TALK IS CHEAP IF 'uSwitch' FROM BT

TALK IS CHEAP IF 'uSwitch' FROM BT · Ring the changes and 'don't let BT burn a hole in your pocket' · Save up to 90 per cent on international calls · uSwitch launches home telephony calculator for cheaper phone bills · Consumers can save up to a whopping 90 per cent on international calls if they switch off BT. Research by uSwitch, the independent online calculator (www.uswitch.com) and free phone service (0800 093 06 07), reveals that *BT's call costs per minute to specific international destinations are significantly more expensive than most suppliers. For example: · On a BT Basic Plan, one evening call for 10 minutes to New Zealand every week costs £217.98 a year. The same calls with Talk would cost £20.80 - saving 90 per cent. · On BT Together, making a 15 minute daytime call to Tasmania, Australia every second week costs £85.80 a year. The same calls with Swiftcall would cost £21.41 - saving 75 per cent · On a BT Basic Plan, a 30 minute weekend call every week to Goa, India costs £1,543.46 a year. The same calls would cost £592.80 a year with First National - saving 62 per cent · On a BT Basic Plan, calling friends and family in Spain one evening a week for 20 minutes costs £307.94 compared to £62.40 with One.Tel - saving 80 per cent. More... Andrew Salmon, uSwitch managing director, said: "It's ironic that one of the recent BT adverts based around a wedding shows an international call being made! The best savings are to be made on international calls by switching from BT. It's never been cheaper to call 'friends and family' and you can bring people together at bargain prices if you shop around." uSwitch's new home telephony calculator enables consumers to source the best deals which include making national, international and mobile calls. All you have to do is enter your postcode, details of existing supplier, the number of calls you make a day and destinations. The calculator works out the cheapest deal for you. For example: An average home user (Note: 1) can save up to £50 by switching to a new telephone company for their local, national and mobile phone calls. However, should you make international phone calls, you can make even greater savings. For example, in addition to standard UK calls, making 15 - 45 minutes worth of international calls every month to: 1. India would cost on average £751.56 with BT. But you could save 48 per cent a year (£363.96) by switching to Talk's Standard tariff 2. Sweden would cost on average £409.32 with BT. But you could save 32 per cent a year (£131.88) by switching to Alpha Telecom's Prepayment tariff 3. USA would cost on average £393.72 with BT. But you could save 30 per cent a year (£118.68) by switching to British Gas communications Standard tariff Mr Salmon added: "International calls is huge business and there's no reason why people should stay with the same BT plan simply because they have been with the company for years. Millions of homeowners are paying over the odds for their phone calls - through ignorance or confusion. More... "Distinguishing between different talk plans can be a headache but uSwitch does the hard work for you. There are huge savings to be made by shopping around and in the current economic climate, it makes good financial sense to manage your money wisely instead of throwing it down the drain and letting BT burn a hole in your pocket. Consumers should let their fingers do the talking." Consumers can also call the recently-launched uSwitch freephone hotline, 0800 093 06 07, for impartial advice. uSwitch, (www.uswitch.com), is an Ofgem-accredited and Consumers Association endorsed website offering a range of household services comparisons -Ends- For further information contact: · Barry Holloway, uSwitch, on 020 7802 2923 or barryholloway@uswitch.com · Beverley Aujla at Lansons Communications on 020 7294 3683 or beverleya@lansons.com or Lisa Ashley, 020 7294 3698 or lisaa@lansons.com · NOTES TO EDITORS *The research on BT's call costs per minute to specific international destinations was conducted on February 15, 2002. Note (1) An average user on the uSwitch website makes approximately 3 phone calls a day, calls at all times (daytime, evening and weekend) and to all UK destinations (local, national and mobile), and does not favour any specific mobile network. Service summary uSwitch is a free Internet service which gives consumers access to the best deal on home services such as gas, electricity, home and mobile telephony. Using a unique 'calculator' to evaluate a number of factors, including price, service, location, payment method of package, it advises consumers on the most suitable supplier for their individual needs. If they choose to, customers can then switch to the alternative supplier while online. The service is also available via telephone, fax and postal service. Consumers simply call 0845 601 2856, fax 020 7233 5933 or write to Customer Services, uSwitch, Victoria Station House, 191 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5NE, with their postcode and usage details. uSwitch is the first service to compare offerings from a complete range of suppliers. uSwitch is not a supplier, and, as such, it acts as an independent advisor, giving consumers an impartial view of what's on offer and making it easier for them to choose the most appropriate deal. The service is based on the most up-to-date published information from suppliers and regulators. For energy comparison, uSwitch has developed its own service standards league tables for suppliers based on official performance statistics. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/02/25/20020225BIT00380/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/02/25/20020225BIT00380/wkr0002.pdf