This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41759189
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| BT to cut landline costs for up to one million people | BT to cut landline costs for up to one million people |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BT will slash costs for customers who only have a landline, after a review by regulator Ofcom. | BT will slash costs for customers who only have a landline, after a review by regulator Ofcom. |
| From April 2018, the telecoms company will reduce the price of its monthly line rental by £7, a 37% decrease from the current cost of £18.99. | From April 2018, the telecoms company will reduce the price of its monthly line rental by £7, a 37% decrease from the current cost of £18.99. |
| The reduction will save up to a million households £84 a year, and customers will have their rental costs capped at the rate of inflation. | The reduction will save up to a million households £84 a year, and customers will have their rental costs capped at the rate of inflation. |
| Ofcom expects three other providers to follow suit. | Ofcom expects three other providers to follow suit. |
| Nearly two-thirds of BT customers with only a landline are over 65 and more than three-quarters have never switched provider, the regulator said. | Nearly two-thirds of BT customers with only a landline are over 65 and more than three-quarters have never switched provider, the regulator said. |
| Ofcom said they had been getting poor value for money in recent years, compared to those who buy bundles of landline, broadband and/or pay-TV services. | Ofcom said they had been getting poor value for money in recent years, compared to those who buy bundles of landline, broadband and/or pay-TV services. |
| Phone bills 'soar' | Phone bills 'soar' |
| The cost of line rental has risen by up to 47% above the rate of inflation since 2009, according to Ofcom. | |
| At the same time the wholesale cost of providing the service has actually fallen by 27% in real terms. | |
| "For many people, their landline is their lifeline," said Jonathan Oxley, Ofcom's competition group director. | "For many people, their landline is their lifeline," said Jonathan Oxley, Ofcom's competition group director. |
| "But households who only have a landline - and no broadband - have seen their phone bills soar. Many are elderly and have been with BT for decades. We've been clear that they must get a better deal." | "But households who only have a landline - and no broadband - have seen their phone bills soar. Many are elderly and have been with BT for decades. We've been clear that they must get a better deal." |
| The other firms that provide landline-only deals are Virgin Media, Sky and the Post Office, but so far none have said they will reduce their charges. | |
| Talk Talk withdrew from that part of the market, to concentrate on broadband and phone bundles. | Talk Talk withdrew from that part of the market, to concentrate on broadband and phone bundles. |
| The regulator also said it wanted to help those who buy a phone service from one provider and broadband from another. | The regulator also said it wanted to help those who buy a phone service from one provider and broadband from another. |
| BT said it welcomed "a balanced voluntary agreement with Ofcom" and that it had "listened to the concerns of our line-only customers". | BT said it welcomed "a balanced voluntary agreement with Ofcom" and that it had "listened to the concerns of our line-only customers". |
| Are you a BT landline-only customer? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you a BT landline-only customer? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |