Renters advised on phone-line price hikes

22 2008
Tenants have been advised to do their research and compare deals before signing up to a home phone contract.

While many tenants choose to stay in a rental property for just six months before moving on, most fixed-line contracts come with 12-month minimum contracts.

And, according to a new study in the Daily Telegraph, those not signing up to a 12-month deal with BT "could be in for a nasty shock" as the operator puts up the cost of its evening calls by as much as 1,900 per cent from the start of April.

Steve Weller, communications expert at price comparison website uSwitch.com, added: "We estimate that around nine million customers will see a hike in their line rental, topped by sharp increase of making daytime and evening calls."

The newspaper cited the case of one 25-year old man renting a property in the south of London who is tied to a BT contract as he needs to have broadband internet access.

"I feel I'm trapped with BT," Andrew Swerby explained.

"I need the line for my broadband and I don't want to fork out for a different line to be installed." ADNFCR-1219-ID-18479447-ADNFCR

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