Well as I was expecting from TalkTalk, they have now announced price changes (some decreases and some increases) just like BT recently announced (see here).

UPDATE: PLEASE NOTE THAT SINCE THIS THREAD WAS CREATED IT APPEARS THAT TALKTALK HAVE REMOVED ALL REFERENCE TO THE PRICE CHANGES THAT WERE MEANT TO COMMENCE ON 1/10/06


Quote:

Price changes commencing 1/10/06 Calls to mobile numbers: Calls to mobile numbers account for 25% of our customers' call costs, so our new pricing will have a significant impact. We've changed our network tariffs (excluding 3) to one single lower rate per time of day, with new savings of up to 33% on calls at the weekend, 32% on evening calls and 17% on daytime calls. We're also 0.5p cheaper per minute than BT for calls to mobiles on the four biggest networks, Vodafone, O2, Orange and T-Mobile, which account for 95% of our customers' calls to mobile numbers. And for our customers who make a lot of calls to mobile numbers, our Mobile Extra calling feature will be reduced from £1.50 to only 95p per month, and save you a further 25% on all our mobile rates. Calls to 0845 numbers: We've reduced our rates on calls to 0845 numbers by 33%. Plus, you can still add an 0845 number to your Calling Circle and save a further 33% on all calls to that number. Calls to 0870 numbers: As part of our policy of matching or beating BT's prices, we've reduced our rate on calls to 0870 numbers by up to 5%. Landline local and national rate: The post-inclusive period rate for evening and weekend calls (i.e. after the 70min per call limit has elapsed) will increase to 2.85p/min - We are still cheaper than BT as they charge 3p/min Connection and per minute charges: We will be removing the minimum 5.25p call charge from all calls and applying a 3p call connection charge, just like BT. We will also be moving to per minute billing, also just like BT. Both of these changes will apply to all chargeable calls excluding calls charged a fee per call (e.g. calls to our directory enquiries number 118111, charged at 35p per call) and calls charged a fee for an inclusive period (e.g. an evening local call for 69 minutes).

Quote:

Price changes commencing 1/09/06 From the 1st September 2006, the standard monthly call plan subscription price for Talk2 will reduce from £3.99 to £3.89 This is applicable for all new Talk2 customers (when taking Line Rental), and all existing customers currently paying £3.99 will be charged £3.89/month from their next bill cycle (and any promotional discounts will be adjusted accordingly.

More information here.

That means other teleco's will eventually follow by example from BT and now TalkTalk.

Looks like a Call Connection fee and Whole Minute Charging is going to be the norm shortly so remember to thank Ofcom as this is partly due to them and their idea that competition alone would prevent price increases!

bbb_uk wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2006 at 7:54am:

Looks like a Call Connection fee and Whole Minute Charging is going to be the norm shortly so remember to thank Ofcom as this is partly due to them and their idea that competition alone would prevent price increases!

This just further underlines the fact that there is infact no competition; they all just follow each other. That is, namely BT takes a lead.

I repeat the point made on the BT changes thread, and that is that a call will actually cost more than the pence per minute that is actually stated. Thus, it is a back door increase of prices.  >:(

Dave wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2006 at 2:27pm:

This just further underlines the fact that there is infact no competition; they all just follow each other. That is, namely BT takes a lead.

I agree.  I wonder if Ofcom are just living in their 'perfect' little fantasy world (maybe in Narnia?) where nothing goes wrong and if it does they then go into denial, or, they actually just don't care about us citizens.

It all comes down to Ofcom always taking the 'lighter touch' with regard to doing their job and even Ms Blears and co from the HomeOffice have made this comment as well.

I love the new word that the telco's seem to be using, doing away with the "minimum call charge" and replacing it with a "connection charge" isn't that the same thing.

Why can't the call providers do something exciting before BT do it? But this seems impossible as BT still control a hugh part of the UK telephone network, and obviously will always have a hand in it somewhere along the line

LLU was ment to be a milestone in the UK telecom history, seems to be mopre of a wet weekend, basically BT have turned round to the others and said, we will let you use a bit of cable from the exchange (where we will rent you space) to the home you want to provide, and we will charge you for using our onward network as you have very little choice (your equipment is in our exchange) Its no wonder everyone follow BT they have to!!

How strange TT have removed any reference to the 1/10/2006 changes from their site.

WOW they have removed it

This is the last one they have


Quote:

24th August 2006 From the 1st September 2006, the standard monthly call plan subscription price for Talk2 will reduce from £3.99 to £3.89 This is applicable for all new Talk2 customers (when taking Line Rental), and all existing customers currently paying £3.99 will be charged £3.89/month from their next bill cycle (and any promotional discounts will be adjusted accordingly.)

I will be calling them tomorrow!!

wrote on Sep 8^th, 2006 at 2:06am:

How strange TT have removed any reference to the 1/10/2006 changes from their site.

Weird.  I wonder if they are now having second thoughts or are trying to think of new increases to pass on to the consumer.

Anyhow, thanks for that - I have updated my OP accordingly.

Hi FLG

You said: “I love the new word that the telco's seem to be using, doing away with the "minimum call charge" and replacing it with a "connection charge" isn't that the same thing. "

Minimum charge and connection charge are different.  The change to a connection charge amounts to a price increase.  Connection charges are in addition to the per minute call charge, but a minimum charge is credited against any per minute charge. An example may make that clearer.

Minimum charge of 5p and per second billing: A 15 minute call at a 3p/min rate would have cost 45p in total.

Connection charge of 3p and calls rounded up to the next minute.  A 15 minute call at a 3p/min rate will now cost - 3p connection charge plus 45p time charge plus an average rounding up charge of 1.5p.  The call will now cost 3p + 45p + 1.5p = 49.5p - a 10% increase.

Even a less-than-a-minute UK 01/02 call on BT Together on a weekday daytime will increase by 9% - from a minimum call charge of 5½p to 3p 'call set-up fee' plus a minimum of one minute at 3p = 6p.

Imagine how many calls, at ½p extra each, occur on BT every day when callers hit BT's 'free' 1571 answering machine when a called number is already engaged on another call.  Nice little earner!

Heinz wrote on Sep 10^th, 2006 at 5:41pm:

Imagine how many calls, at ½p extra each, occur on BT every day when callers hit BT's 'free' 1571 answering machine when a called number is already engaged on another call.  Nice little earner!

Does whole minute charging apply to mobiles on Talk Talk, like it does on BT? If so, then consider how much a call to an answerphone (or O2's CallAlert where it sends the mobile subscriber a text and charges the caller) costs on there!!  :o