This discussion relates to the Free International Calls from Mobiles Article

wizz

frank52 wrote:

Trying to access 0744 from my 02 mobile without success. None of the following work
0744 then wait for an answer then dial +34690299..
0744 then wait for an answer then dial 0690299..

0744 then immediately +34690299..
0744 then immediately 0690299..

HUH???
what u on about??

u gotta dial 07744974363 and at prompt dial yr Interntional number ..

what are u dialling?

mrs_3

The way the Orange has changed its policy for 07744 is totally unacceptable. Atleast in the case of '3' it had written T & Cs about the use of 0845, 0870 and 07744 numbers. However, '3' allowed its customers to use these numbers for free for a period of time before begining to charge them. On the other hand, Orange does not have anything written about 07744 in its price policy. It also did not bother to inform the decision taken about this price policy change to its customer until Tuesday (April 12, 2005) and started charging from April 8, 2005 for the calls made on 07744. Ofcom website still classifies 07744 as a mobile number and i think it is not legal for Orange to classify them as premium rate service number at its own discretion. Also the decision about the change in price policy was not informed to the customers.
Also it should be understood here that though 07744 number allows to call abroad for free using cross-netwrok minutes, it is not TOTALLY FREE as calling this number still uses the inclusive minutes and we do pay to Orange for this minutes. So what is wrong if Orange has to pay some part of it back to the service providers such as Simply-Fone. Let us all write individual letter to Orange Customer Service team with a copy to Ofcom and related regulating agencies.

andy88_2

mrs, try reading the other threads on the subject as well. Only BT are obliged to support the use of such call-through and calling card type access numbers, as confirmed by Ofcom. This applies to all types of numbers, such as 0800 numbers which are otherwise free on Orange.

Simply-Fone have been quoted more than once to say that call charges are a matter between the customer and their mobile company, and offered no comment on operators' changes in policy.

The only complaint against Orange that has some water is that the tariff warning announcement was introduced later than they intended.

Perhaps if some people had not been greedy in using this more than necessary (it is entirely possible to make cheap calls abroad by other means, especially from a landline), and if others had not besieged Orange with questions to confirm the use of the service, this situation would not have been reached as quickly.

I understand that inter-carrier call termination charges are likely to change in line with Ofcom requirements in the next few months, presumably downwards, so such services may be of limited duration anyway.

andy88_2

On another thread, someone enquired about making calls from German mobiles to UK. Though some German mobiles have free 0800 calls, I discovered about 10 calling cards had their access numbers blocked. Similar in Netherlands. This type of issue is likely to be similar everywhere.

BargainHunter_2

mrs wrote:

The way the Orange has changed its policy for 07744 is totally unacceptable. Atleast in the case of '3' it had written T & Cs about the use of 0845, 0870 and 07744 numbers. However, '3' allowed its customers to use these numbers for free for a period of time before begining to charge them. On the other hand, Orange does not have anything written about 07744 in its price policy. It also did not bother to inform the decision taken about this price policy change to its customer until Tuesday (April 12, 2005) and started charging from April 8, 2005 for the calls made on 07744. Ofcom website still classifies 07744 as a mobile number and i think it is not legal for Orange to classify them as premium rate service number at its own discretion. Also the decision about the change in price policy was not informed to the customers.
Also it should be understood here that though 07744 number allows to call abroad for free using cross-netwrok minutes, it is not TOTALLY FREE as calling this number still uses the inclusive minutes and we do pay to Orange for this minutes. So what is wrong if Orange has to pay some part of it back to the service providers such as Simply-Fone. Let us all write individual letter to Orange Customer Service team with a copy to Ofcom and related regulating agencies.

I agree with the above.
What is the official Orange position on calls made after 8th april and before 12th april when customers were made aware calls were being charged?
It seems to me reasonable that these charges should be waived
Any comments anyone?

danmanchester

I have a sinking feeling that BT Mobile have now spotted the 07744 loophole. I received a text message from them today which reads "BT Mobile Spend Alert:You have recently passed a £5 threshold for chargeable usage.This brings your usage charges for this month to approx.£11"
Now considering that at the start of this months usage period I had 185 cross network minutes to use, and haven't used any more than 30 mins using the 07744 number, I'm wondering why my x-network minutes are suddenly used up? I rang customer BT Mobile services and all they said was check my bill when it comes and then query any "issues". My bill comes next week so am not going to use 07744 until this gets clarified.

benji_3

You got me worried there for moment!

So I called up their cust. services & was told thers no problem at all!

presume u just went over yr minutes on other calls

danmanchester

benji wrote:

You got me worried there for moment!

So I called up their cust. services & was told thers no problem at all!

presume u just went over yr minutes on other calls

phewwww..well I hope so anyway! can't think how I've used up 3 hours of my minutes though...unless they've stopped carrying over unused minutes from month to month ?

andy88_2

BargainHunter wrote:

What is the official Orange position on calls made after 8th april and before 12th april when customers were made aware calls were being charged?
It seems to me reasonable that these charges should be waived
Any comments anyone?

Discuss it with Orange when you get the bill. I was told on 12th that these were ordinary mobiles (obviously the spread of info through Orange was a bit slow), and based my case on that; the bill should be here in a couple of days.

charlie12

Also BargainHunter, if they refuse to reimburse calls made within those dates then just send them a letter:

Customer Service Department
P.O. Box 10
Patchway
Bristol
BS32 4BQ

Always works