Reverse charge calls

Jemma-T

These companies have to make money (old fashioned I know!) so it's up to the consumer to read their T&Cs and make alternative arrangements for emergency calls.

Don't be so quick to blame other people for your mess.

Heinz

But why lumber her with a $15 bill when, on the face of it, it's your safety?

redux

Emergency? Are you sure? Some of us have seen on Neighbours, every once in a while they go "out in the bush" and surprise surprise someone has a accident and there's no mobile phone coverage ..... do they have phone boxes way out there though?

redux

why has this place been invaded by a dual identity Australian spammer?

eribar

Getting a reverse charge call from someone you know is bad enough, getting one from some phone vandal who makes reverse charge calls for fun is VERY annoying. O.K. you are asked to say "yes" to accept the call but which parent/partner etc is not going to when the call may be from someone you know needing help.
I received one recently, from a mobile so not traceable, which cost me £3.50 just because some mindless moron thinks making such calls is amusing.
Ofcom are aware of this type of abuse of the 0800 system but do nothing about it.
I think this is an issue M.S.E. should hilight and push for a change in the system

neil9313

eribar wrote: »

Getting a reverse charge call from someone you know is bad enough, getting one from some phone vandal who makes reverse charge calls for fun is VERY annoying. O.K. you are asked to say "yes" to accept the call but which parent/partner etc is not going to when the call may be from someone you know needing help.
I received one recently, from a mobile so not traceable, which cost me £3.50 just because some mindless moron thinks making such calls is amusing.
Ofcom are aware of this type of abuse of the 0800 system but do nothing about it.
I think this is an issue M.S.E. should hilight and push for a change in the system

Im sure the operator tells you who is calling you before you except the call!

Jemma-T

Do not accept reverse charge calls unless you are expecting it.

Otherwise, if it's that important they can phone 999.

timm01

Last night at 4.15am we accepted a reverse charge only to hear a distressed incoherent female. Fearing it was out daughter when the call ended we rang her and she was fine.
This is either a scam to make money or a sick joke that plays on parents sensibilities.
Thinking back it was probably a recorded call but we could not sleep afterwards. What sort of sick people are there out in the wide world that get kick out of frightening the lives out of people.
Anyway, if you call BT they put yu through to a service that completely bar 08456 85300 reverse charge calls which we have now done.

Heinz

Yes, the freephone number 0800Reverse uses is, unfortunately, an open-invitation to drunks and those with IQs barely equivalent to their shoe size.

BTW, the number to call to stop 0800Reverse calls is 0845 077 9000.

Jemma-T

timm01 wrote: »

Fearing it was out daughter when the call ended we rang her and she was fine.

She was happy that you phoned her at 0415?

It's not easy but I don't answer the phone to anyone at night (it's off) but I still have a front door and letterbox flap for the police or anyone else who needs it. If my children need to contact me they can leave a message or chap the door. If it's an emergency it's a lot easier to dial 999 than my number.