Ofcom’s new 0333 range – great for saving money on 0800 calls from your mobile

Maupassant12

Hi. I've seen a few posts in this section about different companies offering cheaper calls to 0800 numbers from mobiles via an access number. I've also seen quite a few posts from suspicious users who don't quite believe it works, or who are worried about calling the access number because they think it might be charged at an unexpectedly high rate.

I’m not quite that suspicious but I know what they mean about a landline number looking a bit suspect. What about calling an 0333 number? www.0800friend.com offers cheaper calls to freephone numbers from your mobile via an ‘Ofcom-recommended’ 0333 number. You call the 0333 number then input the 0800 number, get put through, but only pay to call the cheaper 0333 number. The 0333 number range is new from Ofcom so it’s totally legit. Ofcom have got all the mobile networks (I’m presuming ‘forced’ would probably be a better word!) to price calls to any 0333 number the same as the mobile caller usually pays to call landlines. I think calling an 0333 number can be included in your inclusive landline minutes as well although don’t quote me on that. Anyway, it works for me on T-Mobile and I don’t see why it wouldn’t, therefore, work on other networks. But give me a shout if it doesn’t work for you then I can stop recommending it to people!

ultrak3wl

I don't really see the point... the whole attraction of an 0800 is that it is free. Instead of calling a business on its normal pay-for number you can do it for free. Since the mobile companies have started charging for 0800 (it was free on Orange and One2One for years in the 1990s!) then why not just revert to phoning the business on its normal number? Saves messing about with 0800friend redirection and costs the same anyway.

mobilejunkie

The point of the much (but quietly and reluctantly adopted) 03 numbers is that they are supposed to act like 0844/5 and 0870/1 numbers without the rip off which calling those imvolves i.e. they are charged at geographical rates. It wasn't supposed to have much to do with 0800 or 0808 numbers. Strange how so few companies using the rip off numbers have actually switched to the new 03 numbers!

tehone

There's several numbers from different providers in ranges like 020 that also offer redicrects to 0800/0808/0500 numbers.

Technically I suppose from a mobile they're inclusive rather than free, still it is useful.

BT Mobile is about to start offering free calls to 0800 numbers again, so maybe the other moble companies will follow suit

mobilejunkie

BT have also already made 084/7 numbers free from their landlines. Although that won't persuade me to switch, it might encourage other providers (possibly even mobile networks) to move in a good direction for once! The Post office land line also offers free weekend calls to mobiles and has done for a few months for those who don't already know. It pays to keep an eye on developments - not all of them are bad (especially when cpw isn't involved!).

robt_2

ultrak3wl wrote: »

I don't really see the point... the whole attraction of an 0800 is that it is free.

The whole 'point' is that 0800 is NOT free from mobiles and is usually chargeable. 03 numbers come out of your inclusive minutes, certainly with my network anyway.

fatboy88

Ayone know which network includes these in their mins

jhp

Their is no need to call a Country Wide 03 number to make inclusive or cheaper calls to Freephone Numbers from your mobile
Normal 01/02 geographical access numbers to 0500/0800/0808 freephone numbers have been available for yonks. They can be used from any networks inclusive minutes.A number of them are mentioned in this thread on the subject.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1242491

Ofcom do not recommend the use of 03 numbers over 01/02 numbers the UK Telecommunications regulator introduced the UK-wide 03 numbers in Autumn 2007,to be used as an alternative to 0845/0870 numbers.
Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calls to geographic numbers (starting 01 or 02) and are included as part of any inclusive call minutes or discount schemes for geographic calls.
This applies to calls from any UK operator (Fixed line or Mobile).

Maupassant12

Well, yes, that was my point really - that they cost the same as landlines to call but they're a non-geographic number which some people might find more reassuring. Anyway, it works, which is good enough for me!

utilitybroker

Maupassant12 wrote: »

but they're a non-geographic number which some people might find more reassuring.

Most people dont like calling NGN numbers hence www.saynoto0870.com which also gives alternatives to freephone numbers.

Using an 0333 number instead of a normal geographic one costs the provider of the service more as they pay to recieve calls to that number.

Maupassant12

Providers pay more to receive calls to 0800 numbers though don't they? That's why I think 0333 is going to be so popular in the increasingly mobile world - an NGN that's cheap to call from mobiles and which can be run with no inbound call charges for the company. What other NGN does that?