0844 8221336 on BT bill - is this a scam?

PinkConnect

I run a business telecoms company and one of our customers has asked me to look into strange calls being made to this number.

There were only three calls totalling 13 mins but at very odd times over two nights...

11/06/2011 03:37:37 00:00:39
12/06/2011 00:07:01 00:04:40
12/06/2011 00:12:34 00:07:26

This was in a locked up empty shop with no burglar alarm, fire alarm or sky box.

They do have a PDQ machine so my first thoughts were it was just updating software or something but the PDQ uses an 0800 number to do the transactions and why three calls together?

Thankfully our rates are very low so it cost the customer less than a pound but its just the not knowing that is bugging us both.

Danny

PinkConnect

Just called Barclays and asked them if the number related to them and they have confirmed it does.

It is a different number than the 0800 transactions because it is used specifically for upgrading the GEMS software.

Hope this has helped the others.

Heinz

So users have to pay for extended 0844 calls so they can update the software on their machines! Nice little earner.

munchings-n-crunchings

Just phoned Barclays, and they will look into reimbursing us for those extended calls if we fax them a copy of our phone bill.

Can't say fairer than that, but will keep a close watch on the phone bill!

Munchie

Kerstin_Pearce

Hi - the company that I work for has several PDQ machines, our July phone bill has just come in and there are repeated calls to this number, some for over an hour totally £6.80 each....all told £30 worth of calls compared to a comparison of £0.52 on our June phone bill.

I have telephoned Barclays who asked me to fax them our phone bill, which I have done - their reply is awaited and I will post the outcome.

Heinz

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

Just phoned Barclays, and they will look into reimbursing us for those extended calls if we fax them a copy of our phone bill.

Can't say fairer than that, but will keep a close watch on the phone bill!

Munchie

Good outcome but I think we're missing the point. Most firms won't notice so it's a nice little (stealth) earner for Barclaycard!

munchings-n-crunchings

Heinz wrote: »

Good outcome but I think we're missing the point. Most firms won't notice so it's a nice little (stealth) earner for Barclaycard!

It's not actually Barclaycard benefitting from this, It's the phone companies charging for the call duration.

dazza.mk

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

It's not actually Barclaycard benefitting from this, It's the phone companies charging for the call duration.

0844 are generally revenue sharing numbers

http://www.0844uk.co.uk/0844_revenue_call.html

Heinz

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

It's not actually Barclaycard benefitting from this, It's the phone companies charging for the call duration.

Er, no (as dazza.mk has pointed out).

However, Barclaycard would probably be quite happy for you to think that now that you've caught them out.