Gas Board phone charges

Sue11

I have just recieved my phone bill to see two calls for 1 minute charged at £1.50 each. I had the phone company check the number and they say it is an old Gas Board 0800 number that redirects the call. Beware!!!!!

utilitybroker

Its not possible to change the price of a call in mid call . If you dial a freephone 0800 number to start with from your landline, the call will stay free wherever its redirected.

What was the actual number you dialed to incur the charges.

Sue11

The charge came in on my Talk Talk bill. I called them and the operator tried the number he came back and said that it was an old 0800 of British Gas which someone has picked up and is using to redirect the call at a charge of £1.50.
The number that come up on my bill was 09041690214 I am not the only person who is asking questions about this number showing up on their bill if anyone has any other explanation other than Talk Talk's it would be good to know.

DVardysShadow

Hmm. Sounds like a call centre porkie.

Ypaymore

As already pointed out Its not possible to call a freephone number and then be charged for calling a premium rate number.If you dialed a freephone number in the first place Talk Talk should not charge you for the call.

This i what the premim rate no regulator says about the 09 number.



"PhonepayPlus has the following information about the premium rate number 09041690214.

• The number provides customer contact information for various companies, the telephone number would have been found through an Internet based search engine or an advert in a newspaper or magazine and you use it with your telephone or mobile phone.
• This service costs £1.50 per call (plus any phone network surcharges - check with your phone company for full details).

If you would like to find out more about this service you should contact the company listed below.
Customer Service Helplines
Hampden House
Hitchin Road
Arlesey
SG15 6RS
07958666101
[EMAIL="nathan@customer-service-helplines.co.uk"]nathan@customer-service-helplines.co.uk[/EMAIL]

If you want to log a complaint to PhonepayPlus online please click here.
Alternatively, you can call our helpline on 0800 500 212 (Mon-Fri, 0800-1800)."

Sue11

Hi again I will get in touch with Talk Talk again today but I must add the only place I would have got an alternative number for British Gas is Saynoto 0870 nos I have this on my favourites list I always use it where possible.

Jemma-T

And don't mention "Gas Board" to anyone as they'll think you're a bit daft. British Gas PLC might have a board but it ain't that sort of board. Their only interest is share value.

What you've been told is nonsense too assuming that's what you were in fact told.

Sue11

Hi Jemma
I am an OAP where for a lot of my life we all called it the Gas Board and Electricity Board they were then the only suppliers call me stupid as much as you like! Oh and I do not lie what I have written is the information I was given. To write this message you must have had a bad day I only hope your next one is better darling.

Jemma-T

Sue11 wrote: »

Hi Jemma
I am an OAP where for a lot of my life we all called it the Gas Board and Electricity Board they were then the only suppliers call me stupid as much as you like! Oh and I do not lie what I have written is the information I was given. To write this message you must have had a bad day I only hope your next one is better darling.

I said that to help you. I'm sure we all used to use candles too but if people sniff at your ignorance they'll take advantage.

The Internet and certainly not phone companies are not your friends.

I always have a bad day but it's about percentages and as long as the good bit outweighs the bad I live in hope

Heinz

Bearing in mind that the "it is an old Gas Board 0800 number that redirects the call" part of the OP's post was a statement from a Talk Talk call centre operative (not renowned for their knowledge of Talk Talk's own systems, never mind the UK telephone system in general), I am inclined to treat it with massive amounts of scepticism.

IMHO, Sue11 dialled the 0904 number she mentioned in post #3 and was charged accordingly.

Unfortunately, not everyone realises that 09 (and 070) numbers are, almost invariably, very expensive to dial.

Hughesy84

Just use say no to 0870 and use local numbers only.......problem solved.