UK Call Checker Update?

BarkingMad

Hello MSE,

Is is possible to update the UK Call Checker and other articles to include 0871, 0844 and 0345 numbers?

Thanks :beer:

BarkingMad

Heinz

0345 numbers (in fact, all 03 numbers) must be charged at the same rate as 01 and 02 numbers by all calls providers (and they must be inclusive if that applies to your 01 and 02 calls).

Apart from generating income for companies' call centres, 0843, 0844, 0871, 0872 and 0873 numbers are also used by the indirect access calls providers which the MSE CallCheckers lists. That being the case, there are no cheap ways to call such numbers (they are the cheap ways to dial other numbers).

The CallCheckers show the per minute charges a BT residential customer would pay for such calls. Other calls providers can charge the same as BT but many charge extra - in Virgin Media's case, a great deal extra - so there is a footnote to warn users of that fact:

Non-BT landlines

Call prices may vary from non-BT landlines, it's always worth checking your bill to see exactly what you're charged before using one of these providers excessively.

BarkingMad

Hello Heinz,

Are you sure about the 03 numbers being charged the same as 01 and 02? Looking at the BT price list for March 2010

www#productsandservices#bt#com

consumer/consumerProducts/pdf/SpecialisedNos.pdf

(Note, to post the above, I've had to change . to # and include a line break)


the 03 numbers (Pg 2 of BT document) are listed as "g21" and g21 is priced (Pg 35)

g21 - Calls to New Voice Services 4.888 1.998 1.175 p/m inc VAT for D / E / W respectively

But the same document shows local and national to be:

Local - Residential 3.948 1.000 1.000
National - Residential 7.908 3.948 1.493





Also looking further at the BT pricing document, I guess the reason why 0843, 0844, 0871, 0872 and 0873 are not in the UK Call Checker is because there are so many rates depending upon the digits dialled after the "stem" e.g. 0843 12345 and to specify / keep these current would be time cpnsuming unless automated in a database.

Heinz

BarkingMad wrote: »

Are you sure about the 03 numbers being charged the same as 01 and 02?

Yes, I most certainly am - see what Ofcom itself says on the matter.

Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and must count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.

These rules apply to calls from any type of line including mobile, BT, other fixed line or payphone

BarkingMad

Hi Heinz,

I think there's a touch of semantics creeping in here. In your first reply, you said..

0345 numbers (in fact, all 03 numbers) must be charged at the same rate as 01 and 02 numbers by all calls providers (and they must be inclusive if that applies to your 01 and 02 calls).

I think it's more correct to say, as you have pointed out from the Ofcom website:

Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and must count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.

So BT can charge anything up to 7.908, 3.948, 1.493 p/min for a call to an 03 number during daytime, evening and weekend respectively. However, they choose to charge 4.888 1.998 1.175 p/min which is less than a national call but more than a local call.


So, what does 18185 charge for 03 call? There's nothing on their website. Any ideas?

Heinz

BarkingMad wrote: »

So, what does 18185 charge for 03 call? There's nothing on their website. Any ideas?

5p connection + 0p/minute (the same as for 01 & 02 calls).

BTW, I think you are unnecessarily confusing yourself by quoting BT's charges for those few people on BT Basic, Light User and In-Contact Plus. For the vast majority (on their Unlimited Weekend, Unlimited Evening & Weekend or Unlimted Anytime call plans), there has been no such thing as a Local or National call since July 2004.

BT latest price increase means that, from 1-4-2010, weekday daytime 01/02/03 calls for those not on their Unlimited Anytime Plan will cost 9.9p call set-up fee + 5.9p/minute.

Similarly, weekday evening 01/02/03 calls for those on their Unlimited Weekend Plan will cost 9.9p call set-up fee + 1.5p/minute.

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumer/consumerProducts/pdf/SpecialisedNos.pdf (see Page 40).

OldGreyFox

According to http://www.telecom-tariffs.co.uk/tarifres1.htm BT charge the same price to call 01/02/03 calls when the call is not inclusive.

BarkingMad

Hi Heinz

Thanks for the info.

Heinz wrote: »

BTW, I think you are unnecessarily confusing yourself by quoting BT's charges for those few people on BT Basic, Light User and In-Contact Plus. For the vast majority (on their Unlimited Weekend, Unlimited Evening & Weekend or Unlimted Anytime call plans), there has been no such thing as a Local or National call since July 2004.

I think we both may be confusing people because I'm quoting info from BT and you are quoting Ofcom which also mentions a national call. Unless it doesn't mean a national geographic call and actually means a national non geo call i.e. 0870