Questions about payments and funding

Q. I am disabled, can I get a discount on my phone bill?

A. BT does not offer any money back or charge lower prices on the grounds that a person is disabled. Visit our Billing and Payment section for more about how BT can help you save money.

Q. I have a disability, do I have to pay VAT on my phone?

A. It is HM Customs and Excise who set the rules on claiming back the VAT on the cost of a telephone. These state that:

The phone has been designed specially for disabled people
The person using the phone is registered disabled

VAT is charged on all BT products and services except the BT Textphone and the BT In Touch Careline telephone and pendant. This is because these products are designed especially to be used by disabled people unlike all other products, (including the BT Big Button 100 Phone) which are widely used by both disabled and non-disabled customers.

If you are a disabled customer you can apply for VAT exemption on the BT Textphone by completing the application form sent out in the box with the phone. You should ring 0800 085 7622 to claim VAT exemption on the
In Touch Careline telephone. HM Customs & Excise have also given a ruling that 3rd parties buying the In touch product for disabled relatives or disabled friends can have the VAT refunded if the disabled relative completes & returns the VAT exemption certificate.

Visit the HM Customs and Excise website for more information

Q. I use a textphone to make calls, am I entitled to a discount?

A. If you are a textphone user you will receive an automatic text rebate on your phone bill for text calls made through BT TextDirect. The rebate is not a discount but as text calls take longer, the rebate means you are paying the same as if you were making a voice call.