TalkTalk and BT raise cost of phone calls

The minimum cost of calling will become 17.3p, because of higher connection charges and call rates.

A weekly daytime call will cost 6.4p a minute, up from 5.8p. Connection charges will rise by 1p to 10.9p. The changes, which do not apply to customers with so-called "all you can eat packages", come into effect in October.

TalkTalk's 5.1m customers will be informed of the above inflation increase in their next monthly bill.

A Talk Talk spokesman said: "We don't like raising prices, but we need to from time-to-time. We are at the value end of the spectrum and still pretty confident we offer great value."

TalkTalk's price rise comes less than a month after rival BT announced a 10pc increase in its prices. Both companies will also increase line rental to £12.04.

BT admitted that the inflation-busting increases would hit already squeezed household budgets, but said the rises were necessary.

"Like many businesses, we have to review our prices as we seek to cover costs and emerge from recession in good shape," said a spokesman.

Source: The Telegraph, 7th August 2010

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