Over the last few years Telecoms operators like BT,Plusnet,Talk Talk,Sky have adjusted what you get included in any package they sell you, until about a year ago items like Caller ID and basic Voice Mail were included,now they attract a monthly charge,though often when asked they will throw them in for a year as part of a deal, then with BT with your BT line rental they included free Evening & Weekend Calls,now it only includes Weekend Calls, to save money on line rental many folk paid their line rental upfront for the year which included the same offer of free Weekend calls, on some providers and I no doubt it will soon be all of them this no longer applies, so be aware of this if you pay annually as they may not tell you next time you renew as it will be classed as a new contract each year, you may get a nasty shock if you hammer the phone calls over the weekend only to find they now cost a fortune to make if not part of a package, I see telecoms operators almost as slimy as estate agents, the cost of wholesale pricing for calls and landlines has dropped year on year for the last 5 years and still dropping,but every year line rental cost increase, most providers other than BT make between £6 and £8 per month profit per user on line rental and they don't even have to maintain the line if it fails, they just pass the problem back to BT to fix.
They really have their customers by the wickets,if you want broadband you have to have a telephone line (Well in most cases) which will cost you a minimum of £100 a year or at worse if paid monthly with one provider £215 per year, even if you have Fibre direct to your home you will still have to pay line rental cost even if you don't want or need to use it.
I advise everyone that when their current package is due shop around,often BT will do a deal if you are due to renew, you need to ask for it and threaten to leave if not, then the following year try again otherwise cost will spiral, it is easy to switch these days all you need from your current provider is a MAC code, which often stirs them to make a better offer when you ask for this, as a new customer there is many a deal with some now offering a years free broadband if you sign for 12 months and pay them for line rental, and don't forget to ask for deals on the packages, they make enough out of line rental to be able to offer some sweeteners, it was only last month BT offered new customers on their Infinity Products half price for 12 months and a £200 Sainsbury's voucher,someone,somewhere is paying for this,don't let it be you.
They really have their customers by the wickets,if you want broadband you have to have a telephone line (Well in most cases) which will cost you a minimum of £100 a year or at worse if paid monthly with one provider £215 per year, even if you have Fibre direct to your home you will still have to pay line rental cost even if you don't want or need to use it.
I advise everyone that when their current package is due shop around,often BT will do a deal if you are due to renew, you need to ask for it and threaten to leave if not, then the following year try again otherwise cost will spiral, it is easy to switch these days all you need from your current provider is a MAC code, which often stirs them to make a better offer when you ask for this, as a new customer there is many a deal with some now offering a years free broadband if you sign for 12 months and pay them for line rental, and don't forget to ask for deals on the packages, they make enough out of line rental to be able to offer some sweeteners, it was only last month BT offered new customers on their Infinity Products half price for 12 months and a £200 Sainsbury's voucher,someone,somewhere is paying for this,don't let it be you.
