International & UK CallChecker discussion

scoobers

Some websites are showing the new charges and others are showing the old charges it's making things even worse for consumers - so much for clearer charges for everyone.

For a site like this that positions itself as a 'people's champion' it really is inexcusable.

Ian011

The changes are making one thing clear: it clearly shows those that understand the changes and have been pro-active in adopting them, and those that have failed to understand and implement.

More than a dozen MVNOs have failed to change to the new split call charge system and/or are still charging for 080 calls. Many sellers of 08 and 09 numbers are still making false claims about the price of calls to the numbers they are selling, e.g. 0845 is 'local rate' - something that hasn't been true since 2004. Many users of these numbers are still denying they receive any financial benefit from their usage of a revenue sharing number or are failing to declare the Service Charge.

That said, the largest effect of these changes is the mass migration to 03 numbers. Every day I see a number of press releases from organisations that have finally come to the realisation that they cannot justify imposing a Service Charge on callers and have now effected a change of number to stop doing so.

scoobers

There are also some number range holders that are still advertising the old pricing on their retail sites.
Who enforces this ASA or Phonepay Plus ?

Ian011

For 084 numbers and for 087 numbers with a Service Charge of up to 7p per minute or per call, speak to ASA.

For 087 numbers with a Service Charge of more than 7p per minute or per call and for 09 numbers, speak to PhonepayPlus.

If you don't know what the Service Charge for a particular 087 number should be, report it to both and let them decide what to do.

jpr1312

According to my phone bill I'm afraid the call checker appears to be incorrect. I've used Planet Numbers quite a lot in the past to call France for 1.0p/min. My 35 min call a few days ago with PN via BT cost me £3.75, that's a 10 fold increase!!!! Well done Ofcom, but more worrying is the usually very reliable information on the call checker. For PN it says 1.02p/min + 15p connection, it doesn't mention the charge BT now make which takes it nearer to 10p/min. I've checked with BT and PN and unfortunately my call has indeed cost me £3.75. 😡

scoobers

Instant dial access numbers have been a very popular method of making International calls in the past.
I would be interested to know what people are now using as an alternative.

Ian011

@jpr1312

Yes, the call cost from BT is now 9.58p per minute Access Charge plus the 1p, 2p, etc, per minute Service Charge levied by the dial-through provider.

Connection fees are no longer allowed on calls to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers.

The MSE Callchecker fails to declare the Access Charge, has the old call price in place of the Service Charge and mentions a connection fee that no longer exists.

As such, it is not fit for purpose. I raised these issues directly with MSE staff some two months before the new call charge system came into effect.

Now that there's a split call charge, the Callchecker needs to be redesigned to state the Access Charge that applies to the landline or mobile provider you are using to make the call and the Service Charge that applies to the exact 084, 087 or 09 number that you are calling.

oldharryrocks

scoobers wrote: »

Instant dial access numbers have been a very popular method of making International calls in the past.
I would be interested to know what people are now using as an alternative.

If you have inclusive landline minutes people like https://www.localphone.com

If calling from a mobile someone like https://www.dialacode.com

Or landline or mobile providers like http://www.18185.co.uk/mobilerates.php via a freephone access number.

mihaid

scopus1 wrote: »

I hope MSE will update their site accurately and quickly. People chancing upon it over the last week may not realise what a totally misleading picture it now gives, as the situation has not merely been clarified, as least from the telecom provider's side, but prices have gone up so much that you might as well get an international call plan from your provider or otherwise just ring through directly and pay the full charge, which will now be very similar to the 0844 charge.
Has anyone got solutions to the problem of cheap international calls ?

MSE still have not updated website and I don't know how to prod them into doing it.


none of the solutions seem to be as good as the simple 084 numbers before at 1p/min.

buglawton

oldharryrocks wrote: »

If you have inclusive landline minutes people like www.localphone.com

If calling from a mobile someone like www.dialacode.com

Or landline or mobile providers like http://www.18185.co.uk/mobilerates.php via a freephone access number.

Lately for me, 3 out of 4 connections to 18185's 0800 access are very distorted. I have to hang up and redial. Lately I've been giving up and am using Skype for international or my Three mobile for UK landlines.