Privacy Numbers-50p per min but not required to tell us - any consumer rights?

redjet

I recently received my mobile phone bill and found a total charge of £12.89 for calling numbers provided alongside adverts on the Friday Ads website. Seeing 070 I thought is was just another mobile sub network or deal. All that goes alongside is "*Calls to this seller are routed through a privacy number. more info".

So I called a few and got the bargain I wanted. I've got inclusive minutes so surely no problem I knew of. When I got my bill and queried with Friday Ads they said:
"Privacy Numbers are not classified as Premium Rate numbers because they charge less than 50p per minute from a BT Landline, and are therefore not subject to the same regulations as a premium rate number. As such we are not obliged to inform customers of the rate. "

So that's it!? Do we really have no rights to know that we'll be charged a fortune. Other rates have to be disclosed '*charges apply' etc but with Privacy Number there is apparently nothing to save the consumer.

mobile48

Have a think if the ASA can do something.

http://www.asa.org.uk/

If the advert breaches their code they will stop it. It is both quick and easy to complain and they normally act quickly and keep you fully informed. The fact the advert mislead you suggests this is worthwhile doing but you should talk to them to see if these types of adverts are covered or not.

Heinz

redjet wrote: »

I recently received my mobile phone bill and found a total charge of £12.89 for calling numbers provided alongside adverts on the Friday Ads website. Seeing 070 I thought is was just another mobile sub network or deal. All that goes alongside is "*Calls to this seller are routed through a privacy number. more info".

That 'more info' link (which is in red text and is also bolded) makes it clear what the likely costs are:

2. How much does the call cost me?

At Friday-Ad we place many private adverts free of charge, in order to continue to do so we make a small amount of revenue from the 070 service that we now offer. This has also been universally welcomed for the privacy that it now offers our Private advertisers. Calls to privacy numbers are charged at 37.5p per minute at peak times, falling to 25p per minute in the evenings and just 12.5p per minute at the weekends (BT landline customers). If you are not with BT, calls will be charged at your own operators rate. Calls from mobiles will vary depending on the rate charged by your operator.

The last sentence would have rung alarm bells for me.

KillerWatt

All numbers starting 070 are privacy/follow me numbers and various adverts over the years have made that clear, although it doesn't cost what I would call a "fortune" to call them.

Ypaymore

KillerWatt wrote: »

All numbers starting 070 are privacy/follow me numbers and various adverts over the years have made that clear, although it doesn't cost what I would call a "fortune" to call them.

Whilst your happy to pay 37.5p a minute peak , i guess that most members want be.:D

KillerWatt

Ypaymore wrote: »

Whilst your happy to pay 37.5p a minute peak , i guess that most members want be.:D

I have an 070 number, and it doesn't cost anywhere near that to call.

Heinz

KillerWatt wrote: »

I have an 070 number, and it doesn't cost anywhere near that to call.

It wouldn't cost me anything at all if I had to call you - because I wouldn't call you on principle.

KillerWatt

Heinz wrote: »

It wouldn't cost me anything at all if I had to call you - because I wouldn't call you on principle.

As I wouldn't know you have decided not to call, it's not going to be an issue for me.

I am sure however that all of our customers who do use the 070 number are happy to pay the same as a local call, especially when it means their call gets routed to us no matter where we are or what phones we have at the time.

Heinz

KillerWatt wrote: »

As I wouldn't know you have decided not to call, it's not going to be an issue for me.

I am sure however that all of our customers who do use the 070 number are happy to pay the same as a local call, especially when it means their call gets routed to us no matter where we are or what phones we have at the time.

There hasn't been any such thing as a 'local' call since July 2004 when BT lumped all national calls together and started charging the same prices for them.

Anyway, are you saying that those on inclusive calls plans have calls to your 070 number included? I think not because, if that were to be so, your 070 number would have to be categorised as a g21 charge rate - and there are no such 070 numbers.

The only charge band which might loosely fit your ('same as a local call') description is charge band e (4.689p/minute at all times) and that cost is less than BT's current 5.9p/minute daytime rate for national calling. Nevertheless, charge band e calls are not inclusive within calling plans.

Similarly, I use 18185 and pay a fixed 5p for any national call (of any duration) during the week. Are you saying that my call via 18185 to your 070 number would cost me 5p?

Again, I think not.