0800 Reverse: Don't do it

Somerled

I picked up one of these cards years ago, i.e. 1996 and have been happy with the service. In those days it was advertised as halving the cost of using a telephone kiosk with the 10p minimum charge - the days when mobiles were in their infancy.

I do prefer Martin's version of getting friends to call back than the "ring me" phrase its less open to being found out.

Heinz

Fran wrote:

The person making the call might get the message "reverse charge calls cannot be made to this number". Presumably this happens once too many calls like this have been made over a certain time period.

I'm not sure about that.

I'd expect anyone trying to use the service to my number to get that message - because I've opted out of receiving it.

bbb_uk

bestyman wrote:

ps. Hurrah, I just got a 0800 for my business and they are charging me a fiver a month ( some inclusive minutes) where are they free?

It depends really. Those that don't charge a monthly fee for a freephone number generally charge about 8p (or thereabout) for incoming calls. This is fine for the odd call from your kids, etc.

However, for a business that may get a lot of incoming calls to their freephone number then some charge a small monthly fee and get inclusive minutes as part of the deal with incoming calls outside the inclusive deal charged at 2p/min. An example of this is https://www.call08.com.

Patr100

When BT chargecards first came out about many years ago I didn't have a mobile and only used it on about 2 occasions.
I got a letter from BT to say that my bill would be much larger than normal and when it arrived found that hundreds of calls (often a few seconds each) had been made to various countries such as Pakistan - about £600 worth of them - all charged to my home BT account!

Suffice to say , thankfully when I declared no knowledge of them they were written off - and the card deleted then BT had the nerve to say "would you like another BT charge card?" er ..no thanks.

The weird thing was that was a previous set maximum limit on each days call charges but from what I could see this had been exceeded on some days - which made me suspect it was some sort of inside job or in the know scam but who knows - I thought BT chargecard - nice idea but never again.

Mrs_B_12

I have found that the 0800reverse service is so open to abuse by kids it's stupid. We had calls with kids shouting out rude names or just giggling when asked to give a name and although we wouldn't accept and therefore pay for a call from them it was a pain in the backside.

You can opt out of receiving calls from them, on their website it says:

"II. Cancellation - should the service no longer be required please contact 0800 Reverse at the details in section 3 ‘Contact Details’. 0800 Reverse will ensure that you can no longer receive 0800 Reverse reverse charge calls or messages to your telephone number. You will be responsible for all applicable charges relating to use of the service up to the time of cancellation of the service."

"3) Contact Details
The contact details for 0800 Reverse are:

Customer Service Telephone Number: 0845 0 779 000
E-mail: customerservice@0800reverse.co.uk

0800 Reverse Limited
20 Canning Place
London W8 5AD
United Kingdom

The opening hours for the 0800 Reverse Customer Service Centre are Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm, excluding public holidays."

Fran

Fran wrote:

Be aware though that they are on to that one. The person making the call might get the message "reverse charge calls cannot be made to this number". Presumably this happens once too many calls like this have been made over a certain time period. That's not to say it might not work again after another time period. :cool: However the person making the call might end up without cash and with no way of getting through.

Heinz wrote:

I'm not sure about that.

I'd expect anyone trying to use the service to my number to get that message - because I've opted out of receiving it.

I'm sure of that though! It can happen even if you have not opted out.

zippedup

Mrs_B wrote: »

I have found that the 0800reverse service is so open to abuse by kids it's stupid. We had calls with kids shouting out rude names or just giggling when asked to give a name and although we wouldn't accept and therefore pay for a call from them it was a pain in the backside.

You can opt out of receiving calls from them, on their website it says:

"II. Cancellation - should the service no longer be required please contact 0800 Reverse at the details in section 3 ‘Contact Details’. 0800 Reverse will ensure that you can no longer receive 0800 Reverse reverse charge calls or messages to your telephone number. You will be responsible for all applicable charges relating to use of the service up to the time of cancellation of the service."

"3) Contact Details
The contact details for 0800 Reverse are:

Customer Service Telephone Number: 0845 0 779 000
E-mail: [EMAIL="customerservice@0800reverse.co.uk"]customerservice@0800reverse.co.uk[/EMAIL]

0800 Reverse Limited
20 Canning Place
London W8 5AD
United Kingdom

The opening hours for the 0800 Reverse Customer Service Centre are Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm, excluding public holidays."

thank goodness for this thread! just in case anyone else needs to know.... just phoned up the customer service number outside their working hours and theres an automated service that allows you to barr the 0800 reverse from your phone for free for a month. u just have to press that option. am so glad - just had 9 calls from them all in less than 10 mins.

musical_norwich

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Have a secret code name

While it sounds a bit cloak and dagger this can work a treat if you've run out of credit on your phone. Simply pre arrange a special code name for example Mr T. When the operator calls they will ask if the receiver will accept a call from Mr T, simply pre arrange for them not to accept the call and instead to call back on your mobile. This way you won't be charged a penny but can still get in contact.

This is dishonest and if we all did it BT would be forced to either put up the price or stop the service. It is a bit rich to complain about how expensive the other services are whilst making a deceitful recommendation that could undermine a better one that adults and children rely on in difficult circumstances.

Chris_Kirkman

Just had a phone call from my daughter asking to pick her up but didn't realise till later that she had used 0800 Reverse.

When we got home she told me that she didn't have any money and had forgotten her mobile so used this which she thought was free because it's an 0800 number.

When I received there call there was nothing to tell me that it was from 0800 Reverse or a message saying who was calling, I just picked up the phone and was connected to my daughter immediately. After about 10 seconds though we seemed to get cut off.

Reading their FAQs it seems to me that I should have had some warning about the charges.

I have a Virgin Media (NTL) line but the charges they list are for BT lines so not sure how that affects things.

Does anybody know if I will be charged for receiving this call?

Thanks for any help

Chris K

Steve_xx

See here for charging regime:

http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/current/Inland_Operator_boo/2106_d0e1.htm

You were probably cut off because you failed to agree to accept the call.