BT Calling Plan Options Explained

BT Options Package Update

BT has changed the name of all its packages. The biggest change is that most users are now paying a 6p connection charge for the majority of their calls AND there are not more 'free' evening calls. Only the first hour of calls made during Saturday and Sunday are not charged in the new packages.

Unlimited Weekend Plan

The Unlimited Weekend Plan: from 1st April 2008 this option costs £10.50 per month if you pay by DD and have paper-free billing. For this you receive: one residential line, 6p connection charge, all UK daytime calls at 4p per minute, evening calls 1.5p per minute. Weekend calls free up to one hour, thereafter 4p per minute.

How can you save money?
There are now hundreds of alternate phone providers in the UK. You have seen their adverts. TalkTalk, Talk2, Tesco, Telecom+, ToucanTele, Touch Telecom - and those are only the T's. (I apologise to any telecom company begining with a T that I left off that list - there are just so many of them that I doubt if anyone can now keep up.)

Can you still use an alternate supplier and save money?
Yes! At last all UK residents have the freedom to choose the cheapest carrier for each and every telephone call made. But only if you do not sign away your right to having BT supply your phone line. You have been warned: pay line rental to one of the other suppliers and you are stuck for a minimum of 12 or 18 months with no option of using anybody else within that period. Only BT customers have the freedom of using CPS to chose who carries their calls.

UK daytime and evening calls
The alternate telecoms providers are cheaper than BT. Many give free calls between their customers.

Weekend calls
Unless your CPS provider gives you free weekend calls you are better off dialling 1280 before your call to route it through BT to get free calls - you also need to make at least one chargeable call each month too.

07 (mobile) 08 (national premium) and 09 (premium) calls
The alternate telecoms providers usually do not give any saving on 08 and 09 numbers, some even charge more than BT.. Solution, put 08 and 09 calls through BT. Dial 1280 before you dial the number. However, BT now make a 6p connection charge for these calls, so check the CPS call plan charges

Calls to mobiles are more difficult to generalise. Inclusive minutes on mobile packages are usually charged about 10p a minute. Most telecom companies, including BT, charge less than 10p a minute for weekend calls to mobiles. The cheapest option is not to phone mobiles.

Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan

With 3 options available, price depends on the minimum term of your contract, starting from £10.50 per month on the 12 month renewable contract with Direct Debit and paper-free billing.

Other alternate telecoms suppliers give similar packages. This type of option is only a saving if you spend a lot of time on the phone during evenings and weekends.

Unlimited Anytime Plan

The cheapest option for this plan is £15.45 per month with a renewable 12 month contract, Direct Debit payments and paper-free billing.

If you are out at work all day, this package is NOT for you.

The free calls only refer to calls which are local calls or calls begining 01, 02 and 03. Calls to mobiles enjoy a discount, 08 non geographic numbers and 09 premium rate calls are not included within the free call allowance.

Other alternate telecoms suppliers give similar packages.

International Calls

BT charges an extra £1 per month to get international calls to countries from 3p per minute.

Traditionally, people have needed to use either BT or an international phonecard. Now this market is wide open.

This is the one area where the alternate telecom companies come into their own. Many destinations are only 1p or 2p per minute. Moredial gives many destinations at only 1p per minute.