0844200 costs me 0.50 pence pm to Canada

mahmoodm

I check on moneysaving expert that calls to Canada on 0844200-g22 will cost me half a pence per minute on landline phone but Onetel charged me 50pence per minute i complained and they are saying no it is 50 pence per minute not half a pence call per minute, they over charged me around 55 pounds. Can anybody tell me how to solve this problem. Thanks

Heinz

Unfortunately, this appears to be yet another instance of telco personnel incorrectly programming their accounts system and the telco in question refusing to acknowledge or correct the error.

In brief, the 0.425p/minute excl. VAT (0.5p/minute incl. VAT) which should have been input has been input as £0.425/minute excl. VAT (£0.50/minute incl. VAT). That means they are overcharging users by a factor of 100 (a £5 charge is applied for a 10 minute call - which should have cost 5p).

In fact, you've made the same sort of mistake in your thread title (0.50 pence per minute means £0.005 per minute - which is the correct rate). What you obviously mean is 50p per minute.

The problem (as has previously been detailed in other threads in this forum) is convincing the telcom in question of their error.

The Small Claims Court may end up the only way to recover the overcharge (although, if you're only on CPS with OneTel, using the 1280 prefix will stop them doing it again).

Graham1

Ofcom define the 0844 prefix as "up to 5p/min"

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/numbering/index.htm#special

So wouldn't it be against regulations to charge substantially more from a fixed line ?

Altarf

The problem is that all the prices quoted (here, Ofcom, etc) refer to BT so to be sure of the price you need to check with the operator you plan on using. Now you run into the next problem. Only BT seem to have a decent price list which lists all the possible codes that can be dialled. If the code is not on the list that the operator publishes, then don't hold your breath getting a sensible answer from the call centre, who in my experience will just guess.

Now the T&Cs for Onetel published on their website say:

"Price List" means the list(s) of Charges current at the time you use the Services as published on our website and which we will send to you with our User Guide when you first receive the Services;

08442 numbers don't appear on the price list on their website, so it would interesting to know what they are shown as in the "User Guide when you first receive the Services". If 08442 numbers d not appear I would send a recorded delivery letter to the CEO of Onetel pointing out that they are in breach of their T&Cs by charging you anything for the calls.

digp

Speak to the directors office.

Failing which, you may need to issue proceedings against them.

I had a run in with them a while back. the threat of a court summons concentrated their mind.

hurrah

If you have only CPS your calls to Onetel and your line rental is still with BT. Use the BT ovveride number 1280 to place your NGN calls through BT in future.Its safer and cheaper.

london123_2

Thank you all and sorry for late reply as i could not login to account, i have to create new account. I have tried your tricks and spoken with Onetel Manager and been given 48 hours to look into the account. I will update you guys.

Thanks again and have a nice day.
Regards

london123_2

I spoken with with Onetel Manager on 2nd May and had a long conversation and told him if you don't sort out the rates either let me talk to Directors Office or i am going to court, he then argued and agreed that rate should be 0.050 half a pence but he have to talk to his billing company, today i called him again and been told yes rate on 0844200 should be 0.050 and your bill will be corrected later.(when billing company correctly charge onetel and overcharge will be either put as credit or refund) i will chasing them in few days time.

Thank you for your time and information.

london123_2

I cancel the Direct Debit with Onetel and refused to pay £60 April bill my bill has been reduced to £5 now. (was only overcharged £55).

Thanks to Heinz, Graham1, EverSoRegular and RegularMoneySaver.