'inclusive' minutes scam

2sides2everystory

k3lvc wrote: »

Of course I can but where do you draw the line - a minute, a second, a millisecond.

They've stated the unit of measure is a minute

Thank you thank you I say thank you ... and once again thanking you!

Gaw'd, there's so many brains washed in the UK now that they can't see a scam a mile off, eh simcourtney?

It's a scam.

Up to you whether you press it as a misselling complaint and termination reason. They won't like it of course because they don't like unwashed brains calling up to press a point.

The fact is that phone companies have dabbled with this for some time now. It is crass, unfair, and unless it is fully explained and disclosed right up front there can be no reason in it other than to deceive and trick you.

Refreshingly I used an O2 International ("Your Country" tariff) SIM recently which came with free international minutes every time it was topped up. 50 free minutes for a £10 top up, 100 for £15 top up etc...

I was very pleasantly surprised that I was able to use them on a per second billing basis (or per millisecond if k3lvc prefers).

What k3lvc conveniently ignores in his play on words is that rounded up whole minutes are very significant in a total 300 minute allowance whereas seconds and milliseconds are not.

I wish they taught perspective in schools

In full perspective yes you were right here indeed we have a continuing scam and the fact it is continuing as an industry practice does not make it legit.

DUTR

simcourtney wrote: »

Thanks, guess I need to do more research next time - are there any current tariffs that offer per second billing and inclusive usage with no minimum call charge?

I'm not in full agreement, an inclusive minutes call is not chargeable and hence should be deducted on a per second basis, after the inclusive minutes are used, then the 1min minimum followed by per second should be applicable, my O2 is strictly per second for inclusive minutes, never bust my allowance to know if they charge any differently after that.

dangerman7uk

simcourtney wrote: »

Surely you can see that it is just another easy way for them to make money and get away with using up all your 'inclusive minutes'. just because things are contained in small print doesn't mean they actually contradict the offer you think you are getting?

It is, it so obviously is. But T-Mobile are the same as most of these networks. They know that a majority of people won't thoroughly read the T&Cs when they sign up. By charging by the minute they know there is a better likelihood of you going over your allowance and paying them more than your contract is worth each month.

They make a lot of money out of these kind of tricks.

I've heard that T-Mobile might be the only other network other than 3 that will cap your bill though. So if you call and ask, they can make sure you never pay more than your agreed monthly charge.

coventrian

Hi,I have been with o2 for a good 8 years & was having a monthly bill of £30 pm,(£35 with tax),for 600mins & 500 txts. I,like a lot of people, realised i was paying too much for my pocket & for mins & texts i was not using.I asked o2 to give me a reduction in my bill & if this meant my allowances were cut,then fine.I asked them what they could/would do for me & at first said they would knock £5 off my bill & I would have to take another tariff,meaning 200 minutes & 1000 texts.I told them i wasn't happy, after all i had been a loyal customer for 8 years, & told them i just wanted my PUK number. I have ended up for the last year with my original 600 minutes back & 1095 txts,on a rolling 30 day 'non-contract'(no tie-in) for £20 per month.Bargain..!!
What i have found is these companies need our regular custom,more than ever & this gives us bargaining power,we just need to use it.I'm glad i did.

gizzi.n.lemon

I'm on Orange they charge calls to the second even on their newer deals.

essexman77

coventrian wrote: »

Hi,I have been with o2 for a good 8 years & was having a monthly bill of £30 pm,(£35 with tax),for 600mins & 500 txts. I,like a lot of people, realised i was paying too much for my pocket & for mins & texts i was not using.I asked o2 to give me a reduction in my bill & if this meant my allowances were cut,then fine.I asked them what they could/would do for me & at first said they would knock £5 off my bill & I would have to take another tariff,meaning 200 minutes & 1000 texts.I told them i wasn't happy, after all i had been a loyal customer for 8 years, & told them i just wanted my PUK number. I have ended up for the last year with my original 600 minutes back & 1095 txts,on a rolling 30 day 'non-contract'(no tie-in) for £20 per month.Bargain..!!
What i have found is these companies need our regular custom,more than ever & this gives us bargaining power,we just need to use it.I'm glad i did.

You know you can get 800 minutes per month any network and unlimted texts and unlimted internet(no fair usage) on GiffGaff paygo uses 02 network for 20 pounds month they charge by the minute also but you get free giffgaff to giffgaff calls

aaj123

jhp wrote: »

Most mobile companies do this, its clearly mentioned in your plan call costs,and you dont have grounds to terminate your contract.

If you search your find " All chargeable calls will be subject to a one minute minimum charge unless otherwise stated."

I have verified on my tmobile contract that a minimum deduction of one minute does not apply when it comes to using your inclusive balance. The note from the tmobile website only applies to chargeable calls which mean the calls one makes over and above the inclusive allowance. For inclusive calls, I verified after making a fifty second call that my inclusive minutes balance had reduced only by 0.8 minutes.

vax2002

Mobile phone companies and the advertising standards agency would make NOTW and the police scam look like a tea party.
Never in history has the slave become the master with such force, we must be talking bin bags full of money here, not envelopes, they allow them to break every rule in the book every day and slap down anyone who complains.
This country is running on corruption and the public are footing the bill .

jamespir

its not really a scam you it happens with bt on your landline too Its basically a connection charge

simcourtney

aaj123 wrote: »

I have verified on my tmobile contract that a minimum deduction of one minute does not apply when it comes to using your inclusive balance. The note from the tmobile website only applies to chargeable calls which mean the calls one makes over and above the inclusive allowance. For inclusive calls, I verified after making a fifty second call that my inclusive minutes balance had reduced only by 0.8 minutes.

So do you think I have grounds to complain and get my contract verified like yours?