TU24 - BT cheaper (with call charges)

[Frank]

According the ASA anyway

http://www.asa.org.uk/adjudications/...cations_id=553

[Nikko]

Originally Posted by Frank

According the ASA anyway

http://www.asa.org.uk/adjudications/...cations_id=553

Hang on Frank - it does not say BT are cheaper - just that ntl are unable to state they are 'always' cheaper - your title headline is misleading.

[Frank]

Sorry, but that's how I understand it. It says that ntl's standard monthly package is cheaper by £3.50, but when you start making calls over 60mins that is no longer the case, i.e. BT is cheaper. That's exactly what my thread title says - with call charges BT is cheaper, hence the ruling

The Authority acknowledged that the claim "... still £3.50 a month cheaper ..." included the "a month" qualification, it nevertheless considered that the meaning of the headline "It's simple we're still cheaper than BT!" was ambiguous and readers were likely to understand that the advertisers' package was cheaper for both monthly charges and calls than the complainants' equivalent package. Because that was not the case, the Authority advised the advertisers to amend the advertisement

[Nikko]

Originally Posted by Frank

Sorry, but that's how I understand it. It says that ntl's standard monthly package is cheaper by £3.50, but when you start making calls over 60mins that is no longer the case, i.e. BT is cheaper. That's exactly what my thread title says - with call charges BT is cheaper, hence the ruling.

I think you have understood it correctly. In the majority of instances ntl are cheaper for chargeable calls - its a very in depth set of charges by both providers.

I think the ruling is clarifying that for certain chargeable call patterns ntl do not have the advantage, thus a sweeping statement could be construed as inaccurate.

Most folk that subscribe to the 'unlimited/inclusive' plans are astute enough to avoid chargeable calls anyway - in which case an ntl subscriber has £3.50 per month to offset any very short duration calls that overstep the 60 minutes free time.

[Rillington]

every metered call you make on ntl is 5p more expensive on ntl becasye they add on call charges the moment the call is answered whereas BT don't add on charges until you have used the equivalent of 5p worht of call.

Plus BT has the Freidnsd and Family numbers wereas ntl doesn't, thereby making ntl more expensive once again.

[Nikko]

Originally Posted by Rillington

every metered call you make on ntl is 5p more expensive on ntl becasye they add on call charges the moment the call is answered whereas BT don't add on charges until you have used the equivalent of 5p worht of call.

Plus BT has the Freidnsd and Family numbers wereas ntl doesn't, thereby making ntl more expensive once again.

So for a metered day time call nationally, ntl are 5p to connect then 3p per min after. BT are 0p to connect, then 8p per min thereafter. So who is cheaper after 60 seconds and for the remainder of the call?

Friends and family is a discount scheme offering a reduced rate (from a very high starting charge) on specific numbers you have to nominate. Ntl offer cheaper calls than that before you start without having to pre-guess and register who you might wish to call periodically.