UK ISP BT Improves ‘Basic’ Social Phone Tariff for Low Income Users
The consumer (retail) division of BT has confirmed that their subsidised BT Basic social tariff, which is a low-cost phone service for those on low-incomes or certain state benefits, has been improved with the addition of a £10 calls cap.
Eligible customers currently pay monthly line rental to BT of just £5.10 (vs £18.99 for standard line rental) and this comes with a call allowance of £1.50, as well as free weekend calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers (up to 60 minutes). All of this can optionally be taken with a special 12GB capped ‘up to’ 17Mbps (ADSL2+) ADSL broadband service and, with BT Basic line rental included, the total cost is just £9.95 a month.
However BT has now further improved this service by introducing a £10 cost cap on calls, which means that customers can make as many calls as they like and they’ll never be charged more than £10 (calls only).
Who can get BT Basic?
You must be getting one of these benefits:
* Income Support
* Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
* Pensions Credit (Guaranteed Credit)
* Employment and Support Allowance (Income related)
* Universal Credit (and are on zero earnings).
The change is not part of an official announcement or news release, but it is now present on their website and they have confirmed the adjustment. This certainly makes BT Basic a lot more useful.
Separately the Local Government Association has recently called for the forthcoming 10Mbps broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) to include a subsidised “social tariff” so that those who are unemployed or on low incomes can get an affordable service (here). Mind you there are some pretty cheap broadband bundles out there already.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on Twitter, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.
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I am on ESA but I couldn’t have it as I had infinity 1 also. I’d been paying full line rental for 4 years on ESA before I found out about this.
Depends on who you speak to I used to have Infinity 2 while on ESA with BT Basic you need your account packed as 2 products not as a combined package you actually pay alot more of the internet side than you would if a package
Do you mean have it showing as phone line and infinity?
Yes that is correct they had to unbundle it in the back office is what I was told when they did it, minding it took them a while the full retail price last bill for Infinity2 was around £38 per month + the BT basic package
Or better still have the FTTC(VDSL2) service with another provider this is also possible
thank you for that information