BT starts charging for caller display

[nodrogd]

A cross parliamentary group has criticised BT of profiteering out of those who suffer from nuisance calls, after it goes ahead with plans to introduce a £1.75 a month charge for caller display.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24712206

[dilli-theclaw]

Gotta pay for btsports somehow right

There is a way to avoid the charge for 12 months, although it does involve locking in to a new contract with BT for the duration. If you re-register for their Privacy At Home service you get caller display for free for the whole of 2014.

It does stink though, caller display doesn't represent any new investment in technology. They are making their customers pay for something that has been a standard feature ever since they retired their mechanical telephone exchanges and which doesn't cost them anything to supply.

[dave6x]

Originally Posted by Chris

It does stink though, caller display doesn't represent any new investment in technology. They are making their customers pay for something that has been a standard feature ever since they retired their mechanical telephone exchanges and which doesn't cost them anything to supply.

Effectively applying an increase of over 11% to the current Standard package monthly line rental charge!

[qasdfdsaq]

I always get annoyed by the landlines providers charging extra for services that have been free as standard on all mobile phones for decades, even PAYG mobiles with zero monthly charge.

[Mick Fisher]

BT are just money grabbing barstewards.

I am glad I dumped them.

Caller display is still free on sky talk.

[qasdfdsaq]

Still gets four times the upload speed of VM.

[Qtx]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Still gets four times the upload speed of VM.

You need to teach me this trick to quadruple caller ID upload speeds. Seeing the CLI a millisecond faster would be soooo cooool

[Pauls9]

Originally Posted by Chris

There is a way to avoid the charge for 12 months, although it does involve locking in to a new contract with BT for the duration. If you re-register for their Privacy At Home service you get caller display for free for the whole of 2014.

It does stink though, caller display doesn't represent any new investment in technology. They are making their customers pay for something that has been a standard feature ever since they retired their mechanical telephone exchanges and which doesn't cost them anything to supply.

I re-registered, but they stated "From 4 January 2014, the price will be £1.75 a month."

Yes, that's when the charging regime begins, but you're meant to get it free for 12 months from then. Re-read it carefully and if you still think they're threatening to charge you, you should call them to confirm.

[Pauls9]

Originally Posted by Chris

Yes, that's when the charging regime begins, but you're meant to get it free for 12 months from then. Re-read it carefully and if you still think they're threatening to charge you, you should call them to confirm.

Ah - Just found "Pre-register today for BT Privacy with Caller Display FREE for 12 months" at http://www.productsandservices.bt.co...ecallerdisplay

Thanks for prompting me to look further!

[Gary L]

Isn't it free anyway? you just have to make so many chargeable calls over the month/quarter. otherwise you get charged the full or part cost?

seems they're doing away with the "chargeable call" thing.

[Matth]

You get caller display included with any mobile network, maybe it's time for the landline to fade away unless you need it for ADSL, maybe the plain old telephone service has had it's day.

[qasdfdsaq]

It already has for me. I've not used my landline for calls for... well ever since I had my first landline.