Virgin Media and international calls (Dial Around) Huge call charge

Beninio88

Hi there.
I've just had a call from Virgin Media to say that they have flagged my account for having a high call charge on it. The C/S rep told me that there were over £40 worth of call to Hong Kong. I have been calling Hong Kong, but using the Dial Around service. The code I use is 0844 200 5050. Looking on the Dial Around website it states that the number on my bill that will show for the call is the 0844 number. However looking at a past bill it has the actual number for the person that I have dialed.

According to the Dial Around website I should be charged 0.5p per minute. I'm sure that I haven't been on the phone for that long to rack up a £40+ bill with this number.

Am I reading something wrong? Does Dial Around not get a discount for Virgin Media customers?

BTW I'm on the Talk Unlimited Package.

Thanks,
Beninio

Heinz

Previously, some line providers' decimal-illiterate computer programmers have managed to program their accounting systems with £0.5 (£0.50 or 50p) per minute charges for such 0844 numbers instead of 0.5p (£0.005 or ½p). Sounds like that may be the case here.

Do you have itemised billing to enable you to check?

Beninio88

Thanks for your quick reply.
I do get itemised billing but having a look at a past bill it has the number of the person that I am dialing, and not the Dial Around number. I'm positive that I am dialing the Dial Around number first.

Interesting about the .5 = £0.50.
Is this a thing that Virgin Media cannot calculate, or is it a Dial Around thing.
eg http://www.dialaround.co.uk/rates.php#h
Would it be £50 to call Honduras? :eek::D

Heinz

Dial Around have no control on what calls providers charge so, if there's an error in charging, it's the call provider's 'fault' (in your case VM).

However, judging by what you've said, it appears VM have stripped out the 0844 string you used as a prefix and passed the call themselves - charging you their own rates for the call.

debsy42

Just checked on the Virgin website and their charges for your number are

0844200 PG22 Special Services
7p connection charge
0.5p daytime pence per minute
0.5p evening pence per minute

Beninio88

Thanks for the reply guys.
I've called Virgin up who told me that the number did not go through Dial Around. I am positive that I did dial the access number first.
I sent Dial Around a memo but I think it is one of those "our word against your" situations. Don't think I'll see that money again.

Well I'm not going to be using them again.

edit. Virgin media did say that there were other calls that were made through the 0844 200 5050 number which were cheap.

Heinz

Can't see why you're blaming Dial Around - your line provider is responsble for routing the call in response, in this case, to the initial 11 digits you dial.

Think about it, if the call didn't go through Dial Around, they'll have made no money. OTOH, if the call was routed via VM instead, who made money?

Beninio88

Cheers Heinz, I see what you mean. Didn't think of it like that.

Gordon_Alexander

Hi,
Just seen these posts this morning and thought I'd add a comment. I only heard about "Phone Cheap" yesterday. I found their web site and called successfully "0844 200 989" to get New Zealand from my Virgin Media landline fone. I definitely got an answer from the "Phone Cheap" system cos I heard their recorded answer before I dialled the code and number I wanted in New Zealand. The call was succesfully connected so like the initial post I'll be more than interested to see how much VM charge me. I tried unsuccessfully to find the cost of 0844 calls on the VM website but see there is an answer above.

VMT

Gordon Alexander

ericthekidstoner

I just checked my latest online VM bill and I've been charged well above the normal 0.5p to Hong Kong too:-

Call destination Number called Duration mins:secs Excl. VAT £.p
Spec Serv 08442005050 61:00 £5.26

Have Virgin pulled a fast one and changed terms and conditions? I can't remember getting a letter.

ilikepoints

I know Virgin put up theprice of 0845, 0870 and 0871 calls this month.

Prices rises are pretty steep so small chance it might be related to this?

0845 now 7p per min and 0870 10p per min!!!! (plus 7p connection charge!) :mad: