BT scraps charges for 0870 numbers
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Don't be taken in by the "used by ... doctors' surgeries" hype in the Press Release. Most of them use 0844 numbers now and they'll still be charged at 5p per minute!
The only problem is ...
It's not true:
From 16th Jan calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers will be free, depending on your Calling Plan:
free at the weekends with the Unlimited Weekend Plan;
free during the evening and at the weekend with the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan and
free anytime with the Unlimited Anytime Plan.
http://www.productsandservices.bt.co...?topicId=25502
It's not true:
From 16th Jan calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers will be free, depending on your Calling Plan:
free at the weekends with the Unlimited Weekend Plan;
free during the evening and at the weekend with the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan and
free anytime with the Unlimited Anytime Plan.
http://www.productsandservices.bt.co...?topicId=25502
isnt the point that calls to these numbers were charged by most service provers ( sky,talk talk etc) even though the service provider sold the customer a call plan that supposedly included local and national calls.
now (with bt) they are included in the same way as calls to 01, 02 numbers ... how can it be anything other that a good thing ?
bt were cheaper that most for those calls and now they are free,depending on call plan of course, but then calls to local and national are only
free if you have a call plan regardless of the service provider, either by paying for one or by signing up to one.
for sky/talk talk etc to follow would affect their margins more than bt as those were the calls that made money which paid for the claims 'cheaper than bt'
now (with bt) they are included in the same way as calls to 01, 02 numbers ... how can it be anything other that a good thing ?
bt were cheaper that most for those calls and now they are free,depending on call plan of course, but then calls to local and national are only
free if you have a call plan regardless of the service provider, either by paying for one or by signing up to one.
for sky/talk talk etc to follow would affect their margins more than bt as those were the calls that made money which paid for the claims 'cheaper than bt'
Most big companies have now gone over to 0844 or 0871,which you will have to pay for.Bt are giving nothing away.It will still cost a small fortune to phone Sky,etc.
[quote=Foogenstroppe;30076010]Most big companies have now gone over to 0844 or 0871,which you will have to pay for.Bt are giving nothing away.It will still cost a small fortune to phone Sky,etc.[/
isnt sky c.s. 08702404040 so would be an inclusive call
with bt
Last edited by iniltous : 12-01-2009 at 19:57
isnt sky c.s. 08702404040 so would be an inclusive call
with bt
Last edited by iniltous : 12-01-2009 at 19:57
So now that BT are abolishing charges depending on your plan for 0845 and 0870 companies are moving to 0844 and 0871. 
These companies are always one step ahead to try and get as much as they can from the customer.
What I object to is for example having to pay to phone a utility company and wait for ages to get thru ( so they can make more money off me ) to tell them that my estimated electric bill of £200 which they've taken early by DD is actually (now that I've read the meter) only £40.
Why do we in this country have to stand for this nonsense ???????
Is the answer to phone VOIP via your computer ????
These companies are always one step ahead to try and get as much as they can from the customer.
What I object to is for example having to pay to phone a utility company and wait for ages to get thru ( so they can make more money off me ) to tell them that my estimated electric bill of £200 which they've taken early by DD is actually (now that I've read the meter) only £40.
Why do we in this country have to stand for this nonsense ???????
Is the answer to phone VOIP via your computer ????
BT made sure most companies moved over to 0844 and 0871 numbers before making this announcement. They have spent the last year making sure of it.
Now hardly anyone is using them, they're making them free to call.
As has been said, most Doctors (the money grabbing ones anyway) are on 0844 numbers, $ky, etc are too. Even Disneyland Paris is advertising on TV tonight with 0844 numbers.
Thanks to Ofcom's lousy directions, we're back to where we were 2 years ago!
I now firmly believe the only way to counteract these numbers is for the Government to make it a legal requirement to provide an alternative landline numbers every time an 08xx number is advertised. If we all started pushing our MP's we may get somewhere. It certainly needs taking out of Ofcom's hands as they have completely ****ed the whole thing up.
Now hardly anyone is using them, they're making them free to call.
As has been said, most Doctors (the money grabbing ones anyway) are on 0844 numbers, $ky, etc are too. Even Disneyland Paris is advertising on TV tonight with 0844 numbers.
Thanks to Ofcom's lousy directions, we're back to where we were 2 years ago!
