The great Virgin Media tickle swindle

VfM4meplse

Many long-term VM cutsomers will have been offered a "tickle" of free 0845 and 0870 calls. It seems obvious as I write this now, but that is all it is. 0844 and 0871 numbers, for example, aren't included in this "gift". I only discovered this when scrtutinising my bill earlier this morning, but realise that I'm probably not the only one who mentally lumps these premium line numbers into a collective. In the meantime, VM is probably making good money from us until we cotton on that the offer is no more than what is stated.

If like me you thought "goody, now I can dump Say No to 0870 ", think again! VM's goodwill only runs so far.

:xmastree:Merry Christmas :xmassmile

Heinz

It doesn't include 0843, 0872 or 0873 numbers either.

Ady87

Most UK Operators include either 0845 OR 0870. Some companies, BT being the longest running, include both.

The problem is, 08 prefix numbers can be used to indirectly call abroad and save people lots of money. Which is why you can imagine operators will not give them for free. 0845 and 0870 get me access to my bank and service providers, thats all i really need them for.

duchy

Why would an offer give you MORE than is stated ?
If I buy bacon and it comes with a free half dozen eggs -I don't expect them to throw in the black pudding or tomatoes too. (Can you tell I'm cooking a late breakfast).
Sorry but if people assume rather than read the details -it may be relying on *some* people's carelessness or laziness but it isn't a scam or "swindle".

(I'm an ex Virgin customer and now work for one of their competitors-and have come across the same kind of expectation. The people who get free calls to overseas landlines included in their package and assume it includes mobiles too are one I hear about-and really don't understand why people don't just check what's included instead of assuming. It's all clearly stated on the websites but then it's the company's fault when people can't be bothered reading the basic details of an offer.)

VfM4meplse

duchy wrote: »

Sorry but if people assume rather than read the details -it may be relying on *some* people's carelessness or laziness but it isn't a scam or "swindle".

(I'm an ex Virgin customer and now work for one of their competitors-and have come across the same kind of expectation.

It's ignorance about what these numbers are used for and how the charges apply - to the uninitiated we assumed there's a profit to be made for businesses. I can't be the only one who has assumed that these numbers are all variations on the same theme.

Ady87 wrote: »

Most UK Operators include either 0845 OR 0870. Some companies, BT being the longest running, include both.

The problem is, 08 prefix numbers can be used to indirectly call abroad and save people lots of money. Which is why you can imagine operators will not give them for free.

Thanks, helpful response, this is useful to know.

ETA: just found this

littlewren

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Many long-term VM cutsomers will have been offered a "tickle" of free 0845 and 0870 calls. It seems obvious as I write this now, but that is all it is. 0844 and 0871 numbers, for example, aren't included in this "gift". I only discovered this when scrtutinising my bill earlier this morning, but realise that I'm probably not the only one who mentally lumps these premium line numbers into a collective. In the meantime, VM is probably making good money from us until we cotton on that the offer is no more than what is stated.

If like me you thought "goody, now I can dump Say No to 0870 ", think again! VM's goodwill only runs so far.

:xmastree:Merry Christmas :xmassmile

Oh yes, I have just received an e-mail to say my bill is online, so I went and had a look. I saw that a call I had made to an 0844 number had been charged. Right, I thought, I'll be on to Virgin Media tomorrow. Then I did a search and found your post.

I too was fooled.