Unless you're calling a stratospherically expensive international number, accessing 18185 via a geographic number from a landline makes no sense now that local and national calls have become so prohibitively expensive: why pay (geographic rate + 5p) to call a geographic rate number !
Even the 0800 rate quickly becomes uncompetitive for geographic unless used only briefly and rarely.
Losing 18185 access will force landline customers to opt for inclusive packages from their landline provider, and will destroy competition by driving small companies like 18185 out of business.
This is exactly the reverse of what Ofcom should be doing. :mad:
Even the 0800 rate quickly becomes uncompetitive for geographic unless used only briefly and rarely.
Sorry, don't understand that.
Assuming I remain on BT's E&W package (which I get free) but want to make a daytime geographical call after access to the shortcode 18185 is removed.
I dial the freephone number 0808 1 703 703, wait for the announcement and then dial my target number. That costs me 5p connection + 1p/minute - a vast saving on BT's standard charge.
BTW, my calls to Spain using that method will cost me exactly the same - 4p connection + 1p/minute.
Assuming I remain on BT's E&W package (which I get free) but want to make a daytime geographical call after access to the shortcode 18185 is removed.
I dial the freephone number 0808 1 703 703, wait for the announcement and then dial my target number. That costs me 5p connection + 1p/minute - a vast saving on BT's standard charge.
Using the 0808 access soon gets expensive unless it's used very briefly and very rarely...
For example,
If you make only one 5-minute and one 10-minute call each day, the monthly cost (30 days) will be 50p more expensive via 0808 compared to bolting on BT's Unlimited Anytime Calls at £7.
Make four 20-minute calls daily and it becomes £23 more expensive via 0808 compared to BT's Unlimited Anytime Calls ! :mad:
Using 18185 access, the above examples of usage would be cheaper than BT by £4 and £1 respectively.
In other words, blocking the 18185 code will make their calls much less competitive and could put them out of business.
I just stumbled on this thread while looking into my options to give BT (phone) and Sky (broadband) the heave-ho. It is all very depressing. Not only is Ofcom behaving an a manner that does not protect consumer. It seems that it is behaving in a manner that is bad for the wider telecoms industry. I think this is a regulatory scandal comparable to that affecting the energy market where all the smallest players got squeezed out years ago leaving the big boys free to hike the prices relentlessly ever since. I long for the day I can go entirely wireless at a sensible cost and BT/Openreach can take their local loop physical infrastructure monopoly and weave baskets. Sadly I don't yet see a cheap mobile broadband option with VOIP and enough bandwidth to download whole Linux ISOs at will.
In the meantime, I have some questions:
Am I right in thinking that BT are the only provider that is currently required by Ofcom to carry Indirect Access services?
Do any other providers carry Indirect Access services, either voluntarily or because of regulation?
I ask because I want shot of BT for both price and customer service reasons but I don't want to lose 18185 as the alternative is to take a much more expensive call package and allow a deserving small company to be driven to the wall by the big boys.
Am I right in thinking that BT are the only provider that is currently required by Ofcom to carry Indirect Access services?
Do any other providers carry Indirect Access services, either voluntarily or because of regulation?
I ask because I want shot of BT for both price and customer service reasons but I don't want to lose 18185 as the alternative is to take a much more expensive call package and allow a deserving small company to be driven to the wall by the big boys.
According to Money Saving Expert, Primus and the Post Office still allow 18185 access. However the guarantee from Primus only lasts until December 2013 so we'll have to see what happens next year. If they block it, I'd see that as being a material disadvantage and I'd want to be released from my 18-month contract.
Primus are generally quite good, e.g. free evening calls are available for longer (from 6pm to 8am) and free calls last up to 90 minutes. The only complaint I have is that Primus charge for 00800 International Freephone calls, but there's no warning announcement and there's no mention of this anywhere on their website.
Comments
Totally agree. Ofcom are a disgrace.
Assuming I remain on BT's E&W package (which I get free) but want to make a daytime geographical call after access to the shortcode 18185 is removed.
I dial the freephone number 0808 1 703 703, wait for the announcement and then dial my target number. That costs me 5p connection + 1p/minute - a vast saving on BT's standard charge.
BTW, my calls to Spain using that method will cost me exactly the same - 4p connection + 1p/minute.
For example,
- Make four 20-minute calls daily and it becomes £23 more expensive via 0808 compared to BT's Unlimited Anytime Calls ! :mad:
Using 18185 access, the above examples of usage would be cheaper than BT by £4 and £1 respectively.In other words, blocking the 18185 code will make their calls much less competitive and could put them out of business.
In the meantime, I have some questions:
I ask because I want shot of BT for both price and customer service reasons but I don't want to lose 18185 as the alternative is to take a much more expensive call package and allow a deserving small company to be driven to the wall by the big boys.
Right now Primus line rental has been cut to £6.99/month with free evening and weekend 01/02/03 calls, which is about as good as it gets.
http://www.primussaver.co.uk/agent/hpc01/home-phone-saver.html?__g=&__a=243&__c=aebgg5as24npojdcqcj4ni&source=hpc
Primus are generally quite good, e.g. free evening calls are available for longer (from 6pm to 8am) and free calls last up to 90 minutes. The only complaint I have is that Primus charge for 00800 International Freephone calls, but there's no warning announcement and there's no mention of this anywhere on their website.