I now firmly believe the only way to counteract these numbers is for the Government to make it a legal requirement to provide an alternative landline numbers every time an 08xx number is advertised. If we all started pushing our MP's we may get somewhere. It certainly needs taking out of Ofcom's hands as they have completely ****ed the whole thing up.
[quote=iniltous;30078382]
Sky is now 08442 411 411
Originally Posted by Foogenstroppe:
“Most big companies have now gone over to 0844 or 0871,which you will have to pay for.Bt are giving nothing away.It will still cost a small fortune to phone Sky,etc.[/
isnt sky c.s. 08702404040 so would be an inclusive call
with bt”
“Most big companies have now gone over to 0844 or 0871,which you will have to pay for.Bt are giving nothing away.It will still cost a small fortune to phone Sky,etc.[/
isnt sky c.s. 08702404040 so would be an inclusive call
with bt”
Sky is now 08442 411 411
Originally Posted by EleanorRigby:
“So now that BT are abolishing charges depending on your plan for 0845 and 0870 companies are moving to 0844 and 0871.
These companies are always one step ahead to try and get as much as they can from the customer.
What I object to is for example having to pay to phone a utility company and wait for ages to get thru ( so they can make more money off me ) to tell them that my estimated electric bill of £200 which they've taken early by DD is actually (now that I've read the meter) only £40.
Why do we in this country have to stand for this nonsense ???????
Is the answer to phone VOIP via your computer ????”
“So now that BT are abolishing charges depending on your plan for 0845 and 0870 companies are moving to 0844 and 0871.
These companies are always one step ahead to try and get as much as they can from the customer.
What I object to is for example having to pay to phone a utility company and wait for ages to get thru ( so they can make more money off me ) to tell them that my estimated electric bill of £200 which they've taken early by DD is actually (now that I've read the meter) only £40.
Why do we in this country have to stand for this nonsense ???????
Is the answer to phone VOIP via your computer ????”
I fully agree, I feel my blood pressure building the minute I have to ring these people
Originally Posted by EleanorRigby:
“.
What I object to is for example having to pay to phone a utility company and wait for ages to get thru ( so they can make more money off me ) to tell them that my estimated electric bill of £200 which they've taken early by DD is actually (now that I've read the meter) only £40.
Why do we in this country have to stand for this nonsense ???????
Is the answer to phone VOIP via your computer ????”
“.
What I object to is for example having to pay to phone a utility company and wait for ages to get thru ( so they can make more money off me ) to tell them that my estimated electric bill of £200 which they've taken early by DD is actually (now that I've read the meter) only £40.
Why do we in this country have to stand for this nonsense ???????
Is the answer to phone VOIP via your computer ????”
No. The answer is to handle your gas and electric bill on line, like I do with Eon. If they give me an estimated bill (which they do most often) I check it with the meters. If they've overestimated, I put in the correct figures and get a correct bill within minutes. If they've underestimated, I can put the correct figures in if I've got the money to pay the bill. If I haven't got the money, I can leave the figures as they are and I owe them money. Or even put a lesser amount in and get a reduced bill - but that's being naughty.
There is no reason whatsoever why they should owe you money. Always keep it the other way around.
Can someone explain what is the difference between 0870 / 0845 calls ( going to be free ) and 0871 / 0844 ( not free ) calls? I always thought all 08 calls were the same price ( am sure others will go back to BT thinking all 08 calls free )
Originally Posted by albundy73:
“Can someone explain what is the difference between 0870 / 0845 calls ( going to be free ) and 0871 / 0844 ( not free ) calls? I always thought all 08 calls were the same price ( am sure others will go back to BT thinking all 08 calls free )”
“Can someone explain what is the difference between 0870 / 0845 calls ( going to be free ) and 0871 / 0844 ( not free ) calls? I always thought all 08 calls were the same price ( am sure others will go back to BT thinking all 08 calls free )”
0845/0870 numbers are no longer revenue generating, ie the company doesn't get a rake off.
0844 and 0871 give the company called a share of your call charge, so you are paying the company's overheads, and are more expensive than 0845/0870. That's why so many money grabbing companies have moved to these premium rate numbers.
