 at 3:48pm:

I said it slightly tongue-in-cheek (perhaps it could have done with an emoticon  )

The point is, if you call someone and they are already on the phone, you go immediately through to their voicemail without any warning. You have paid the 5p minimum call charge without the other person answering. (When I phone someone, it's because I want to have a two-way conversation. If I wanted to leave a message, I'd send an e-mail or SMS).

The same is true if the phone rings for more than seven rings.

bbb_uk wrote on Aug 25^th, 2006 at 6:27pm:

I thought BT halving the cost of calls to 0845 numbers to ½p per minute at weekends was pretty good.

I am interested to know how the call set-up fee will affect per call charging. That is, where a 08 or 09 number is charged at a certain amount, regardless of the length of the call. Will a call that will cost 10p now cost 13p and will service providers have to promote it as such?

I have just received a phone call reply to an e-mail I sent to BT's CEO about the leaflet.

I was told by Phil Roach from the Chairmain & Chief Executive's Office (cceo@bt.com) that the leaflet is correct in all respects EXCEPT that the Call Set-up fee is shown somewhere as being 3p + VAT whereas it should read 3p including VAT (I can't find that error though).

Apparently the leaflet 'slipped through the net' (no reference number or date) and the manager concerned has been 'advised' accordingly.  However, as the single error (which I still can't find) is so minor, replacement leaflets will not be issued on grounds of cost.