08442 050505 charging too much!!!

I was using 1899 for our home phone calls until recently, when they messed up my direct debit (but that's irrelevant).
Using the UK callchecker, I was using 08442 050505, which says it costs 'only0.5p per minute'.
I have just checked out my last bill, and they have charged me 10p per minute!!!!!!!:mad:
Does anyone know what I can do about this? I have made some long calls on there, and my phone bill was about £30 more than normal.
Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
(he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...
:D:D:D
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Comments

  • Heinz
    Heinz Posts: 11,191 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker Car Insurance Carver!
    Most cals providers charge a 7p call set-up fee these days. Are you sure you're not confusing that?

    0844 205 numbers are charge band g22 - which, from a BT line, is charged at 0.5p per minute.

    http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumer/consumerProducts/pdf/SpecialisedNos.pdf

    Who is your calls provider (we know Virgin charges extra for 0844 calls).

    BTW, it's your calls provider that charges you, not the company that runs the 0844 number.
    Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
  • rosie383
    rosie383 Posts: 4,981 Forumite
    So are you saying that even if they say they charge 0.5p, Virgin can charge whatever they like for the call?
    So what is the point of using a cheap call number, if you don't know what you will be charged until you get your bill?
    And it's not the connection fee..... I have one call on there, of about 20mins, charged at around £2.... there are longer ones unfortunately, but that is just off the top of my head.
    Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
    (he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...
    :D:D:D
  • rosie383
    rosie383 Posts: 4,981 Forumite
    I have just spotted an older thread with much the same problem.
    You gave some good info on there, so I am now going to get Virgin on the phone and try to get a refund.
    Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
    (he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...
    :D:D:D
  • rosie383
    rosie383 Posts: 4,981 Forumite
    Just another wee point.........how do I find a number which I can use from my Virgin phone, that will cost exactly what they say?
    When I have gone on to the website for 08442050505, they state that call charges from Virgin are 0.5p/min.
    Who can I trust?
    Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
    (he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...
    :D:D:D
  • Heinz
    Heinz Posts: 11,191 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker Car Insurance Carver!
    I hear Virgin have recently doubled some of their call charges.

    I posted above BT's Specialised Numbers Price List - and that shows what those using BT to call will pay. Only BT has to charge those amounts and, as you have found out, other providers can charge what they like.

    Don't Virgin publish a similar list?
    Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
  • billsavings
    billsavings Posts: 2,015 Forumite
    See:http://allyours.virginmedia.com/pdf/001364%20Residential%20tariffs.pdf?oct08

    08442050505. PG22 7p connection. 1p a minute.
  • rosie383
    rosie383 Posts: 4,981 Forumite
    Thank you for this info.
    Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
    (he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...
    :D:D:D
  • rosie383
    rosie383 Posts: 4,981 Forumite
    Sorry, another question.
    How do you know what charge band the calls come under? I was on the 0.5p site, and I can't find it anywhere. I know you say it should be pg22, where did you get this please?
    I need this info before I go to Virgin to ask for a refund.
    Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
    (he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...
    :D:D:D
  • Heinz
    Heinz Posts: 11,191 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker Car Insurance Carver!
    rosie383 wrote: »
    How do you know what charge band the calls come under? I was on the 0.5p site, and I can't find it anywhere. I know you say it should be pg22, where did you get this please?
    I need this info before I go to Virgin to ask for a refund.
    The BT publication, "The price of calls to Specialised Numbers from BT Fixed Lines" details which numbers are in which charging bands and other providers (like Virgin) get the charging bands from that - and then apply their own prices (as you have found out, that is double BT's prices in some cases in the case of Virgin).
    Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
  • rosie383
    rosie383 Posts: 4,981 Forumite
    Thanks. I've had a look at that and it says p22, if I've seen that right. Not pg22.
    Mind you, the writing is tiny and I've neither the knowledge or the time to magnify it!
    Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
    (he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...
    :D:D:D
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