Welcome to your guide on managing and paying your BT bill quickly and efficiently. BT offers several methods for settling your account, ranging from automated monthly payments to quick digital transactions and traditional in-person options .
Understanding your payment choices is essential, especially since BT encourages certain automated methods that can help you avoid additional fees. Below, we detail all the options available to ensure your account stays up-to-date and your service remains uninterrupted.
1. Automated and Convenient Payments: Direct Debit (DD) and Monthly Payment Plan (MPP)
Direct Debit is promoted as a convenient and time-saving method for managing your payments, making your BT bill "one less thing to worry about" . It is BT's preferred method , and choosing an automated plan is the primary way to avoid certain payment processing fees .
Setting Up Direct Debit
Direct Debit ensures that the total amount due on your bill is automatically debited from your bank or building society account on or after the specified due date .
You can set up a convenient Direct Debit to pay your BT bills . If you are interested in setting up a Direct Debit, you can call 0800 44 33 11 . For BT Business customers, setting up a Direct Debit can take care of all future payments, making life easier and supporting digital transformation .
Paying Monthly vs. Quarterly
BT provides flexibility in how often your Direct Debit is taken, which can help with budgeting .
Monthly Payment Plan (MPP): If you are currently paying quarterly, it is possible to switch to monthly payments . With the Monthly Payment Plan, you spread the cost of your bills by paying a set amount each month . To set up the Monthly Payment Plan, you can call 0800 44 33 11 .
Direct Debit Quarterly: You can set up Direct Debit to pay quarterly .
Direct Debit Monthly: You can set up Direct Debit to pay monthly .
Managing Your Direct Debit
You have control over the details of your automated payments :
You can change the bank account you pay your Direct Debit from .
You can change your payment date .
You can cancel your Direct Debit .
However, please be aware of the terms of the Direct Debit agreement:
Either you or BT can terminate the Direct Debit agreement by giving 7 days written notice .
If you fail to make payments as agreed or fail to accept amendments to your payments, BT reserves the right to cancel the agreement and recover any monies due .
BT reserves the right to re-present any failed payment without notifying the customer .
Failure to make this payment may result in a charge being levied to your account, as well as possible restriction of your service .
BT may amend the terms and conditions of this agreement by giving not less than 7 days written notice .
2. Digital Payments: Online and Via the My BT App
BT provides several options for making quick payments using digital methods, including via the online My BT portal and the My BT app .
Paying via the My BT App
The My BT app is described as the easiest way to view and pay your bills .
Key features of the app:
You can view and pay your bills quickly and easily with just a few taps .
The app also allows you to check your recent usage across BT landline, broadband, TV, and mobile services .
You can also check your current broadband status .
How to access the app:
You will need your BT ID to log in initially .
After your first login, you can use a 4-digit PIN or fingerprint ID for quick access when needed .
Paying Online via the BT Website
If you prefer to pay online without using the app, you can use the BT website.
General Online Payment: To pay online, the bill may reference the web address
www.bt.com/billing-payments . If you are paying manually (not via Direct Debit), BT sends an email when the bill is due, and you can go onto the site and pay it with your debit card
.
BT Business Online Payment: If you are a business customer, paying your business bills online is convenient, allowing you to keep track of payments and pay them all in one place
. The steps are:
1. Log in to My Account (or register if you have not already) .
2. Head to Billing .
3. Select Pay Bills .
4. Choose Pay by Card from the drop-down menu .
5. Select the bill you wish to pay .
Paying by Debit or Credit Card
You can pay your BT bill using a debit or credit card . While card payment can be done through the online portals described above , you can also pay by card over the phone .
To pay by debit or credit card, you can use the 24-hour self-service line: 0800 44 33 11 .
3. Traditional Payment Methods
For customers who prefer non-digital methods, BT offers several alternatives .
Paying by Phone
You can pay your bill by phone . You can use the 24-hour self-service line at 0800 44 33 11 for billing options . If you need assistance with sales, billing, or enquiries, you can call 0800 800 150 (available Monday to Friday 8am-9pm, Saturday 8am-8pm, and Sunday 9am-6pm) . If you use a textphone, you should use BT TextDirect by dialling 18001 before the number you want (e.g., 18001 0800 800 150) .
Paying In Person
You can pay your BT bill in person at a PayPoint .
BT customers can also still choose to pay their bills at the Post Office . However, it should be noted that BT, in the past, made the decision to remove any reference to payment at the Post Office from the back of its telephone bills , as it was not a method BT chose to promote .
Paying by Cheque
You also have the option to pay your bill using a cheque .
4. Understanding Payment Timing and Fees
When choosing how to pay, it is important to be aware of the timeline for payment and potential charges associated with non-automated methods .
