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[MSE Archna]

This thread is specifically to discuss the content of the

The UK & International CallChecker

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If there is a provider you think should be added to either CallChecker please email callchecker@moneysavingexpert.com with details of at least one destination or call type it is cheapest for and it will be considered.

[TonyBar]

Before you use any of these Simply Dial Providers you should check out the actual cost your telecoms provider will charge you for a 0844 number. I was using Bestminutes until I received my bill. It was then I found out that my telecoms provider, Pipex, charge a 4p connection fee and the 5p per min, which makes the call not as cheap as you are lead to believe. All rates quoted by Bestminutes, and the like, are based on your telecoms provider being BT but if you have swapped to someone else then you MUST check out their rates. I have checked with OFCOM and there is no set parameters for rates to 0844 numbers, its up to the telecoms provider to decide.
If you are reading this your telecom provider is probably not BT anyway as you will be using some of Martins great ideas. Just be careful with this one.

[utilitybroker]

Originally Posted by TonyBar

Before you use any of these Simply Dial Providers you should check out the actual cost your telecoms provider will charge you for a 0844 number. I was using Bestminutes until I received my bill. It was then I found out that my telecoms provider, Pipex, charge a 4p connection fee and the 5p per min, which makes the call not as cheap as you are lead to believe. All rates quoted by Bestminutes, and the like, are based on your telecoms provider being BT but if you have swapped to someone else then you MUST check out their rates. I have checked with OFCOM and there is no set parameters for rates to 0844 numbers, its up to the telecoms provider to decide.
If you are reading this your telecom provider is probably not BT anyway as you will be using some of Martins great ideas. Just be careful with this one.

If Pipex do charge a connection charge of 4p and its not a min call charge.All you have to do is use the BT override facility 1280 and place your non geographical calls through BT ,this would be cheaper

[izatu]

Originally Posted by TonyBar

:....... I have checked with OFCOM and there is no set parameters for rates to 0844 numbers, its up to the telecoms provider to decide.

Only BT appears to have to comply with the rates for 0844 (up to 5p per min or 5p per call - according to the Numbering Plan). However, OFCOM is promoting greater tariff transparency and is watching how 0844 is used by providers.

[dave49]

Beware of Telestunts .5p to Ireland, Netherlands etc on 0844 200 20 20 - there is no such rate - the cheapest on BT is 5p per call - Do you get TEN minutes! - I do not think so - BT themselves are puzzled - Anyone have any input?

[utilitybroker]

Originally Posted by dave49

Beware of Telestunts .5p to Ireland, Netherlands etc on 0844 200 20 20 - there is no such rate - the cheapest on BT is 5p per call - Do you get TEN minutes! - I do not think so - BT themselves are puzzled - Anyone have any input?

The tariff of 0.5p a minute is correct.But if the call is a short one BT will apply the min call charge of 5p. Eg a 7 minute call would cost 5p on BT not 3.5p.

[Heinz]

BT prices for 0844 200 xxxx numbers are HERE (they charge g22 rate - ½p per minute including VAT - at all times).

[isayoldchap]

Originally Posted by Heinz

BT prices for 0844 200 xxxx numbers are HERE (they charge g22 rate - ½p per minute including VAT - at all times).

Eventually Telewest have TODAY 30/03/06 16.30hrsadmitted that their call prices for 0844 200....was set up wrong and was charging 42.5p per minute plus vat (50p) instead of 0.50 (half pence per minute)You may have used this access code to make your calls in the last few weeks/months.
I strongly advise you to check your telephone bills to see if you have been massively overcharged(100 times)the actual charge.See my other posts

[pigeonpie]

Have just got a huge phone bill despite using override operators for all calls except the odd local one. I call South Africa and France a lot and thought the charge was either 2 or 3p per minute to SA (as per the rate advertised on this site and the operators' sites) and 0.5p to France per minute. I am with BT Option 1 and mostly use Dialaround or DiscountDial as per callchecker's cheapest rates. Both are 0844 200 or 0844 462 etc
Are BT then charging me a connection fee plus 1/2p per minute or more for the duration of the call? I have contacted BT but the person I spoke to says she does not know.

Help, how do I check exactly what I will be charged per call to SA, France or UK etc using override operators on a BT line? I am new back to the UK and don't know the best way to effectively query a BT bill. Presume I must pay it and then argue?

Thanks

[Heinz]

BT prices for 0844 numbers are HERE. They don't charge 'extras' and neither do they charge a connection fee (although a minimum call charge of 5.5p incl. VAT [it went up from 5p on 1/4/06] always applies).

OTOH, this couldn't be a case of BT making the same charging error as Telewest (charging £0.425/minute excl. VAT instead of 0.425p/minute excl. VAT for those [g22 rate] calls to France) could it?

See THIS THREAD.

