topic Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011 in Community Announcements

VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

bobpullen — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:53:55 GMT

Hi guys,
We have started emailing customers to advise them of changes that we’ll be making to a number of the services we provide. Most of these changes will take place on the 4th January 2011 when VAT is also set to increase from 17.5% to 20% as per the information on the HM Revenue & Customers website here.
The FAQ to accompany the emails that are being sent can be seen here.
This thread is being started to capture any feedback or questions you may have about the changes. Anything that isn't covered in the emails and FAQ, we'll do our best to answer here.
Thanks,

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

Oldjim — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:58:15 GMT

Just read the FAQ - these are really major changes - this topic is now a sticky

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

Oldjim — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:04:48 GMT

For me the change to Talk Anytime is an advantage as I don't call abroad but what about the following
~~Do I get the free months if I switch from the existing Talk Anytime - it looks as though I do but I would like to be certain~~
~~Can I stay on the existing product~~
Is there any change to the cost of addons such as caller display
Edit - I should have read the whole FAQ before posting

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

Oldjim — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:08:46 GMT

This may be incorrect

Quote
Is anything happening to my inclusive minutes?
The 300 included minutes to the top 20 international destinations are being removed from our Talk Evenings & Weekends package. All other inclusive call allowances are staying the same.

Isn't included in that package at present - was it ever?

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

Strat — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:17:56 GMT

It's a pity the Caller ID charge is remaining as Caller ID is widely regarded as a standard feature on home and mobile phones.
After all we don't expect an extra charge for the ring

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

bobpullen — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:30:12 GMT

Quote from: Oldjim
This may be incorrect
Quote
Is anything happening to my inclusive minutes?
The 300 included minutes to the top 20 international destinations are being removed from our Talk Evenings & Weekends package. All other inclusive call allowances are staying the same.

Pretty sure it's correct.

Quote from: Oldjim
Isn't included in that package at present - was it ever?

Yes, it was.
Edit: If you're looking at the matrix on this page, then that was updated yesterday to remove the international minutes form the Evenings & Weekends package. You'll also notice reference to it in the footer on that page. AFAIK (but don't quote me on this), the international minutes will still be given to new Evenings & Weekend customers and then removed on the 4th January as per the FAQ.

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

pierre_pierre — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:54:41 GMT

what happened to the FAQ page?

Quote
Home » Page not found
Uh oh!
Sorry, we couldn't find the page you requested. Please use the search form to find what you're looking for.

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

jbcplusnet — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:54:08 GMT

Hi,
Can I use Plusnet Anytime service using my BT line?
I pay BT line rental. Unfortunately I signed up for line rental with BT for a year last September.
Then I signed up with them for £4.99 a month anytime calls a few days ago. I think I can still cancel this.

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

bobpullen — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:58:05 GMT

The FAQ URL should be sorted now Pierre, it changed but I've since modified my post.

Quote from: jbcplusnet
Can I use Plusnet Anytime service using my BT line?

Unfortunately not, you'd need to be paying us for line rental.

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

198kHz — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:14:35 GMT

Quote
The 300 inclusive international minutes will be removed from our Talk Evenings & Weekends product,

What a dirty low-down trick

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

between1and16ch — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:25:56 GMT

Sounds important. This is exactly what I got as an email, so is there a way of requesting that the information is resent, please?;

Quote
Hello.
Important information about your Plusnet service.
[?][?]. So what you pay for your PlusNet Broadband Your Way Option 3 (Monthly Contract) service will stay the same. Champion.
[?]*[?]new call plan FREE for 3 months.^

[?]Member Centre[?]set up a Direct Debit if you need one, you can do it all online.
[?]
[?]have a read of the FAQ[?]
All the best,

Nick Rawlings
Commercial & Marketing Director, Plusnet

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

mitchell20 — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:36:15 GMT

£1.50 fee for paying by card from Feb 2011 - I DONT THINK SO.

