Why are set up fees so expensive?

prudence41

I've noticed that over the last few years the set up fee per call has more than doubled from 4.5p per call to 9.25p. I thought the increasing competition in the telecomms market was supposed to drive down costs.

I'm being forced from Tiscali (when it was working, it was great) to TalkTalk.

What are others' experience?

Old_Git

use 18185 if you are not barred
much cheaper than all the set up fees

Heinz

As you're now with Talk Talk, it's likely using the 18185 prefix will be barred.

However, you can still use their freephone gateway number 0808 1 703 703.

savemoney

I use 18866 from onetel (Talk Talk) and no problems with it

Buzby

They do it, because they CAN. Similarly, they can bill by the second - but they don't now (because they can make more money for nothing by rounding).

We're supposedly too stupid to notice.

PasturesNew

Buzby wrote: »

We're supposedly too stupid to notice.

That's quite likely .... I don't even understand what this thread's about, to be honest.
I've no idea what a setup fee is ... or on what ... why ... when.

Buzby

PasturesNew wrote: »

That's quite likely .... I don't even understand what this thread's about, to be honest.
I've no idea what a setup fee is ... or on what ... why ... when.

It is a charge made for successfully connecting the call to the distant end. Previously, you could call, the far end answers and you say - "I'll be over in 10 mins". A duration of 2 seconds, and charged, perhaps 0.5p (half a new penny). With the connection charge, you get hit with 9.5p for the connection, and (say) 4p per minute, so that same call now costs you 13.5p. An expensive hike!