Check out the duration of some of your calls to France (I assume you used the 08442009090 number) to see.

As a guide, a very short or failed call (in fact, a call of up to 10 minutes or so) would cost £0.046 (4.6p) excl. VAT (i.e. BT's new minimum call charge), a 20 minute call would cost £0.085 (8.5p) excl. VAT and a 30 minute call would cost £0.1275 (12.75p) excl. VAT.

[pigeonpie]

Am checking with BT as it doesn't seem to add up, however they advise that they charge for rechecking itemised billing

So is it 5.5p per call+ the override operator charge = the total? Or is it 5.5p + override operator charge+ VAT? Or just the override operator charge? Do those include VAT?

Totally confused as usual
Thanks for any help

[Heinz]

BT charge their 5.5p minimum call charge (it went up from 5p on 1/4/06 so your bill probably precedes the increase) IF the 'per minute' or 'fixed price' cost of the call is less than that.

So, if you spend 20 minutes on a 1p/minute 0844 number, they charge 20p including VAT (i.e. the minimum call charge has been exceeded so it drops out of the calculation).

If, however, you spend 10 seconds on the call and hang up (say you reach an answering machine at your destination and don't want to leave a message), the minimum call charge applies because the cost of the 0844 part of the call - 1p or less in this example - is lower than the minimum call charge.

It shouldn't be necessary for them to check the bill - with itemised billing you can do it yourself.

Here, for example, is one of my calls:

08453003651 00:06:53 £0.059

So, I called an 0845 number for 6m 53s and was charged 5.9p excluding VAT. A quick calculation (5.9 divided by 100 multiplied by 117.5 - thank you Excel) shows that to be 6.9325p including VAT and, as the call was at a weekend, I can see that I was charged the correct 1p/minute for the call (just under 7p for just under 7 minutes). Note also that the cost of the call exceeded the minimum call charge so the latter did not even come into consideration.

Can you post a few examples of the calls to France on your bill (0844 number dialled, duration and cost) on here?

Or PM a few to me?

EDIT 15/6/2007 - it's all changed now of course - BT now uses a 'call set-up fee' instead of a minimum call charge. That is 3p but will rise to 6p on 1/8/2007.

[gtz101]

but lets say if you dialed these numbers from your mobile, lets say the 0844 number can be used as part of your inclusive minutes, so basically is it free?

[mobilegossip]

Originally Posted by gtz101

but lets say if you dialed these numbers from your mobile, lets say the 0844 number can be used as part of your inclusive minutes, so basically is it free?

Thats not strictly true unless your inclusive minutes did not cost you anything,because you got a cashback of the whole line rental for the period of the contract.

EG: Lets you got 250 minutes for £25 a month the 0844 calls would be costing you 10p each.

[gtz101]

Originally Posted by mobilegossip

Thats not strictly true unless your inclusive minutes did not cost you anything,because you got a cashback of the whole line rental for the period of the contract.

EG: Lets you got 250 minutes for £25 a month the 0844 calls would be costing you 10p each.

No, what I mean is that lets say the 0844 can be used as part of your inclusive minutes, in this case, there will be no charge for the call (other then monthly line rental)?

[gtz101]

Originally Posted by mobilegossip

EG: Lets you got 250 minutes for £25 a month the 0844 calls would be costing you 10p each.

even if the 0844 can be used as part of your inclusive minutes?

[hurrah]

Originally Posted by gtz101

even if the 0844 can be used as part of your inclusive minutes?

Yes. If you paid £25 a month for 250 minutes each minute would cost you 10p . So therefore each minute you use to call any inclusive number would cost 10p including an 0844 number one.

[hurrah]

Originally Posted by gtz101

No, what I mean is that lets say the 0844 can be used as part of your inclusive minutes, in this case, there will be no charge for the call (other then monthly line rental)?

You pay for the minutes in your monthly line rental.

[gtz101]

Originally Posted by hurrah

Yes. If you paid £25 a month for 250 minutes each minute would cost you 10p . So therefore each minute you use to call any inclusive number would cost 10p including an 0844 number one.

I know what your getting at but will there be a bill showing a charge for using 0844 number if its part of your inclusibve minutes.

I know, I know inclusive minutes are part of line rental cost but will the 0844 be a additional cost to the line rental cost on o2 network?

[gtz101]

Originally Posted by redux

It risks being seen as impolite to argue with people by re-asking the question

the call comes from inclusive minutes, which does not mean it is free, unless all your minutes are free

if it's from your inclusive minutes then it's included at no further charge, for this is exactly what the phrase means


I shall delete this later, for fear of being thought rude

hi, yes thats exactly what I was trying to get at because that is exactly how everyone interprets it as. Most people here refer to it as "free" when we talk about inclusive minutes, not just this forum but anywhere.

I know technically it isnt but thats how most ppl see it if u know what i mean