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

bobpullen — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:45:57 GMT

Quote from: 4C
Quote
The 300 inclusive international minutes will be removed from our Talk Evenings & Weekends product,

What a dirty low-down trick

Although worth remembering they weren't originally offered with Evenings & Weekends. If you use this feature a lot, then it might be worthwhile upgrading to the existing Anytime package before it changes on the 4th January. Having said that, your sig says you're on Anytime already and not Evenings & Weekends?

Quote from: between1and16cha
Sounds important. This is exactly what I got as an email, so is there a way of requesting that the information is resent, please?;

Are you viewing the message as plain text or HTML (although it shouldn't matter) and what email client are you viewing it in? We can probably send another, but at the moment I'm more concerned that you were unable to read the message?

Quote from: mitchell20
£1.50 fee for paying by card from Feb 2011 - I DONT THINK SO.

Easy solution to that would be to set up a Direct Debit? How come you abject to the idea?

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

mitchell20 — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:06:24 GMT

Why should I pay using DD?
It's also doesn't cost you that much extra to process credit cards (and most certainly NOT debit cards)
I'm sick to death on companies (like Plus Net) using credit card processing fees for an excuse to increase the price.

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

between1and16ch — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:12:01 GMT

Ah, thanks, it shows fine in Yahoo webmail, so it must be my mail client (Evolution 2.30.3 AMD64 linux). I've used Evolution since it's 0.0.1 days, and this is the first time to my memory that I've come across a problem like this, which is why I hadn't considered it. Bit of an uncommon client for your userbase, so probably not worth worrying about, but if you do want to bounce test mails at me anytime, feel free.
Thanks.

Quote from: Bob
Quote from: between1and16cha
Sounds important. This is exactly what I got as an email, so is there a way of requesting that the information is resent, please?;

Are you viewing the message as plain text or HTML (although it shouldn't matter) and what email client are you viewing it in? We can probably send another, but at the moment I'm more concerned that you were unable to read the message?

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

Oldjim — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:12:19 GMT

Bob,
I was looking at the matrix you linked to.
Also on that page it states

Quote
Stuff you need to know
† - Home Phone changes from 4th January 2011: Line rental will increase to £11.99. Off-peak calling hours will change from 6pm – 6am to 7pm – 7am. There will also be some changes to call plans:
Evening & Weekends – 300 free minutes to landlines removed.
Anytime – 25% discount to mobiles removed.

What does this refer to as it doesn't link from the International calls

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

snozboz — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:19:50 GMT

Is there one webpage that compares the legacy "Unlimited" package (which now faces a £5 increase) with current packages? In terms of everything, including: prices, features, bandwidth, data transfer, and traffic shaping.
When previous packages have changed, this sort of question is always asked, with people wanting an easy comparison between their legacy package and the new ones - hopefully Plusnet have learnt, and have got one ready and waiting...?
I've just seen http://usergroup.plus.net/prodcomp2.php - is this kept up to date, and is it considered "canon" by plusnet, or is it "just" a usergroup thing that should not be taken as official? Even this doesn't show the differences in features between products.
I am on Plusnet Unlimited, paying £16.34 per month, market 3. I get around 3200kbps download speed. My monthly data usage is around 22GB, incl. just under 20GB Peak usage (mainly web & streaming). Presumably I will face a increase to £21.34 if I don't change package. What are the best options?
I had a free house move in February 2010; presumably I won't face an additional charge for changing product before the end of 12 months from this, but will a package change mean the 12 months count down starts again before I can leave Plusnet entirely without penalty?
BTW, I have yet to receive the email about the price change.

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

HairyMcbiker — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:20:48 GMT

FFS £5 on the unlimited charge, not very competitive look like I may have to move provider now.

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

Oldjim — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:26:41 GMT

To compare the two packages put them in here http://usergroup.plus.net/prodcomp1.php
Changing product doesn't affect your house move etc. nor cost anything - and I haven't received the email either
To add - with Extra 60GB included you can go onto ADSL2+

Re: VAT Increase & Price Changes - January 2011

Oldjim — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:37:22 GMT

I just had an evil thought - can I go onto the new ~~extra~~ anytime package and then after the first 3 months change provider with no effect on the previous rebates
Edit - mistake corrected