Originally Posted by albundy73:
“Can someone explain what is the difference between 0870 / 0845 calls ( going to be free ) and 0871 / 0844 ( not free ) calls? I always thought all 08 calls were the same price ( am sure others will go back to BT thinking all 08 calls free )”
“Can someone explain what is the difference between 0870 / 0845 calls ( going to be free ) and 0871 / 0844 ( not free ) calls? I always thought all 08 calls were the same price ( am sure others will go back to BT thinking all 08 calls free )”
And calls to these numbers is only "free" if you have a package which includes calls to 01 and 02 numbers for "free".
Originally Posted by MarkLS12:
“And calls to these numbers is only "free" if you have a package which includes calls to 01 and 02 numbers for "free".”
“And calls to these numbers is only "free" if you have a package which includes calls to 01 and 02 numbers for "free".”
Every BT customer is on a package which includes some free calls, at the very minimum weekend calls.
Originally Posted by littleboo:
“Every BT customer is on a package which includes some free calls, at the very minimum weekend calls.”
“Every BT customer is on a package which includes some free calls, at the very minimum weekend calls.”
True, but some of the call centres which use these numbers may not open at the weekend, and people may not be able to wait until the weekend to call.
I'm not saying it's a good thing, I think it's great.
Just that so much of the reporting of this change seems to ignore the fact that many BT customers will still be paying for 0845 and 0870 calls.
Originally Posted by MarkLS12:
“True, but some of the call centres which use these numbers may not open at the weekend, and people may not be able to wait until the weekend to call.
I'm not saying it's a good thing, I think it's great.
Just that so much of the reporting of this change seems to ignore the fact that many BT customers will still be paying for 0845 and 0870 calls.”
“True, but some of the call centres which use these numbers may not open at the weekend, and people may not be able to wait until the weekend to call.
I'm not saying it's a good thing, I think it's great.
Just that so much of the reporting of this change seems to ignore the fact that many BT customers will still be paying for 0845 and 0870 calls.”
They should make use of the excellent SayNoto0870 website. In the last 12 months I've only had to phone one 08 number because of the help from this site.
Originally Posted by albundy73:
“Can someone explain what is the difference between 0870 / 0845 calls ( going to be free ) and 0871 / 0844 ( not free ) calls? I always thought all 08 calls were the same price ( am sure others will go back to BT thinking all 08 calls free )”
“Can someone explain what is the difference between 0870 / 0845 calls ( going to be free ) and 0871 / 0844 ( not free ) calls? I always thought all 08 calls were the same price ( am sure others will go back to BT thinking all 08 calls free )”
The below prices include VAT at 17.5%. The temporary reduction of the VAT rate to 15% means slight reductions have been introduced - but they are slight!
0844 (and now 0843) numbers cost between 0.5p and 5p per minute to call from a BT landline (other carriers can, and do, charge extra).
0871 (and now 0872, 0873) numbers cost between 6pand 10p per minute to call from BT landline (oher carriers can, and do, charge extra).
See BT's Specialised Numbers Price Guide
0845 numbers cost 2p per minute to call weekdays and 0.5p per minute to call weekday evenings/nights to call from a BT landline (these changes mean those on BT's Unlimited Weekend Plan now pay nothing at weekends).
0870 numbers cost 6p per minute to call weekdays and 1.5p per minute to call weekday evenings/nights to call from a BT landline (these changes mean those on BT's Unlimited Weekend Plan now pay nothing at weekends).
Beware though - other providers charge A LOT MORE.
new credit card requires activation in an 0870 line just did it today as i am on the BT unlimited weekend plan (previously Option 1), thank god i am not being charged anymore for responding to 5 minutes of automated answer machines
i wonder if others will follow suit? i was planning to switch my landline to the Post Office
just did it today as i am on the BT unlimited weekend plan (previously Option 1), thank god i am not being charged anymore for responding to 5 minutes of automated answer machines i wonder if others will follow suit? i was planning to switch my landline to the Post Office
www.saynoto0870.com is your friend!
Originally Posted by GolfGuru81:
“Here's the link
will anyone go back to BT now they've scrapped 0870 charges?”
“Here's the link
will anyone go back to BT now they've scrapped 0870 charges?”
I doubt I will, I did think about it as the company I am with is not that good and my contract runs out in two months time, but BT have no decided to rise their prices, so they can get lost.
I am looking the post office instead.
Watching BBC's Question Time last night, I noticed their phone number was now an 0871 number. Thieving baa lambs!
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