International & UK CallChecker discussion

MoneySavingUser

Hi,

I looked up a phone number on: http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/

When I got the bill it was more than I expected.

This seems to be because 0844 numbers now have an access charge charged by BT and a service charge which is the amount shown on that page.

However that page of the MSE website doesn't mention anything about the access fee - some of the websites that you click through to do and some don't!

However what I wanted to ask was some of the numbers there are 0333 rather than 0844.

As 0333 are "local numbers" and included in the inclusive minutes with BT does this mean BT will charge me nothing and I'll just pay the service charge?

Ian011

Yes, the MSE Call Checker fails to mention the Access Charge and the rest of the pricing details for the listed 084 and 087 numbers are also incorrect. A 'connection fee' no longer exists on these calls and the Service Charge is always a whole number of pence per minute. The new call charge system has been in effect since 1 July 2015. Wherever you see a connection fee or a non-integer per-minute rate listed for an 084, 087 or 09 number, the details are incorrect.

Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling 01 and 02 numbers and count towards inclusive allowances on landlines and on mobiles. Where an international dial-through provider offers an 03 number, the call will be inclusive within your allowance else charged at your provider's 'geographic rate'. If that international dial-through provider requires an additional payment, you set up an account with that provider and pay a separate bill each month. There are a few where you call or text a premium rate number in advance to apply credit to the international account. Some international dial-through providers also offer an 080 freephone number for access, but the international rate will then be slightly more expensive as the dial-through provider also has to compensate the caller's landline or mobile provider for carrying the call.

If you intend calling a low-cost international destination such as a landline in Europe, many of these can be reached via an 03 number and without any additional payment to the dial through provider - but these services only work, typically, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. UK time and only on Monday to Friday. In these cases, the 0.56p per minute Termination Fee they receive from the caller's landline or mobile provider is enough to cover the cost of the international leg of the call.

There are a number of services operating on 0845 numbers with a 7p per minute Service Charge or on 0870 numbers with a 13p per minute Service Charge. With these, you are able to reach landlines in a large part of the globe and mobiles in many of the closer countries. In some cases, the 0845 or 0870 numbers are inclusive from some landlines meaning these calls can be made without any additional charge to the caller. It is best to make a short test call and check your phone bill before making any longer or repeated calls.



See also
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5219071
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5219756
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5292529

jem16

MoneySavingUser wrote: »

However that page of the MSE website doesn't mention anything about the access fee - some of the websites that you click through to do and some don't!

The MSE callchecker page does say this though;

Warning. On 1 July Ofcom introduced regulations that changed the way consumers are charged to call 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers.
Please be aware this means some of the prices in the Callchecker won't be accurate for a short while until we've managed to update the data.

Roger1

jem16 wrote: »

The MSE callchecker page does say this though;

... some of the prices in the Callchecker won't be accurate for a short while ...

So how long is 'a short while'? Almost 4 months so far.

I suppose 'a short while' is as long as a piece of string.

farasat558

I've still got some of the old numbers that the "old" Call Checker provided and they're still working but I can't be the only one who has noticed this can I?

scoobers

I think it's pretty poor that a site that generates a vast amount of revenue can't allocate some resources to updating this information.

They only need to indicate that the calls are subject to the phone company's access charge. Not exactly rocket science.

I have found several companies offering International calls to many countries via an 0870 access number, this works for me as my calling plan covers 0870 numbers.

Ian011

scoobers wrote: »

They only need to indicate that the calls are subject to the phone company's access charge. Not exactly rocket science.

For 084, 087 and 09 numbers, there's a bit more work to do than that...
- Show the correct Access Charge depending on the landline or mobile provider selected
- Show the correct Service Charge for the particular 084, 087 or 09 number - this is not the same as the currently listed per-minute rate (the Service Charge is always a whole number of pence per minute)
- Remove the Connection Fee (these are now banned).

scoobers wrote: »

I have found several companies offering International calls to many countries via an 0870 access number, this works for me as my calling plan covers 0870 numbers.

Amazing isn't it. Some landline providers will pay out up to 13p per minute to an external company and charge the caller nothing. Very generous.

scoobers

Ian011 wrote: »

For 084, 087 and 09 numbers, there's a bit more work to do than that...
- Show the correct Access Charge depending on the landline or mobile provider selected
- Show the correct Service Charge for the particular 084, 087 or 09 number - this is not the same as the current per-minute rate (the Service Charge is always a whole number of pence per minute)
- Remove the Connection Fee (these are now banned).

- They are under any no obligation to show what each phone company's access charge is, although this information would be useful.
(even if they did include it, they only list 5 landline providers - surely not that much work even with the main mobile networks included?)
- As the service charge will be the same no matter which phone company is being used, I would have thought this would simplify things.
- I can't see any mention of a connection charge for the 'simply dial' numbers.(I checked a few times but may have missed it)

Rather than provide incorrect information, they should remove it completely until such time as they can correct it.

Ian011

scoobers wrote: »

- They are under any no obligation to show what each phone company's access charge is, although this information would be useful.
(even if they did include it, they only list 5 landline providers - surely not that much work even with the main mobile networks included?)

If an organisation advertises an 084, 087 or 09 number for people to call, they need to state
"calls cost Xp per call plus Yp per minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge"

If you're in the business of providing a price comparison table where the network the call is made from is part of the initial selection criteria, of course the Access Charge needs to be specified... otherwise you cannot compare the cost of the call when made through 18185, etc.

scoobers wrote: »

- As the service charge will be the same no matter which phone company is being used, I would have thought this would simplify things.

Yes, the new call charge system is very much simpler, one Access Charge per tariff per network, one Service Charge per number range (e.g. 0844 477, 0870 600, etc). Add both together to find the total cost.

Patr100

Simply Dial 0844 545 6878 is showing at 5p a minute fro BT and non BT.

I just checked my itemised bill for a 38 minute call on the above . It cost me £5.66 which by my calculation (even allowing for a connection charge ) is about 15p a minute!

I've found out now that:

From 01/07/2015, the charge for calls to service numbers beginning 084, 087, 09 and 118 consists of a 9.58p per minute access charge from Plusnet, plus a service charge set by the company you called. For more information visit https://www.plus.net/ukcalling