[tdenson]

My wife just got a text from O2 saying they were going to start charging 25p per minute for calls made to 08 numbers from July 1. I thought the networks were meant to be going in the other direction with 08 numbers.

[Mark C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdenson

My wife just got a text from O2 saying they were going to start charging 25p per minute for calls made to 08 numbers from July 1. I thought the networks were meant to be going in the other direction with 08 numbers.

0800 and 0808 will be free

0870 will be chargeable still, with some complex formula for the total cost

[jchamier]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdenson

I thought the networks were meant to be going in the other direction with 08 numbers.

EE texted last week and theirs said:

======================
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.
======================

I assume your wife's O2 text was about the service charge element??

Anyone ever called a 116 number?

[swb1964]

25ppm is pretty darn expensive IMHO. Perhaps they are trying to offset the free 0800.

I wonder what giff gaff will do? I'm hoping they will stay at 12 ppm
Edit 44ppm on EE?? That's shocking.

[drabble]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchamier

I assume your wife's O2 text was about the service charge element??

The exact wording of the O2's text is:

O2: We're changing how we charge you.

If you call 08, 09, or 118 numbers, look out for changes to how these numbers are charged from 1 July.

We'll charge 25p a minute as an access charge to connect you. For more, visit www.ukcalling.info


Anyway I find the whole thing more confusing than the current system, I assume it is access charge plus service charge for 084, 087, 09, and 118 numbers?

[Thine Wonk]

Splitting the charge is more confusing, I don't many people will understand the new charging structure outside of places like here.

[tdenson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark C

0800 and 0808 will be free

0870 will be chargeable still, with some complex formula for the total cost

Well that's what I thought, but the text definitely says "08" numbers without qualifying it.

[tdenson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drabble

The exact wording of the O2's text is:

O2: We're changing how we charge you.

If you call 08, 09, or 118 numbers, look out for changes to how these numbers are charged from 1 July.

We'll charge 25p a minute as an access charge to connect you. For more, visit www.ukcalling.info

I definitely read that as saying that an 0800 number will cost 25p per minute - "if you call 08 numbers we'll charge 25p per minute" is exactly what it says. How can they make it so confusing. What's the man in the street meant to make of that.

[swb1964]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdenson

I definitely read that as saying that an 0800 number will cost 25p per minute .

Yes it is very confusing....

[nigelbb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by swb1964

Yes it is very confusing....

I think that's the point. All the mobile operators have sneaky excessive charges for calls outside of bundled minutes. Historically charging 25p/minute to access Freephone numbers was the most obvious deceit.

I'm still on Three's One Plan so will be pleased that come 1st July they won't be cheating me on Freephone calls any more.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nigelbb

I think that's the point. All the mobile operators have sneaky excessive charges for calls outside of bundled minutes. Historically charging 25p/minute to access Freephone numbers was the most obvious deceit.

I'm still on Three's One Plan so will be pleased that come 1st July they won't be cheating me on Freephone calls any more.

Just remember all those masts and service and customer support has to be paid for somehow.

People wonder why their plans have gone up by £5 a month yet the allowance has gone down from when they were on the One Plan. It is partly due to all the billing changes in the EU, and ending of other charging structures that more service revenue has to come from the basic data plans and monthly charges.

[gillyallan]

The link on the text explains it. All mobile operators and landlines are free to 0800 and 0808.
Freephone

In addition, all Freephone numbers (which begin 0800 or 0808) are being made free for consumers to call from all phones, whether mobile or landline.
http://www.ukcalling.info//whats-happening

[tdenson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillyallan

The link on the text explains it. All mobile operators and landlines are free to 0800 and 0808.
Freephone

In addition, all Freephone numbers (which begin 0800 or 0808) are being made free for consumers to call from all phones, whether mobile or landline.
http://www.ukcalling.info//whats-happening

And that link is clear as mud. It says for example (when you drill down) that calls to 0845 numbers will cost between 5p and 40p - very informative, not !. I thought the whole point was that 0845 numbers were going to come out of the inclusive minutes.

[swb1964]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

Just remember all those masts and service and customer support has to be paid for somehow.

Not to mention all those staff waiting to pounce every time you go into a shop for a browse!

Seriously I realise these things have to be paid for, but I d rather they were done in a fair and upfront way rather than with sneaky hidden charges for this and that.

This is the main reason I stick with giff gaff despite my data frustrations. They do seem to be the least worst provider in terms of out of bundle charges.

[gillyallan]

The place you are calling on 0845 will advertise their cost plus operator charge. Not ideal as O2 would be for example 10p/Min plus operator, total 35p/min.
We do have to remember this charge which of com should have pushed operators to operate on a level playing field.
However it is slightly better than mobile charges might be more.

The addition of freephone numbers is not before time though. I do agree 0845 would be better as bundle mins. Heck I'd even take the freephone as bundle mins.

[swb1964]

Of course the best solution would be to do away with 0845 all together and either have 0345 or 09 premium rate- then it would be clear what is and isn't a normal rate phone call.

[Ray266]

I had a text from Voda saying that from 1st July 0800 numbers will be free because of Ofcom rules, So I'm sure will apply to all networks. I read somewhere that Ofcom are looking to do the same with 0845 as well no date though if that will happen anytime soon.

[Zebb]

MSE summary.

[Ray266]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebb

MSE summary.

That article is confusing?? the main thing is 0800 numbers from July are going to be free from mobile's the same should be 0845 & 0870 but I can't see that happening yet.

[Chrysalis]

I got one from EE.

They charging the same rates for 0844 as 09 numbers.

I find this amusing as I have always considered 084x as premium rate, and it seems EE agrees with me

[gomezz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray266

That article is confusing?? the main thing is 0800 numbers from July are going to be free from mobile's

The thing that confused me about that text message was that 0800 numbers are already free (ie included in my call allowance) from my mobile on an O2 SIM-only pay monthly plan.

Perhaps customers would do better to badger companies to switch from using 0845 numbers to 0330 numbers.

[dragonrapide]

I found the text very confusing too. Either written to deliberately confuse or written by someone who could use some help writing clear texts.

[binary]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

Splitting the charge is more confusing, I don't many people will understand the new charging structure outside of places like here.

I think the new system is much better as it provides transparency as to how much the company at the end of the call is taking/making from the call, and how much your telco provider (whether mobile or landline) is charging.

Of course like others I'd far prefer it if companies just provided a straightforward 01, 02 or 03 number to call - indeed separate consumer regulations that have recently come into force require companies to provide after-sales service via a non-premium number.

[swb1964]

Well GiffGaff have declared their hand at 15ppm.

Cheaper than the others, but more than the current price of 12ppm.

[d123]

I see Vodafone are having 2 bites at this particular cherry.

From 1/7/15 the access charge is 23p per minute, however they have announced another increase (even before the 1st increase comes into force) and from 10/8/15 the access charge is going up to 45p per minute.