BT caller display

[rainbow2]

Athough I pay rental to BT for my landline, I do not use them for my calls. Consequently, I have been using BT's prefix of 1280 to make 3-4 calls per month so that I don't get charged for caller display. Recently, though I think my call provider has put a block on the prefix so that I can no longer dial through BT. As BT are putting up their caller display charge to �2.50 per month soon, I was discussing this with a friend and he said that if my phone has the numbers in the phonebook, then I don't need caller display and that the caller's name or number will come on the phone anyway. Is this correct? I always understood that you needed to subscribe to caller display for the phone's number display to work.

[Ethel]

Being in the phone book makes no difference whatsoever

[Twenty20]

I think you mean if the caller's name and number is stored in your phone then they will display?

[Jugglering]

I've got a phone that stores names and numbers in its own *phonebook* (ie memory), so that when someone who is on that list rings me, I can see straight away who's ringing... and I don't subscribe to Caller Display.. it seems to depend on the phone instead.

[4candles]

Yes, rainbow 2, you need to be subscribed for caller display to work on a landline.

Jugglering - there's no way a landline phone will display numbers or names if you're not subscribed - the information just won't be transmitted.

[sandmaster]

Sorry candles - I don't agree. If someone phones me, and they are listed on my phone's internal directory, their number will show i=on the display (like a mobile). But of course, if it is someone not entered in my directory, it will not show.

[4candles]

Sandmaster - sorry, I don't understand the "i=" part of your post.

Are you saying, then, that if someone in your directory phones, you see the number, or do you see the name? And if someone not in your directory calls, do you see anything, or nothing?

I'm not having a go at anyone - just trying to understand - I can't see how anyone can get any kind of display if not subscribed to the service, whether knowingly or unknowingly.

[mandimoo]

my phone also diplays the caller if they are in the directory, by whatever name i gave to that number when i put it in the phone. i dont subscribe to caller display for this very reason.

[rainbow2]

Thanks for all your replies. Must admit I'm still as confused whether mine will work or not if I don't keep up the subscription for Caller Display to BT. Ethel - I am sorry I didn't explain myself better but by phonebook I did mean the 'memory' phonebook in my phone.
I think also that many people who are with BT for their calls don't realise that depending on the package, they have caller display already included and don't know that they are actually subscribing to this.
Don't really want to cancel caller display with BT in case my phone doesn't show numbers without it. Unfortunately, it looks like I won't really know without trying it first - will just have to start paying the increased price of �2.50 per month.

[4candles]

I used to pay for Caller Display, but a few years ago BT introduced "BT Privacy At Home", which is free, and includes Caller Display. It's still available - details here

Maybe Jugglering, sandmaster and mandimoo have done this in the past, and don't realise they have Caller Display because it's free and does not appear on the bill. One way or another, their line must be enabled for the service - the phone can't do it on its own without the data burst before the ringing starts.

It appears you're right about 1280 rainbow2 - see this.

[rainbow2]

Thanks for the links 4candles. Checked the BT Privacy one but unfortunately the smallprint does say that from Ocober 2006 you have to make a certain number of calls through BT to keep it free. Looks like I'll have to keep paying, but I do object to it increasing to �2.50 per month (probably plus VAT as well). That's actually almost a quarter of the line rental I pay, so it is a bit of a rip-off. Would really miss caller display though if I cancelled it.

[4candles]

Seems a nasty trick to block the 1280 prefix.

With BT's Anytime, I can't see any point of faffing around with prefixes, alternative providers etc anyway. For �17�32 inc VAT per month I'm getting line rental and inclusive calls to UK (and 0845 & 0870) 24/7, and no extra for Caller Display.

[buildersmate]

Rainbow
What the 'small print' statement means is that if you use another carrier for your calls (i.e. not BT) you have to pay for Caller Display. It is BT's way of ensuring those that use Tiscali or whoever for their calls and just rent the line from BT, you have to pay for it.

[naflharrison]

just read this thread and thought i would add the bt privacy to my account as i had caller display from bt. i get my internet and unlimited anytime calls for �12.99 pm with a different provider which is cheap as chips. when i logged into my bt account it seems i don't have caller display from bt which i thought i had as my phones bring up the name and number for the person ringing so obviously caller display isnt needed after all.

[rainbow2]

Thanks again for all your replies. Judging by the threads, it looks like some get caller display for free and some don't. The reason I don't use BT for calls is that my internet provider, for which I pay �14.99 per month, recently added unlimited anytime calls to landlines at no extra charge. This was exactly what I needed 'cos all my calls are made during the weekday, not at night or weekend. Also I use the Saynoto0870 website to get alternative landline numbers for anything beginning with 0845 or 0870.

[bushbaby_de]

We recently switched our calls to be routed through Sky instead of BT and started getting charged for caller ID, so we cancelled it. Despite having a full phone book, no details were displayed when we received calls. For various reasons we returned to BT and got the free caller display reinstalled and can now see who is calling - just a number if not in my phone book, or their name as entered in my phone book if I know them. So yes, you can get it for free, and no you won't be able to see the caller if you cancel it. Should clear matters up :-)