Subscribers to one of BTC Mobility's air-time packages are being overcharged to the tune of $150 a year in what is being called a "business strategy'' by the company People signed up to the MAX Plus package are paying more than if they were subscribed to MAX Basic.

The Royal Gazette was alerted to the matter by a concerned member of the public and a BTC spokesperson said the different rates were "a business strategy''.

The information brochure for BTC Mobility services reads: "Maximum simplicity -- Get a choice of four straight forward air-time packages.'' If a customer is signed up to MAX Basic, for a monthly access charge of $25, a customer receives 50 free minutes per month and additional calls are 25 cents a minute.

Therefore, an extra 50 minutes at 25 cents per minute means 100 minutes of calls would cost $37.50.

However, if a customer is signed up to MAX Plus, which offers 100 free minutes of calls, they will be charged $50.

This is a difference of $12.50 per month, which amounts to $150 a year.

And because both plans charge 25 cents a minute after the initial free minutes have been used, it is never cheaper to use the MAX Plus plan over the MAX Basic plan.

The MAX Business plan and MAX Business Plus plan are not subject to such discrepancies.

All of the packages offer the same services with additional charges for optional services.

So, depending an how many calls a customer makes, it is worth their while to make sure they are getting value for money.

Firoz Kessam, BTC Mobility Product Manager, directed all enquiries to the company's Corporate Communications Department.

But he did say that all rates were first approved by the Telecommunications Commission before they were implemented.

The Telecommunications Commission did not return messages left by The Royal Gazette .