0800 Reverse: Don't do it

BexTech

RascalRose wrote: »

If all else fails, then 40p emergency money can be used from a phonebox with the same system, that way the money never gets spent. Tape it to a business card and pop it in the purse or wallet.

As long as you don't have that nasty 1571 - voicemail / answerphone service that kicks in when you are on a call and gobbles up the 40p straight away.

touch*my*food*feel*myfork

my son has just rang me using 0800reverse:mad: - i got an automated message saying 'this is 0800 reverse' and then my son spoke his name and i said I'll ring you back and put the phone down - will i be charged for this call?
I did not get asked if i wanted to except the call.
Thanks for your time

PeteTong_2

caliston wrote: »

If you think you're likely to be stuck, how about just keeping a few 20p coins in an inside pocket of your purse/wallet/handbag/jacket for emergency calls from phoneboxes? You'd get to talk for literally hours for the price of a one minute reverse charge call.

But a lot of phoneboxes only accept credit cards and not cash.

I made a 5 minute reverse charge call recently from a phone box to home and BT charged me a shocking £7.60 for it.
I used to have a one-tel calling card which was very handy but they stopped this service a while ago.

arthur_dent_2

WARNING

Just received a call from 0800 REVERSE which was a scam. An automated lady asked me if I would like to accept a call from a Bobbybobbybobbybobbybobby, I don't know a Bobby. I hope I will not be charged for this call, I said nothing and put the phone down. I then phoned my DH to make sure it was not him.

Beware of these calls and if like me your children normally answer the phone make sure they are aware.

heart_free

The main problem is that children do not seem to realise that this will cost the person they are calling. The adverts are not that clear about the charges and teens and children will just assume its a free service.

My son used the service to ring me from a friends house to tell me he was going to be a bit late. As I wasn't expecting it, when I heard my sons name I accepted the call thinking that there could be something wrong! When he got in I asked him if he knew how much it would cost. He said it wouldn't cost anything as its free! I then explained about how it's charged and he now understands that it is for use only in an emergency.

2Sheds

Just had this happen to me on Sky Talk £7.70 for 17secs, my daughters friend calling her. Made them both pay me £4, will have to look at opting out of something I didn't know existed

KimYeovil

heart_free wrote: »

The main problem is that children do not seem to realise that this will cost the person they are calling. The adverts are not that clear about the charges and teens and children will just assume its a free service.

If the child is that slow-witted they should not be out by themselves.

yvie_2

KimYeovil wrote: »

If the child is that slow-witted they should not be out by themselves.

Thats not a very nice attitude.

Some parents don't feel the need to discuss financial situations and advertising strategies so deeply with their children when showing them how to use a system like that. That doesn't make them 'slow witted',

Heaven help the child who wants to speak to their parent but has to weigh up whether it is going to be worth the telling off if the parent didn't think it was THAT urgent. My 12 year old daughter has just started going out with her friends. She doesn't feel that confident yet and just wants to 'touch base'. If her phone ran out of credit and she felt that way at the time, I would happily agree to a reverse call. Its to do with making your child feel safe and sometimes you have to swallow that financially.. If they abuse the system, then its time to clamp down.

Funny how some people will have a bottle of wine with their dinner, or go to the movies, or buy cigarettes, put petrol in the car to drive a few yards rather than walk, or have a holiday or hobby....but the thought of spending a tenner for their child to feel safe, makes them angry!

I agree it should be advertised more widely that it costs the receiver to receive these calls.....but its a service and services cost money and are rarely free. Even for the safety of children.