I notice that 18866 is listed as the cheapest for daytime 0845 calls at 4p/min. But now that there is no such thing as BT Standard, all BT customers pay 3p/min for 0845 during the daytime (or less with Friends and Family - handy for the internet). Plus there isn't the 1p connection charge.

Thats right there is no such thing as a local call in the UK, and BT customers only make calls at 3p per minute to 01 or 02 started numbers.

Or they pay extra if on a unmetered service

You need to read the BT price list very carefully - it is well hidden on their website.

Basically, if a call does not start with 01 or 02 then you are paying a premium rate and it is not part of the package benefits.

BTW - BT standard charge for 0845 is 3.95p. BT together charge for 0870 is just over 7p (can't recall actual rate) compared with the 18866 rate I saw today of 9p

BT's price list is my reference. For BT Together customers (the only option for domestic users) 0845 calls are 3p/min in the daytime and 1p/min at evenings and weekends.

That's identical to the daytime cost of 01/02 calls on Option 1, but in the evening geographical calls are 6p for up to an hour, so whether they or 0845 are cheaper depends on the length of the call!

I agree about the 0845 rates you give Jon but evening Geo calls are 5.5 p for upto an hour since July 1st !!!

You must have seen Jeremy's TV ad about it !

This is from BT's price list  - Together Option 1

Sorry, table did not copy well -  use your imagination

Table 2 - Inland NTS Direct Dialled PPM Prices Operative Date:01.10.1999


Operative Date  Price in pence per minute

daytime     evenings & night-time        weekend

Exc VAT Inc VAT Exc VAT Inc VAT Exc VAT Inc VAT

pence  pence  pence  pence  pence  pence  
Local  01.06.2003  
2.55 3.00          0.85 1.00                 0.85 1.00

National  01.06.2003  
6.39 7.509         3.19 3.749             1.27 1.50

Good to see that BT now give a discount for the 0845 number. Not everyone is on the Together package. Many, including low user scheme are charged the standard rate.

For short calls you still have to pay the minimum call charge

Isn't 1999 rather a long time ago in this fast changing market? Since BT's con job with Option 1 etc. and the abolition of their old so-called Local and National call rates I suspect this information is out of date?

The date refers to when BT started using this definition for the service. Who said BT pricing structure is easy to follow.

BT changes their prices almost hourly - for up-to-date info you always have to rely on their website.

I have noticed, however, that each time I visit the site it is harder to find the path to the downloadable price list.

And then BT add confusion by putting the Together price list under the options download and not the price download.

Ask Dave as he seems to be able to find the links to the price lists easiest. He posted two good ones about call costs yesterday at * this posting * under the Cheap Call Providers forum.   ::)

wrote on Sep 24^th, 2004 at 7:21pm:

Ask Dave as he seems to be able to find the links to the price lists easiest. He posted two good ones about call costs yesterday at * this posting * under the Cheap Call Providers forum.   ::)

Don't ask me how I found them, I did, I've bookmarked them (I advise you to do the same) and (touch wood) BT haven't played musical chairs with their price list.

Oh and Dave, I didn't post on that thread.  ::)

Anyway, here goes:
BT Together pricing is here, select the option you are on and select 'Pricing Information'. At the bottom is a table for special numbers like premium rate, mobiles and personal numbers. To find the price of a number find its Charge Rate by referring here.

Have we got that sorted? Good, many thanks to British Telecon for making pricing as clear as mud.  ::)