Householders signing up for broadband packages could be exempted from the rental charge on their landline if they don’t use it, under proposals to be discussed by the culture minister.
Ed Vaizey has said the charges of around £18 a month are “outdated”.
He wants householders to only pay for the services they use, describing the current system as an “analogue billing system in a digital world”.
The minister is inviting BT, TalkTalk, Virgin and Sky for discussions.
One in five home owners do not make fixed-line calls, but have to pay for landline connections.
Mr Vaizey said: “If the companies come up with a different pricing structure, that is fine, as long as consumers can see what they are paying for.”
The minister said ending hidden costs, such as line rental, could mean other products becoming more expensive, but he wanted transparency around pricing.
Price confusion
The advertising watchdog, ASA, and the communications regulator, Ofcom, are to introduce new rules about how such packages are marketed from May, following research that found there was widespread confusion about prices.
A spokesmen for BT said: “Anyone using broadband uses a landline. I think the focus is more about ensuring clarity around charges when companies advertise their broadband packages.
“BT is happy to meet with the minister and other players in the industry to discuss ways of making charges clearer for consumers.”
Related Posts
3CX VOIP Phone System
Evolve your communications and eliminate PBX headaches with 3CX Phone System Unify your communications with 3CX Phone System for Windows... read more
Warning: Businesses Targeted By Fake Invoice Email Scam
Businesses are being warned to be extra vigilant when receiving email invoices. A new phishing scam is doing the rounds,... read more
Ofcom has told BT to install high-speed cables to businesses much faster and reduce the prices
Ofcom has told BT to install high-speed cables to businesses much faster and reduce the prices it charges for them.
It... read more
Brand New Website Launched!
Today marks the launch of our brand new website! We hope you like the new look and new navigation structure.... read more
New International DDI Numbers
EvoSoft can now provide international DDI numbers at very low prices thanks to our partnership with a major supplier. Please... read more
Brand New Servers
We have just migrated all customers over to brand new, more powerful servers. This will ensure maximum uptime and performance... read more