Bt,s Definition Of 0845/0870 Indirect Access Numbers.

utilitybroker

In the ad that appears in todays Daily Express promoting free calls to 0845/0870 ,BT define Indirect Access Number,s as:

Indirect access numbers connect callers (directly or otherwise) at lower rates to other known numbers that could be dialled directly.

So keep an eye on your bills.;)

System

More details in BT's FAQs, here:
http://bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cci/bt_adp.php?p_sid=WGolapnj&cat_lvl1=345&cat_lvl2=350&cat_lvl3=361&cat_lvl4=1083&p_cv=4.1083&p_cats=345,350,361,1083&p_faqid=12732

An indirect access number is any number which connects you to another number that is both known by and could be directly dialled by you from your BT landline. The indirect access number charges a cheaper rate. There are typically two types of these calls.

1. You first dial an 0870 or 0845 number, and then, while still connected, you dial the intended destination number to be connected
2. You are connected directly to the intended destination number by dialling an 0870 or 0845 number, having previously routed the destination number through an 0870 or 0845 number, which can be done via the internet or by other means

Type 2 appears to be designed to kill my0870.

BT appear to be saying that if I call an 0870 number that I route to Spain (or wherever) they will charge me their 0870 rate. But if I call an 0870 number that BigCo routes to a call centre in, say, India, it will be included in my allowance of 'free' monthly minutes to 0845 and 0870 numbers.

baby_frogmella

Hi

I am involved with a dispute with IDNET as they have charged me for calls to precaller's (ex-my0870) 08456 118 700 as they classify that as an "indirect access number". However according to BT's description of indirect access number, its precallers 020 3328 1355 number which is (technically speaking) an indirect access number because you dial the 0845 number to build credit whilst the 020 number is actually used to make overseas calls. AFAIK that's why precaller introduced this 0845 number to get around this, because previously their 0870/0845 numbers were directly mapped onto foreign numbers therefore BT were classing these as indirect access and charging people for it. What do folks think?

Ypaymore

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Hi

I am involved with a dispute with IDNET as they have charged me for calls to precaller's (ex-my0870) 08456 118 700 as they classify that as an "indirect access number". However according to BT's description of indirect access number, its precallers 020 3328 1355 number which is (technically speaking) an indirect access number because you dial the 0845 number to build credit whilst the 020 number is actually used to make overseas calls. AFAIK that's why precaller introduced this 0845 number to get around this, because previously their 0870/0845 numbers were directly mapped onto foreign numbers therefore BT were classing these as indirect access and charging people for it. What do folks think?

Why dig up an old thread when you have already started one on the dispute here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2608957=

baby_frogmella

Ypaymore wrote: »

Why dig up an old thread when you have already started one on the dispute here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2608957=

I posted in this old thread as this is more appropriate to my question: ie definition of "indirect access numbers'. Sorry, my mistake i should have posted here in the first place!

MODS: please feel free to delete the other thread which i started.

OldGreyFox

Surely what BT consider to be indirect access has nothing to do with it,as your not a customer of theirs.

Basically as i see it you have been making very long calls to the precaller credit number to build up credit to make intl calls . As you were not making normal direct access 0845 calls to uk destinations,and were just calling the 0845 number to build up credit, IDnet have deemed them to be indirect and chargeable.

baby_frogmella

OldGreyFox wrote: »

Surely what BT consider to be indirect access has nothing to do with it,as your not a customer of theirs.

Basically as i see it you have been making very long calls to the precaller credit number to build up credit to make intl calls . As you were not making common or garden 0845 calls to normal uk numbers, IDnet have deemed them to be chargeable.

What is IDnets written fair use policy on inclusive 0845 calls ?

IDNET on their website do not describe what an "indirect access" call is classed as so i can only presume its the same description as BT's.
IDNET do not have any fair usage policy on 0870/0845 calls, unlike BT
http://www.idnet.net/solutions/home/phone/

OldGreyFox

I assume that as you were not making a normal direct 0845 call but were using their service as a workaround to build up credit via a 0845 no they have deemed it to be chargeable.

baby_frogmella

OldGreyFox wrote: »

I guess that as you were not making a normal direct 0845 call but were using their network to build up credit via a 0845 they have deemed it to be chargeable.

I understand what you're saying, but that is why companies like 3c (who are behind precaller/my0870) and others ditched traditional indirect access numbers and introduced 0845/0870 numbers to build up credit and then a landline number to make the actual overseas call because then this 0870/0845 number doesn't fall within BT's/others telecomms description of an "indirect access number". Looks like a case for OTELO then :cool:

System

Precaller's 0845 number is not an indirect access number. It links you to some (cheesy) music. While you are linked to it, Precaller collects some of the termination charge. That is no different from any other 0845 number. Eg, while you are linked to a bank's 0845 number, the bank collects some money, and as a result, the bank (may) charge you marginally less for your overdraft (or, of course, pay bigger bonuses to the managers).
Precaller's 020 number is, strictly speaking, an indirect access number, but (AFAIK) Precaller doesn't get any of the (tiny) termination charge.

baby_frogmella

YoungNick wrote: »

Precaller's 0845 number is not an indirect access number. It links you to some (cheesy) music. While you are linked to it, Precaller collects some of the termination charge. That is no different from any other 0845 number. Eg, while you are linked to a bank's 0845 number, the bank collects some money, and as a result, the bank (may) charge you marginally less for your overdraft (or, of course, pay bigger bonuses to the managers).
Precaller's 020 number is, strictly speaking, an indirect access number, but (AFAIK) Precaller doesn't get any of the (tiny) termination charge.

Thanks, that's also the conclusion i came to...technically speaking its precaller's 020 number which IDNET should charge me for. However the vast majority of calls were made from my mobile to this 020 number (i linked it to my landline). I'll give 3C a call tomorrow and see what they have to say.