Cost of calling 0844 numbers?

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  • Heinz
    Heinz Posts: 11,191
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    edited 5 February 2011 at 6:37PM
    nqsenile wrote: »
    I've just tried to talk to my ISP, they list only a 0844 number. Checking BT site I see that for 0844 319 xxxx the charge is 11p per minute (or part thereof !) plus 10p set up charge.
    Nonsense. 0844 319 numbers are g11 rate and BT charges 4.084p per minute + their standard call set-up fee of 11½p to call them.

    N.B. The odd per-minute rate reflects the recent 2½% VAT increase (it used to be 4p per minute).
    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.
  • What I found out on the phone to my provider was that 0844 numbers are subject to wide range of charges (not just g11 - may of them are g6 for instance) depending on the actual number.

    They have said by email that 5.2p daytime, 1.8p evenings/weekends per minute charge is a minimum standard call rate ie a minimum that applies some 0844 numbers but not all. Some 0844 numbers charge as much as 20p/minute daytime.

    However, the minimum they quoted does not appear in their Price List for calls to premium numbers (ie 0844 and similar). As far as I can see, this covers all 0844 charges and for many the "minimum charge" is in fact listed as 0p.

    For i22 and i24 calls (apparently 08440010, 08440012 and 08440528) , which are 5.2p daytime, 1.8p evenings & weekends, the minimum charge is listed at 8.2p. So this begs another question: what does "minimum charge" mean?

    I don't know if the same charges apply for all providers. We have just moved to O2 from BT because the line rental is cheaper.

    When are we going to get any clarity from phone providers on these call charges? I see this discussion has been going on this forum for some time. Has anyone like Which? or Guardian Money for instance looked at this?
  • Heinz
    Heinz Posts: 11,191
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    edited 6 February 2011 at 4:05PM
    O2. Might have guessed it. They're trying to emulate Virgin with outrageous charges for calls to 084 and 087 numbers.

    O2 charges 5.2p/min. weekdays for that i22 rate 'internet services' number but BT charges 2.909p/min. weekdays and 0.969p/min. at all other times.

    BTW, the old 5p/min. 'standard' 0844 number ranges currently in use by numerous firms and organisations (e.g. by BSkyB and some GP's surgeries) are charge rate g6 and, post the recent VAT increase, are charged at 5.105p/min. by BT and more than double that - 10.3p/min. - by O2!

    So, you may well have saved on your line rental but I'd advise that you avoid dialling 0844 numbers if possible!
    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.
  • Thanks Heinz, that's VERY interesting. We have been charged 10.3p/min for some 0844 calls which is what started all this off.

    Saynoto0870.com here we come, although interestingly O2 do offer free 0870 calls in one of their call packages.
  • sharpy2010
    sharpy2010 Posts: 2,471 Forumite
    Usually I seem to pay about 5p per minute to 0844. Not sure whether thats because I'm on BT or what, but thats what my bill says.
  • spikeyman
    spikeyman Posts: 33 Forumite
    edited 17 February 2011 at 12:04PM
    I received a text from Eurotunnel today providing a travel number for up to the minute information 08444 630000 which is a revenue making number for them.

    Most people travelling would of course use a mobile and those numbers can be up to .50p a minute depending on the network which is a real rip off. :mad: The actual costs are at the G11 BT rate from a land line, I think 11.5 p connection charge, then 4.9p per minute inc vat February 2011 price list http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumer/consumerProducts/pdf/SpecialisedNos.pdf

    It is time we had a campaign against these numbers, our doctors also use one of these number so we pay again for services that we have paid for.

    We use 18185 but cannot dial an 0844 number through them, wonder why.....:(

    My complaint letter is off to Euro tunnel [URL="mailto:customer.relations@eurotunnel.com"]email[/URL]
    Makes the world go around eh...
  • Heinz
    Heinz Posts: 11,191
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker Car Insurance Carver!
    Forumite
    spikeyman wrote: »
    I received a text from Eurotunnel today providing a travel number for up to the minute information 08444 630000 which is a revenue making number for them.
    https://www.saynoto0870.com lists 0800 096 9992 as an alternative to that 0844 nunber.

    If you have a giffgaff SIM, that's a free call.
    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.
  • Heinz wrote: »
    https://www.saynoto0870.com lists 0800 096 9992 as an alternative to that 0844 nunber.

    If you have a giffgaff SIM, that's a free call.

    Yes it has but the freephone number has now been withdrawn and there is no other landline number I can find. I called them today to ask. If you know of a landline number that gives travel info please post it here.

    I will have to check out GiffGaff but are you sure it is a free call?
    Thanks
    Makes the world go around eh...
  • Heinz
    Heinz Posts: 11,191
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker Car Insurance Carver!
    Forumite
    edited 17 February 2011 at 12:34PM
    spikeyman wrote: »
    I will have to check out GiffGaff but are you sure it is a free call?
    Very sure!

    https://giffgaff.com/orders/unlimited-web?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ps-brand&utm_term=giffgaff (check the bottom right of this page).
    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.
  • Heinz wrote: »

    Hi can't see where it says 0844 type numbers are free, only 0800, can you clarify?
    I was thinking of one of these for my wife who has an android phone but is a low user, can't quite make out though if the £15 goodybag has a time limit on it for the internet, do you use these people, be greatful for any advice you could share. Do they allow porting of a number for instance :D
    Makes the world go around eh...
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