Orange:
Calling non-geographical numbers. They now cost 25p per minute with a minimum call charge of 10p. This includes freephone numbers.

Choose your own off-peak, peak rate at calling mobiles will cost you 50p per minute.

T-Mobile:
Calling non-geographical numbers. They cost 40p per minute and this includes freephone numbers.

International direct dial calls: From £1 per minute.

BT:
Anonymous caller rejection: £4 per month excluding VAT.
BT Callminder: £2.50 per month
BT Together option 3: Far too pricey

NTL:
3-2-1 Standard tariff: £11 per month line rental with local and national calls being 3p per minute during the daytime,2p per minute during evenings and 1p per minute at weekends. 5p per call to other local NTL lines applies.

Telewest:
Daytime calls.
Calling 0844 numbers will incur a 12p connection charge.
Calling some premium rate numbers will incur a connection charge of up 30p.

Toucan Talk:
Calls to mobiles are more expensive than BT. Customer service is an 0845 number.

Post Office:
Calls to mobiles and international direct dial numbers are more expensive than BT.

O2:
Pay&Go original tariff peak rate at calling non-o2 mobiles will cost you 50p per minute.
Customer service is 20p per minute from your o2 mobile and 0870 rate from a landline.

Not a trad voice service - but a ripoff nonetheless:

SkypeOut - http://www.skype.com/products/skypeo...=GBP#listing-U

11.8p/m for 0870 (compare BT 7.51p/m)
8.4p/m for 0845 (compare BT 3p/m)


More generally:

0870 numbers - always said to be charged at 'national' rates - so why is it 4.51p/m more than I pay to call from here to Lands End - I know the answer - but Joe Public doesn't realise that they're being charged a 150% premium to call these numbers.
0845 numbers - same argument as above - but on a lower level.

Blimey thats expensive, but still cheaper than a mobile.

Other more extortionate services to avoid:

The Number-118118: 49p per call and 14p per minute afterwards, service constantly gives you wrong numbers and customer service is terrible.

BT: When pressing 3 to return the call, you will be charged 6p for this whether or not a call is connected.

Easy Mobile: Will charge you 75p for not topping up online.

3-Mobile: Calling 3-Mobiles from a landline will cost a fortune (Around 25p per minute).

T-Mobile: Calling 155 international operator services will cost you £1.50 per minute. The same service is provided by Cable and Wireless and is free to Virgin Mobile customers as well as NTL customers.

T-Mobile/vodafone: Calling a pager will cost you 75p whether it is a free-to-page number or not no matter how long the call is. The same call can be made via Orange,O2 or Virgin for just 10p.

Tele-Saver: Calling cards which are handed out in the street, you have to call a premium rate number to gain credit of £5 and the call costs £1.50 per minute. The £5 will only last 30 minutes no matter which country you are calling. Just-Dial provides the same service for just £1 per call and gives you up to an hour.

When signing up for a service, try to look at how much the telecom provider charges for not paying by direct debit.

Telewest: £3 until June and then £4
NTL: £4
T-Mobile: £3
T-Mobile freetime 750: £5!
Orange: £3
Toucan: £3
BT: £1

Feel free to add more.