bbb_uk wrote on Jul 31^st, 2006 at 8:10pm:

bbb_uk, I have to say that I'm not too sure about this one. Yes it's possible, but I think that the main reason for per minute charging is because of the removal of the minimum charge. Of course, it will also mean that any prices quoted 'per minute' will be higher than they at first appear.

Indeed, calls to mobiles and geographicals will cost 3p more than they do now, if they last more than a few minutes.

BT’s announcement, is all smoke and mirrors: the more you look at it, the more you realise that quite a lot has gone up in price.

[The following is based on the UK wide call rate of 3ppm for telephoning all locations in the UK during "business hours"] 

The average 5 minute call used to cost 15p (5 x 3p)
Now it will cost: 3p connection fee plus 15p (5 x 3p) plus 1.5p** = 19.5p.  A 30% increase.

The average 10 minute call used to cost 30p (10 x 3p).
Now it will cost: 3p connection fee plus 30p (10 x 3p) plus 1.5p = 34.5p. A 15% increase.

The average 15 minute call used to cost 45p (15 x 3p)
Now it will cost: 3p connection fee plus 45p (15 x 3p) plus 1.5p = 49.5p. A 10% increase

The average 20 minute call used to cost 60p (20 x 3p).
Now it will cost: 3p connection fee plus 60p (20 x 3p) plus 1.5p = 64.5p. A 7.5% increase.

The average 30 minute call used to cost 90p (30 x 3p).
Now it will cost: 3p connection fee plus 90p (30 x 3p) plus 1.5p = 94.5p. A 5% increase.

The average 60 minute call used to cost 180p (60 x 3p).
Now it will cost: 3p connection fee plus 180p (60 x 3p) plus 1.5p = 184.5p. A 2.5% increase.

**Why have I added 1.5p to the cost of the calls?   With the introduction of “whole minute charging”, if the call is just under a whole minute then the cost of the last minute will be 3p. If the call is just over a whole minute then the “last minute” will cost an extra 3p.  Statistically, half the calls will be under and half over the payment threshhold,  the probability of going over is about 50%. So the average increase will be 1.5p.

I don’t know what the average call length is, but it is clear that by introducing whole minute charging AND a connection fee, call charges have increased considerably.

A typical call lasting 15 minutes has increased by a staggering 10%

.

Tomorrows headlines should read:  “BT  Announces  A  Massive  Price  Increase In Call Costs”

What no-one's mentioned on here yet is how this affects calls to mobile phones. Current daytime prices to the four GSM networks are from 12.4 to 15.4 pence per minute, which means that the minimum charge on these will be 15.5 to 18.5 (calls are rounded up to the nearest half penny). 

For calls to 3 phones, they will cost a minimum of 25p !!!

So all those lovely answerphones that people have on and don't bother to retreive messages when you leave them will cost us dear.

Does anyone know what is actually meant by the "call set-up fee"? Is this the time at which the person at the other end answers the call or is this from when their phone starts ringing? I've searched google for a definition but without any luck. I only ask this as BT must have a reason for changing the wording of the charge (and they have a habit of using misleading wording [national call rate, etc!]).

Any thoughts?

Quote:


When making calls from a mobile you are charged from when the phone at the other end rings, not from when it is answered. There's no reason, in theory, why a landline call couldn't be charged in this way. This is "why on earth" I asked the question 

From what I've seen over the last few years BT have made it a habit to subtly change the terms and phrases they use when the change will eventually be of benefit to themselves. Do you not wonder why they've changed from a "connection charge" to a "call set-up fee"?

Jolly wrote on Aug 1^st, 2006 at 12:29pm:

On which mobile network is that? I'm certainly not charged for the phone at the other end ringing. If it goes through to voicemail I'm charged, which is why I hate voicemail.

Charging for the ringing or engaged phone is a scary prospect, although I could see the phone companies moving to this model in the future. It costs them for the use of the network even if the call's not conected - after all, that's why BT are so keen for people to have 1571.

Of course, if you use an indirect service (0844...) to make calls, you are charged for the second ringing tone.

Jolly wrote on Aug 1^st, 2006 at 12:29pm:


What network does that then. None of the UK ones to the best of my knowledge.