T-Mobile - calls to 07404 (Lycamobile) excluded from allowance

chattychappy

I just received my T-Mobile bill (on Flext 40) to discover I've been charged for calls and texts to a UK 07404 Lycamobile number.

The calls are (misleadingly) described as "international" though I'm being charged 10p per text and 20p per minute for calls.

As far as I'm concerned no UK mobile network is excluded from the allowance. Googling around suggests they've had some kind of dispute with Lycamobile.

Has anyone else experienced this? Haven't had a chance to call them yet.

secretmsg

Iam on flext 40 as well, and 3 weeks ago i tried calling at lyca mobile number 07404 and it was saying number is not recognised, tried several times but worked calling from a landline,i guess they have blocked but still you can text that you have been charged for..

chattychappy

I called customer services and they refunded the charges. The guy said the number was "probably some kind of virtual number sitting on top of a real one" and that's why it was charged that way. But anyway he would refund it.

I said that that didn't explain why it had been annotated as "international" - he agreed. He also thought that all personal numbers were in the range 070... this was 074.

Anyway - no point in arguing it. It was a small amount and they refunded it without question. He also said he "refreshed" my account so I shouldn't be charged during this cycle...

tony077844

I have noticed this issue when i was with the dreaded Lycamobile

The number 07404 is actually when you check with BT charges a wifi number and different rates apply. I could not understand as is a UK Mobile number.

In fact 07404 is NOT..........When you switch my phone on it says I am ROAMING on the o2 network and unlike other sub networks says O2 UK LYCAMOBILE instead of LYCAMOBILE.

I have read up this and this may explain

07404 was allocated to Lycamobile so that they start issuing UK numbers themselves instead of being dictated by Orange UK

When you dial the number it is recognised to go to Lycamobile but at the moment in the UK they have roaming agreements with O2. So technically calling it is a roaming number...........BT class these calls a wifi calls as Lyca does not have an actual network in UK

07404 is actually NOT a UK mobile number the reanges for them are 075-079

redux

tony077844 wrote: »

I have noticed this issue when i was with the dreaded Lycamobile

The number 07404 is actually when you check with BT charges a wifi number and different rates apply. I could not understand as is a UK Mobile number.

In fact 07404 is NOT..........When you switch my phone on it says I am ROAMING on the o2 network and unlike other sub networks says O2 UK LYCAMOBILE instead of LYCAMOBILE.

I have read up this and this may explain

07404 was allocated to Lycamobile so that they start issuing UK numbers themselves instead of being dictated by Orange UK

When you dial the number it is recognised to go to Lycamobile but at the moment in the UK they have roaming agreements with O2. So technically calling it is a roaming number...........BT class these calls a wifi calls as Lyca does not have an actual network in UK

07404 is actually NOT a UK mobile number the reanges for them are 075-079

What is displayed may depend on your phone as well as mvno deals. Some will show 2 fields, while others overlay one that hides the other

Have you actually been told this is roaming, or just assumed it?

Technically, you are calling the number you are calling, whether the underlying SIM arrangement is an mvno on O2 or one from a different country roaming here, as some are (for example one roaming SIM I had with a UK number but a Hong Kong ID)

074 numbers have started being allocated to main networks and other brands for example 074000 on 3, 074070 Vodafone, 074088 Truphone, 074099 Orange

chattychappy

Interesting... my basic view is that since my friend is in the UK, with a UK SIM and UK phone number that comes with the SIM, then that fits the bill (Ha!) as far as my allowance goes. It simply refers to "UK mobiles". It isn't restricted to specific technologies, non-virtual networks etc..

Since T-Mobile promptly refunded the charges I don't have a cause for complaint - but I was surprised that until now there really wasn't a great deal of interest in this thread.

I'm overseas for a while so won't be using my account for a bit, but when I left the UK these Lycamobile people seemed to be everywhere in London handing out SIM cards. Street corners, railway stations, Heathrow. Some newsagents have had their fascias sponsored by Lycamobile. So I'm sure the complaints will start rolling in soon if things aren't sorted out.

If T-Mobile change their T+Cs to exclude Lycamobile I'm sure we're see some great threads on whether this lets them get out of their contract!

Thanks for the replies.

OldGreyFox

http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/discussions/index?page=forums&topic=80103895b3bb401266896d4a80060f6

Kilty_2

Hmmm "due to commercial reasons"

Anyone have difficulty calling those numbers from other networks?

Yet another of many reasons that make me wish I stayed with O2 :rotfl:

20 months to go!

kingofherts

Simple answer, Lycamobile are not registered with OFCOM as a UK mobile phone operator in the same way as Jersey telecom and Manx telecom. So calls to this operator are chargeable. Other MVNO's such as Virgin and Tesco are registered as UK operators so calls are free. TBH the vast majority of Lycamobile traffic is outgoing with most customers having a Lyca sim in addition to an O2/Voda/3 etc.

redux

kingofherts wrote: »

Simple answer, Lycamobile are not registered with OFCOM as a UK mobile phone operator in the same way as Jersey telecom and Manx telecom. So calls to this operator are chargeable. Other MVNO's such as Virgin and Tesco are registered as UK operators so calls are free.

This is wrong. It's nothing to do with any decision or regulation by Ofcom.

T-mobile have imposed commercial sanctions on a number of other companies for similar reasons.

What's more, they don't include Channel Island or Isle of Man mobiles in inclusive minutes like they do for UK mobiles (though on Flext contracts they will come off the nominal allowance but at a much higher rate.

And there aren't any free calls.

chattychappy

I agree in the sense OFCOM is not a party to contracts between consumers and providers. So it just comes down to how the contract is drawn up (which may make reference to OFCOM definitions - mine doesn't). I don't now have the T+Cs in front of me, but from memory it refers to UK mobile numbers beginning 07 but then excludes Jersey, Isle of Man and personal numbers beginning 070 (for clarity, presumably).

Searching "lycamobile" on the OFCOM website does bring up a number of references - including their number range being given and certain conditions they must operate under in much the same way as other virtual operators. It seems they within the ambit of OFCOM.