Telephone Line Rental 1990

[barry1010]

Can anyone remember how much it was back then?

[Prudie]

No. £20 a quarter?

[barry1010]

I really can't remember, Prudie, but I do remember many comments about it being too expensive.

[Mamyalynne]

Sounds about right Prudie.

This from Hansard, Nov 1990

//Mr. Gordon Brown (Dunfermline, East) Does the Minister agree that the real test of his duopoly review will not be theoretical but practical—that of a genuine improvement in standards and of a reduction in cost for the 19 million households currently each paying a £78 standing charge, a 15 per cent. increase in cheap rate local calls, and an average 9 per cent. rise in bills? All that is on top of a £148 connection charge, for a service that generates half a million complaints every year.//

https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1990/nov/13/telecommunications

[barry1010]

Prudie was spot on! Well done. Cheaper than I thought but what a shocker the cost of the connection.
So that is roughly £6 a month - many of us pay that for our mobile phones inclusive of calls, text and some data.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't know what the connection charge for having a BT line put in is now.

[Mamyalynne]

I do now...

//If you are taking a BT Infinity package, then we won't charge you for installing or reconnecting your line. If you are taking a BT Broadband package, then we will charge you £30 for installing a new line. These charges apply whether or not you add BT TV to your package.

If you are ordering a BT Phone package, you may have to pay a connection charge but we'll let you know when you order. There is usually a £70 fee for activating an existing line that is provided by BT or another provider, and a £140 fee for installing a new line.//

[barry1010]

Mamya, I talked to BT last year about getting a phone line so I could move from Virgin and they said it would be free if I signed up to an 18 month contract, the monthly cost was very good

[Mamyalynne]

The increase in competition can sometimes put the customer in charge when it comes to bargaining.

[barry1010]

Yes, indeed, Mamya. Many things are now healer than they have ever been in real terms

[Peter Pedant]

May farst telephone bill I recorded is £538 for 12 mo in 1995

[Peter Pedant]

The internet started off as the Cambridge ring 1970s. The idea to have the telephone turned on the whole time

and it never looked a go-er as the charges for 24 h a day telephone connection was astronomical - even at 10p a min.

BT of course was going - yes yes what a good idea!

[Prudie]

I certainly remember my line rental was often more than the actual calls. Apart from calling my mum most days I didn't use it much - and she was on my 'Friends and Family', anyone remember that discount?

[barry1010]

Yes, I remember it, Prudie. And calls being cheaper after 6pm and at weekends.

[Peter Pedant]

what you mean they arent now ?

as a lab rat - a call to London from salisbury during office hrs was - six shillings - Ow ! 1970 - first three mins