I'm on low income, can I get it?
Only those on the following benefits are eligible for the
scheme:
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Employmeny and Support Allowance (Income
Related )
• Guaranteed Pension Credit
You don't have to be an existing BT customer but if you don't
have a BT landline you may have to pay to get one installed.
A one-off connection charge may apply to some customers. BT will
let you know if this charge applies once you've ordered and they've
made some checks. If the charge does apply you can spread the cost
over a 12 month period (without incurring any additional charges).
If you do choose to spread this connection charge, you will have to
pay £24.49 as the 1st initial payment, followed by 4 quarterly
payments of £24.46 each.
How much will the calls cost me?
You get £4.50 worth of calls included every 3 months. Calls are
charged at 9.78p per minute plus 2.93p per call connection fee so
it's only of use to people who make a few calls. Basically, each
call will cost you 13p for the first minute and 10p per minute
after. To stay within the £4.50 allowance, you will need
to make less than 35 calls every 3 months , with each call lasting
less than 1 minute each or a maximum of 1 call per
quarter lasting 45 minutes . Once you've run out of your
allowance, you will still be able to make calls but you will
be charged and call charges will be added to your monthly
bill.
You can get details of how close you are to your call allowance by
ringing 0800 44 3311 or viewing your bill online.
What calls are included in my
allowance?
You can use your call allowance for local,
national and international land line calls. These include numbers
that begin '01', '02' or '03'.
They do not include calls made through the
operator, or calls to any of the following:
• The Channel Islands
• Premium-rate numbers
• The internet
• Mobile phones
• 0845 or 0870 numbers
If you do make any of these calls, you'll be charged at the
standard BT Calling Plan
rates. Charges for calls outside the inclusive allowance
will be added to your monthly bill.
Exceptions to the eligibility criteria
Even if you’re getting one of the three benefits we listed on page
1 you may not be able to get BT Basic if you have any of the
following:
• A phone service provided by another
company
• Calling Plans such as ‘Friends &
Family,’ ‘Mobile Saver’ or ‘International Saver’ which cannot be
used with BT Basic
• BT Pay&Call, our ‘pay as you go’
service, where you pay for your phone service as you use it
• More than one phone line – whether these
are at the same or different addresses
• A phone line that doesn’t let you make
calls (it only lets you receive them), or one that you only use for
a burglar alarm (this does not apply to lifeline alarms or
monitoring systems)
• A business, temporary or payphone
line
• An Integrated Services Digital Network
(ISDN) – this is a phone network system that digitally transmits
voice, text and images
Are there any other charges?
If you choose to not to pay by Direct Debit BT will not charge
you a £1.50 payment processing fee as they would with a
standard tariff.
You can opt for paperless billing, however there are no
discounts for choosing to be billed this way.
What about broadband?
You should be able to get broadband if you sign up to this
scheme, however it is best that you ring BT on 0800 783 1675 and
check.
How to apply
You may already have been contacted about BT Basic. If not, the
named account holder can ring 0800 783 1675 and request an
application form. You'll be told within one month if you have been
accepted or not. You will need to tell them your National Insurance
Number so they can confirm your entitlement with the Department for
Work and Pensions.
If an application is refused for any
reason you will not be able to re-apply for BT Basic for a minimum
period of six months.
This tariff will eventually replace its Light User and In Contact
Plus schemes.