[natbike]

Apologies if this has already been posted, but I hadn't seen a definite date before.

The 07 numbers from inclusive minutes is interesting as I've a few friends using Lyca/Lebara that are charged rather than coming from inclusive minutes.


I happened across this info because my roaming SIM provider emailed to advise that their prices were changing.


http://www.ukcalling.info/

[DavidGover]

UKCalling has nothing to do with making all 07 numbers inclusive. This must be something that your provider has chosen to do.

Who is your provider and do you have a link to their tariff changes?

[moox]

I believe only 0800 numbers are changing through regulation. Your roaming SIM operator making 07 numbers inclusive is nothing noteworthy, because except for 070 (which is an absolute con and should be ended - looks like a mobile number but could cost 50p/minute to call and you aren't warned) and 076 (pagers) they're all mobile numbers anyway?

There's the grey area of Channel Islands/Isle of Man mobiles and a few area codes used by Lyca that network operators like to claim are exclusive from any allowances though. But not as major an issue as making 0800 free

[DavidGover]

All 07 numbers are defined as mobile except 070 and 076 as you correctly state (with the exception of 07624 which is used for mobiles by Manx Telecom). However, there are various reasons the mobile networks will either not allow calls to connect, or will allow calls but exclude the ranges from inclusive bundles:

- Higher termination rates (only the main networks have a regulated MTR)
- Where the range is used for international call forwarding (potential loss of revenue)
- Where the range is used for a non-UK territory (e.g the Channel Islands, Isle of Man) and which typically also have a higher termination rate (as they are not governed by Ofcom)
- Where the range is used for a service which the networks don't consider to be a proper mobile service, e.g WiFi phones (like Stour Marine)
- Where the range is hosted by an offshore network (Cable & Wireless, for example), even if the actual range holder is a UK based entity
- Where the cost of calls to the network holding the range isn't balanced out by incoming calls from that network, even though the MTR may be similar to the regulated rate
- Where there is revenue share offered to end users
- Where they have a dispute with the network

... the list goes on.

[lost boy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moox

I believe only 0800 numbers are changing through regulation. Your roaming SIM operator making 07 numbers inclusive is nothing noteworthy, because except for 070 (which is an absolute con and should be ended - looks like a mobile number but could cost 50p/minute to call and you aren't warned) and 076 (pagers) they're all mobile numbers anyway?

There's the grey area of Channel Islands/Isle of Man mobiles and a few area codes used by Lyca that network operators like to claim are exclusive from any allowances though. But not as major an issue as making 0800 free

BIB - ugh, don't remind me.

With regards to Channel Islands and the Isle of Man in particular, it's a farce; last time I checked some networks included texts but not calls to CI/IoM within allowances, others included calls but not texts, some exclude both while others include both, and then there's differentiation between tariffs...

The network I've found that's clearest about this is Virgin Mobile, randomly, which states on it's website that it includes calls and texts to Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man (while previous parent T-Mobile didn't - goodness knows about EE).

[natbike]

My provider is GeoSim (globalsimcard.co.uk).

May not be related to UK calling, but the timing is close.

It appears to be industry wide as they use higher rate inbound call charges to reduce roaming costs and don't appear to have a choice in this change. My number is definitely NOT included with EE bundle minutes currently.

Quote:

There are have been some important changes to your GeoSIM service that affect incoming call charges on your GeoSIM.

Changes have been put in place by OFCOM, the UK regulator. They affect all networks, roaming SIMs, travel SIMs and mobile operators. The changes are not a result of our own policies or charging criteria. They are a new set of rules which we must comply with!

The changes affect the way UK mobile number ranges are classified.

GeoSIM phone numbers starting 44(0)7822, 44(0)77000, 44(0)7978 and 44(0)7924 are affected.

These changes mean that free incoming calls outside of the UK will no longer be available on the GeoSIM phone numbers above.

However, the benefits of the changes are:
Calls to GeoSIMs by UK mobile will be included in inclusive allowances

SMS to GeoSIMs will also be included in inclusive allowances

Calls from non-UK networks will be charged at their standard network rate for calling a UK mobile

Calls between GeoSIMs will be significantly cheaper

Calls received in the UK will remain free

The changes are important to you as they ensure that the ‘major’ networks do not overcharge to call a GeoSIM. All networks must now charge calls to GeoSIM at ‘normal’ rates.

Even though there is an increase to incoming call costs, GeoSIM will continue to offer excellent savings and low cost calling when roaming compared with many other networks and operators.

