do any contracts include 0845/0870 etc numbers...?

harveybobbles

As the title says really.

My contract is up for renwal in a month or so.

I get 720 mins a month to any land line and any mobile network anytime of the day, free calls Sat, sun and mon and free texts all weekends all for £35. . But I spend a lot of time phoning 0845 numbers, which at 20p per minute makes it expensive. I don't always have access to land lines and i'm finding more and more companies are ignoring the geographic numbers listed on www.saynoto0870.co.uk - one for example left a voice mail saying "Welcome to the PE dept, please leave your message after the tone"

billsavings

In a nutshell. NO !!

blinker

Yes you can!

if u use a mobile override service you can call an 020 8... access number from yr mobile (using incl minutes) & at prompt dial any number incl 0845 etc... at decent rates
As an example of mobile override see: http://www.contactnumbers.com/mobile-override.php

their rate on mob override to 0845 are
UK BAND L (0845)3.59p1.25p1.25p
rates exclude vat

harveybobbles

I like the bit on their website that says...

How does it work?
Firstly, you must register your mobile number with us by completing and returning the Application Form - or call us now on: 0845 1080 191

derrick

harveybobbles wrote: »

I like the bit on their website that says...

How does it work?
Firstly, you must register your mobile number with us by completing and returning the Application Form - or call us now on: 0845 1080 191

Even worse on their "contact us" page; -
Contact Us

BY PHONE
0871 919 0047

BY FAX
0871 919 0048

tehone

As far as I know no current mobile contracts offer this anymore - I have one that does but its not available any more.

blinker

huh?

dont understand the raised disadvantages?
1. How does it work?
Firstly, you must register your mobile number with us by completing and returning the Application Form - or call us now on: 0845 1080 191
Its a postpaid product so without an App Form completed how can they possibly bill users???

2. Even worse on their "contact us" page; -
Contact Us
BY PHONE
0871 919 0047
BY FAX
0871 919 0048
When I emailed them they gave me a freefone0800 number - 0800 619 2626 so thats not a problem.
But in any event why call them???? this is run by the Simplyfone company that have always acted fairly and have decent feedbacks

this overide mobile service used to be offered by onetel & telco till they were taken over by CPW (talktalk) and now not offeed anymore.
it works verry well and is an easy way to call certin dest....

c_smith

I just read a report here:

http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=15555

which states that Ofcom proposes that, "that all calls to 0870 numbers should normally cost no more than calls to geographic numbers (01 or 02 numbers) and that 0870 calls should be included in communications providers’ call packages price plans on the same basis as geographic calls." It also states that Ofcom hopes to have the proposed changes in place by the Autumn.

Surely if this will apply to 0870 numbers, logic dictates that it will also apply to 0845. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.

derrick

c_smith wrote: »

I just read a report here:

http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=15555

Surely if this will apply to 0870 numbers, logic dictates that it will also apply to 0845.

It won't, as they will need to have another consultation for 0845 and that is not going to happen for at least another couple of years!

The following is from Ofcom from a letter I received from them in mid July (my highlighting) ; -




"Thank you for your email of 19 June 2008, which has been passed to me, as Case Leader, Commercial and Consumer Protection, in the Standards Team.

I have now read all the correspondence to date and note that the BBC has admitted it broadcast erroneous cost information with regard to the 0870 number it promoted.

In his letter dated 16 June 2008, my colleague, Alistair Hall, stated that Ofcom can investigate complaints concerning misleading references to call charges in programmes. While this is generally the case, Ofcom's statutory powers concerning the regulation of the BBC's broadcast output does not extend to the accuracy of such material, which falls within the remit of the BBC Trust
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/).

The memorandum of understanding between Ofcom and the BBC Trust can be found at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/accoun/mou/mou.pdf

With regard to your more general query concerning call charge information with regard to 08 numbers, Ofcom has worked with the Committee of Advertising Practice to develop guidelines for advertisers, which recommends that terms such as 'national' and 'local' should not be used. Ofcom has also contributed to similar guidance produced by the Central Office of Information for public sector organisations. We are currently in the process of implementing proposals to repair the linkage between charges for 0870 calls and national calls to geographic numbers and later this year will consider whether to adopt similar measures for 0845.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Yours sincerely

David Burkin
Content and Standards"

jimgee

Well, I just phoned Vodafone to ask them about their call charges in response to the Ofcom proposals. The CS agent I spoke to read from a internal memo on his computer which said that 0800, 0845 and 0844 numbers would be unaffected for another two years despite the inclusion of 0870 calls in call allowances!

This I find outrageous. Ofcom were totally naive in not having an all encompassing review of 08** charges. They must have realised that networks would slip through this loophole and do the bear minimum required. The networks also will lose all goodwill if they go completely against the spirit of the ruling and lead us to a situation where "freephone" and "local rate" numbers are chargeable but "national rate" numbers are not.

c_smith

Some more info on the ofcom proposals which seems to confirm what derrick said about the other 08 numbers:

http://www.saynoto0870.com/consult05/nts_wayforward.php