Vodafone Inclusive 0800, 0845 and 0870 calls add-on

ey143

Hi

Is this bolt on still available? Has anything changed since the last post on this subject?

Thx.

boxst

As briefly mentioned before, another way to do this if you have a BT line is to use BT's Application Smarttalk. You can then use your data connection to call those numbers (like 0844 for cheap international calls) and it'll be billed to your home phone.

Steve

OldGreyFox

boxst wrote: »

As briefly mentioned before, another way to do this if you have a BT line is to use BT's Application Smarttalk. You can then use your data connection to call those numbers (like 0844 for cheap international calls) and it'll be billed to your home phone.

Steve

If have a smart phone and your calling popular 084/087 numbers and freephone numbers consider this free service https://www.weq4u.co.uk

Even if you dont have access to smart phone or you wanna call it from landline you can use there 03 number which will be included in any inclusive minutes.

boxst

OldGreyFox wrote: »

If have a smart phone and your calling popular 084/087 numbers and freephone numbers consider this free service https://www.weq4u.co.uk

Even if you dont have access to smart phone or you wanna call it from landline you can use there 03 number which will be included in any inclusive minutes.

That's very cool.

Ian01

What exactly is included in the Vodafone deal?

0800, 0845, 0870 - Yes.

0808, 0500 - Maybe? Maybe not? If not, why not? These are "freephone" numbers, the same as 0800.

0843, 0844, 0871, 0872, 0873 - No. These are numbers with a Service Charge and wouldn't be expected to be included. However, on that basis, it's surprising that 0845 numbers are included as calls to these numbers incur a 2p/min Service Charge.

Every landline and mobile network is paid a small call origination fee by the number user for each 0500 and 080 call. This fee is large enough to cover call origination costs from landlines but not quite large enough to cover call origination costs from mobiles. Even though the origination fee paid to mobile networks is only a couple of pence per minute short, most mobile networks charge the caller an extortionate per-minute rate for calling 0500 and 080 numbers - anything up to 41p/min. While paying several pounds for a bundle of calls to "freephone" numbers might lessen the overall bill for callers, it is still a rip-off.

Certain 0500, 0800 and 0808 numbers are already free from all mobiles as the user of the number pays extra fees to each of the mobile networks to make this happen. There are arrangements in place for numbers beginning 0808 80 and for the various 0500, 0800 and 0808 numbers used by DWP and several charities. What happens when someone with this call package calls one of those numbers? Presumably the call does not eat into their allowance. Has anyone tested this?

Ofcom's plans to make all 080 and 0500 calls free from mobiles are currently delayed by many months. Mobile network EE are fighting the proposals as they presumably want to continue charging 40p/min for "freephone" numbers.

There's currently no Service Charge or revenue-share allowed on 0870 numbers. Ofcom recommend these calls be charged the same as calls to geographic numbers and included in normal call bundles. Charging extra for a "special" bundle, as here, is "money for nothing" as far as the mobile network is concerned.

Calls to 0845 numbers incur a Service Charge but it is not much over 2p/min. This is the only part of the deal where usage really eats into the pure profit generated by users buying this additional call package from Vodafone.

Once Ofcom's "unbundled tariffs" are in force, 080 and 0500 numbers will be "free" from all mobiles and there will be no need to pay anything for these, bundle or otherwise. Additionally, revenue sharing will return to 0870 numbers with a Service Charge around 10p/min and all 084 and 087 numbers will have equal status. Call prices will consist of a Service Charge to the benefit of the called party and an Access Charge to the benefit of the originating network.

If any "bundle" deal is offered it will only be able to cover the Access Charge part of the call cost and it will need to cover it for all 084, 087 and 09 numbers equally. Callers will be left to pay only the Service Charge part of the call on a per-minute basis. That, however is likely to be a much better deal. It will certainly be much easier to calculate the "value" given by purchasing that type of bundle.