BT tripled in price?

[Scarby9]

I've just been talking to my 84 year old father who tells me his monyhly payment to BT has been increased from £30 per month to £90. His last bill said he was £20 in debt, as it were ( presumably due to increased phonecalls during lockdown) but that doesn't seem to justify a tripling of the monthly amount

Can anyone shed any light? I can't get up to see them for a fortnight but any information or suggestions anyone can make would be helpful for me to help him then.
Thank you.

Is this in a quiet part of the forum? Should I move it to AIBU?

I think you need to see the bills to get a breakdown? Usually you can lock into a fixed monthly price. Has he signed up for a tv package?

That’s a lot! I pay far less a month for a mobile with unlimited broadband and unlimited uk calls. It is not with BT though. I hope you can sort it and change his plan.

Thank you for replying. He hasn't signed up for anything extra - I don't think their TV could cope with a package anyway!
You're right that I need to see the bills. I just thought I would see if anyone knew anything I didn't.

It is indeed a lot. Our package includes BB and unlimited UK phone calls to geographic numbers

https://www.sky.com/shop/terms-conditions/talk/code-of-practice/tariff-guide/

I too was wondering if he’s unwittingly signed up to something else, my Dad did it a couple of years ago

Get a copy of his bill and register for online services on his behalf (I'm assuming he's not tech savvy). Then you can use online chat to discuss the issue. I don't think phone with unlimited calls would even cost £30, let alone £90.

I pay £24p/m for superfast broadband and phone.

And is it possible he's fallen for a scam involving a premium rate number?

On the BT website it says for a basic line rental -
“If you go over your allowance with calls that aren't eligible for the price cap you'll pay 11.3p a minute (plus 3.3p for each call) for all normal UK calls. And for all other calls you'll pay our standard BT Basic calling package rates.”
11.3 p is a lot per minute!!! How can they justify that?

How likely is it that if they contacted him regarding £20 debt last time, hes agreed to some new package or deal without fully understanding the costs etc?

How likely would he be swept alomg with a sales call like that?

BT can be a terrible rip-off if you don't keep phoning and re-negotiating with them and threatening to leave.

He doesn't do internet banking or any kind of online shopping or bull management, so I don't see how he could have signed up by mistake.
But I'm pleased you also think it is a lot. They were definitely using their phone more during the day because DF was shielding so they were ringing friends. But we are talking one or two, maybe three local calls a day, no more. We Skype instead or ring them. DF has stopped ringing us completely since lockdown so no change to their long distance calls.

Bill management! Although, as far as I know, he has not taken up bull management either.