Avoiding the Payment Processing Fee
BT encourages the use of Direct Debit, and non-automated payment methods are subject to a Payment Processing Fee . This fee reflects the fact that some payment methods are more costly to process than others . The fee is also based on the average cost of all non-automated payment methods, as well as the follow-up costs incurred if customers pay late or forget to pay .
The charge for *not* paying by Direct Debit or Monthly Payment Plan is £4.50 per quarter, which equates to £18 per year .
You can avoid this quarterly payment processing fee by following four specific ways :
Setting up Direct Debit quarterly .
Setting up Direct Debit monthly .
Setting up a Monthly Payment Plan .
By buying the BT credit card; if you make a purchase using the BT credit card, you will receive a discount of £4.50 .
Methods like paying by cheque or electronic bank transfer are often considered non-automated by BT and typically incur this charge . For example, even a customer paying via online banking (electronic transfer) reported being charged the £4.50 fee quarterly . BT justifies applying a general policy for all payment methods that are not automated (i.e., other than Direct Debit or Monthly Payment Plan) to reflect the higher risk of non-payment .
Avoiding Late Payment Charges
It is crucial to ensure that payment is made by the due date shown on your bill .
BT will levy late payment charges if the bill is not settled promptly .
BT may choose not to send further paper reminders for payment of the invoice .
Failure to make payment by the due date can lead to late payment charges and possible restriction of your service .
If you rely on a paper copy of your bill and choose to pay manually, the payment period can be very short . The bill might take two days to arrive by post (possibly three days if a weekend is involved), and then it might take three days to return to BT via post . This means the customer may only have about four days to settle the bill to meet the payment term . BT’s policy on this timeline has been described by some customers as an arrogant stance designed to pressure customers into using Direct Debit .
Paperfree Billing Discounts
If you receive your bill paperfree (online), you may be eligible for a discount . Historically, a paperfree bill discount was shown as -£1.25 on the bill . You can view your bill and usage online for free at www.bt.com .
Summary of Payment Methods
| Payment Method |
Key Details |
Associated Fees/Incentives |
Contact/Access Information |
| Direct Debit (DD) |
Automated payment taken monthly or quarterly. Convenient and saves time . Total due debited automatically . |
Avoids the £4.50 quarterly payment processing fee . |
Set up DD or MPP: 0800 44 33 11 . |
| Monthly Payment Plan (MPP) |
A monthly Direct Debit plan that spreads the cost of your bill over the year . |
Avoids the £4.50 quarterly payment processing fee . |
Set up DD or MPP: 0800 44 33 11 . |
| My BT App |
Quick and easy viewing and payment of bills, usage checks, and service status updates . Requires BT ID to log in . |
No explicit fee mentioned; depends on underlying payment method (e.g., card payment). |
Use 4-digit PIN or fingerprint ID after initial login . Forgotten login details: https://www.bt.com/forgotmybtid . |
| Online Portal |
Pay bills (including by card) through the website, often requiring log in to My BT/My Account . |
No explicit fee mentioned; depends on underlying payment method (e.g., if paying manually by card, the £4.50 quarterly fee may apply if not set up as DD/MPP) . |
Online portal address: www.bt.com/billing-payments . |
| Phone Payment |
Payment can be made by phone using a debit or credit card . |
Subject to the £4.50 quarterly payment processing fee if not set up as DD/MPP . |
24-hour self-service line: 0800 44 33 11 . |
| In Person (PayPoint) |
Pay in person at any PayPoint location . |
Subject to the £4.50 quarterly payment processing fee if not set up as DD/MPP . |
Find a PayPoint. |
| In Person (Post Office) |
Customers can still choose to pay bills at the Post Office, although BT does not promote this method . |
Subject to the £4.50 quarterly payment processing fee if not set up as DD/MPP . |
Visit a Post Office branch. |
| Cheque |
Payment made by sending a cheque . |
Subject to the £4.50 quarterly payment processing fee. This fee is related to the higher cost and risk of non-automated methods . |
Address for correspondence can be found on the bill. |
If you have any queries about your bill, need assistance with pricing, or wish to make a complaint, BT offers several contact options.
Sales, Billing, and Enquiries: Call 0800 800 150 .
24-hour Self-Service Line: Call 0800 44 33 11 for billing, options, fault reporting, and order tracking .
Technical Faults: Call 0800 800 151 (available 24 hours, 7 days a week) .
When contacting BT, please ensure you have your account number to hand for reference . If you have a complaint, you can log on to www.bt.com and click on "Contact BT," call 0800 800 150, or contact them in writing at the BT Correspondence Centre .
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