We are taking this opportunity to make some other positive changes to our service. These include:
Same rates seven days a week – no weekday and weekend rates

30 second billing instead of 60 seconds

Receive calls free in the UK

Call within Europe from 0.10 / $0.15 per minute

Significant reduction in cost of calls received via your www.didhq.com local numbers

We will be introducing a new number range that will allow cheaper, and in some countries, free incoming calls. We will be sending more details later on how you can swap your current number to one of these numbers if you wish. These new numbers are unlikely to be included by other networks on any inclusive minute calling plan.

If you have any questions, please email support@globalsimcard.co.uk or visit support.globalsimcard.co.uk

Thank you for your valued custom and understanding.

Kind regards

Ed Neal
Managing director

GeoSIM roaming sim card
1st Floor St. Giles House 15/21 Victoria Road
Bletchley Milton Keynes MK2 2NG
UNITED KINGDOM

[coopermanyorks]

I called a customer who was in Leeds,on his mobile to arrange collection of his car,when I met up with him the conversation and the V5C told me he was from the I O M , I had called him 4 times prior to collection on his mobile which was an 07624 number

I get unlimited calls to mobiles so when my Vodafone monthly bill came and it showed charges for these 4 calls @ a total of £1.21 I queried them ,Vodafone credited them which no delay or reason for the charge

I guess I should be careful in future with calling any 07264 numbers

[Mark C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

I called a customer who was in Leeds,on his mobile to arrange collection of his car,when I met up with him the conversation and the V5C told me he was from the I O M , I had called him 4 times prior to collection on his mobile which was an 07624 number

I get unlimited calls to mobiles so when my Vodafone monthly bill came and it showed charges for these 4 calls @ a total of £1.21 I queried them ,Vodafone credited them which no delay or reason for the charge

I guess I should be careful in future with calling any 07264 numbers

There really ought to a warning announcement, similar to the one you get for 0800 calls, warning you it's going to be charged, but it's refreshing Voadfone refunded you (they didn't have to !)

[jchamier]

Quote:

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

I guess I should be careful in future with calling any 07264 numbers

The IoM, and the Channel Islands have UK phone numbers but are not in the UK, so they don't have our mobile networks but their own - which means land line and mobile numbers are all most expensive to call. I don't get why they don't have their own obvious code.

https://www.manxtelecom.com/support/...e-numbers.aspx

[coopermanyorks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark C

There really ought to a warning announcement, similar to the one you get for 0800 calls, warning you it's going to be charged, but it's refreshing Voadfone refunded you (they didn't have to !)

Yes there should,especially with this info from the link above in post # 9

Quote:

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) took effect on the Isle of Man on the 29th June 2009 and following its introduction it is no longer be possible to use this simple rule to identify the network of the number you are calling.
MNP allows a customer to keep their mobile number should they decide to change their network provider

Seems there is no way of telling who their provider is simply from the 07624 number these days,with porting

[jchamier]

Quote:

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

Seems there is no way of telling who their provider is simply from the 07624 number these days,with porting

I would assume the 07624 number is for one of the two mobile providers on the island, and can't be ported to a UK provider. So you don't know if its Manx Telecom or Sure, but you know its IoM.

[moox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark C

There really ought to a warning announcement, similar to the one you get for 0800 calls, warning you it's going to be charged, but it's refreshing Voadfone refunded you (they didn't have to !)

Ofcom tried to put warning announcements on 070 ("personal numbering services") numbers as you could be charged 50p/min to call them, but they look like mobile numbers. Lobbying won (I remember Flextel spamming me with crap about it) and that particular plan was soon reversed.

I guess 0800 was an exception because there is the expectation that it is free. At least it soon will be.

[natbike]

I have a suspicion that my provider is correct in that mobile providers will no longer be able to charge mobile termination on non 070 or 076 numbers above the standard UK rate. Therefore we will no longer need to worry about the issue of not knowing that a number is not included. This will probably mean a loss for Manx providers, but is the only fair way (for consumers) to manage the UK numbering that I can see.

[Resonance]

Got a text from EE about this today

Quote:

Originally Posted by EE

Good news. From 1 July, calls to 0800, 0808 and 116 numbers will be FREE to call from your mobile. We're also changing how we charge for certain Service numbers (084, 087, 09 and 118). The charge will be split into an EE access charge of 44p per min and a service charge which will be set by the company you're calling. From 1 July you can buy an Add-on which will give you cheaper calls to 084 and 087 numbers for 1p per min. For more info on all these changes visit http://ee.co.uk/ukcalling Terms apply.

[moox]

44p/min service charge on a number that would cost a few pence/minute on a BT line is highway robbery - and you shouldn't have to buy an addon to make it cheap. Especially if on a contract and not PAYG.