Does Calling a Lebara Number Cost Me??

idlebloke

I have just called a mobile number with the prefix 07879 (one of my own mobile PAYGs has the same prefix) and got a voicemail message that said it was a Lebara mobile. Having never heard of them I googled and find that it is a sim that allows cheaper international calls. It made me wonder if calling such a number would cost me (outside of minutes in my plan) and am seeing conflicting information.

Vodafone tell me that it 'could' be a number that acts as a portal for an international call, so yes, I would be charged for it and at a higher rate than a standard UK call. I didn't bother arguing at this point, but will obviously do so if I see a charge for it on my next bill.

If this is correct then there is one glaringly obvious issue. How the hell would anybody know to avoid calling such numbers if the prefix is identical to what we are used to seeing as standard UK prefixes?

Anybody have any better factual info on this?

aaj123

I have called lebara numbers from a vodafone contract phone many times and have always ended up using the inclusive minutes. So you should have no issues. As far as I know, the only problem is in calling lycamobile numbers from a tmobile contract phone.

idlebloke

Thanks aaj. I does seem a bit naughty to me if they were to even consider charging!!