Press & PR

The current pricing schemes for BT's phone tariffs are far more difficult to evaluate than they used to be, according to one commentator.

Nigel Scott writes in the Yorkshire Evening Post that "today you need degrees in applied linguistics and quantum mechanics just to work out what you're paying".

He argues that the recent drop in monthly tariff rates proves how difficult the pricing schemes are to understand.

Although BT reduced its monthly rates, it increased the per-minute cost of calls at the same time, making it difficult to assess whether the changes would benefit or hurt consumers.

No further light was thrown on the matter when a BT spokesperson told This is Money that it would be "difficult to say" whether the telecoms giant would make profit, adding that "some customers" would inevitably lose out.

Mr Scott argues that the lack of clarity may force him to revert back to older forms of communication, with two tins and a length of string being a preferred option.

Vonage is committed to making staying in touch easier. Tariffs are based on a flat rate starting from £5.99 a month.

With the online account management service, customers can look at their bills in real time to keep track of the calls they have made.