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If you still use BT for your line rental and calls, be aware that there are cheaper calls packages around. Depending on where you call and how often, experts say you can save up to £140 a year by switching your home phone supplier.
You can either pay BT for your line rental and another company for your calls, or go to a supplier that can offer a joint bill for both your calls and line rental (they will rent a line from BT on your behalf). Alternatively you can get a cable line from Virgin Media if you live in a cabled area.
Most of BT’s rivals offer inclusive packages, either for calls made to UK landlines at any time or just during evenings and weekends. Some also offer inclusive calls to certain international destinations. Alternatively you can just pay per call.
The kind of calls you make and when you make them makes some phone tariffs much cheaper for you compared with others, so it’s worth shopping around for a good deal. Websites including uswitch.com, moneysupermarket.com and firsthelpline.com can help you compare different packages.
Different phone companies also charge different prices for calls to mobiles, 0870 and 0845 numbers, so check out these charges before you commit to anything.
When you get a new phone line you will have to sign a contract for at least 12 months. Some call providers also require you to commit to a minimum period for their packages – but some don’t, so it’s a good idea to check the small print. If you want to switch providers make sure you are not in contract, and tell your new provider you want to switch to it. If applicable it will contact BT to take over ownership of the line, and from then on send you one bill for calls and line rental. If you are just switching for calls you will receive a bill from BT for line rental and a separate bill from your calls provider.
Generally, phone companies prefer you to pay them by direct debit, and there are often extra charges if you pay by cheque or on the receipt of a bill. Some firms, such as BT, also charge extra if you receive a paper, rather than an online, bill.
Mobile phone
Essentially there are two main ways to pay for your mobile phone. Monthly contracts have a set price each month, which includes a pre-determined amount of minutes and text messages. If you go over the limit, or use additional services such as mobile internet, you will be charged extra.
With pay-as-you-go (PAYG) deals you buy a handset and then pay a set price for calls and messages. Customers “top-up” their credit with vouchers instead of receiving a bill. They are suitable for light users, or those with a poor credit rating who might not be accepted for a contract.
To find the best deal for you, first you need to work out how many call minutes you use and how many text messages you send per month. If you already have a mobile this should be on your monthly bill. Generally if you make more than 100 minutes of calls, or send more than 100 texts each month, a contract phone will work out better value than PAYG.
The internet is a good place to search for a tariff – networks’ own websites and price comparison sites such as onecompare.com are both well worth a look. Some networks offer cheaper prices if you sign up online rather than in-store while comparison sites can help you compare different networks’ offerings.
Most deals give you a free handset, but if you already have a phone that you like, a “SIM-only” deal will be cheaper. Contracts can be for 12, 18 or 24 months – the longer you commit for generally the cheaper the monthly cost, but bear in mind that by doing so you might miss out on cheaper deals later on.
If you want to switch networks but keep the same number, ask your current provider for Porting Authorisation Code ("PAC"). Next, give your PAC to your new provider and they will arrange the transfer, which should be complete in about 14 days.
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