MSE News: 0800 calls could finally be free from mobiles

Former_MSE_Helen

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Calls to 0800 numbers could be free from all phones, including mobiles, under Ofcom proposals"

Read the full story:
0800 calls could finally be free from mobiles

falkirk81

Giffgaff already give you 0800 access from mobile phones for free!

Steven

hermante

falkirk81 wrote: »

Giffgaff already give you 0800 access from mobile phones for free!

Steven

You make it sound as though it's a privilege. It should at least come out of your inclusive minutes, since the phone company doesn't pay anything extra compared to an 01/02 call.

thegoodman

falkirk81 wrote: »

Giffgaff already give you 0800 access from mobile phones for free!

Steven

If you read the news, 0800 calls could be free from all phones inc mobile.
The Vodafone include the 0845 calls as a part of the minutes on some plans, same as Giffgaff include 0800 calls, this does not mean all mobiles do or have to.
Anyhow Tesco mobile with the UK based customer service is better than Giffgaff, the Giffgaff have been off line too many times.

NFH

0800 numbers were free to call on contract tariffs from T-Mobile until around 2000/2001 and from Orange until 01/12/2005. Ofcom should never allowed these two networks to introduce charges and instead should have pushed Vodafone and O2 to abolish their charges. At the very least, they should have mandated that 0800 be charged as the same as 01/02 numbers. Why does Ofcom only act years after a problem arises instead of recognising the problem at the outset?

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

NFH wrote: »

0800 numbers were free to call on contract tariffs from T-Mobile until around 2000/2001 and from Orange until 01/12/2005. Ofcom should never allowed these two networks to introduce charges and instead should have pushed Vodafone and O2 to abolish their charges. At the very least, they should have mandated that 0800 be charged as the same as 01/02 numbers. Why does Ofcom only act years after a problem arises instead of recognising the problem at the outset?

I came here to post pretty much the same thing. Well said.

NFH

I wonder whether Ofcom's belated action on this is in connection with Article 21 of Directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Rights. The article states:

Member States shall ensure that where the trader operates a telephone line for the purpose of contacting him by telephone in relation to the contract concluded, the consumer, when contacting the trader is not bound to pay more than the basic rate.

Once enacted in the UK, Article 21 will prevent businesses from operating customer service lines on prefixes that cost more than an 01/02/03 call. It would be absurd if a business set up an 0800 number with the good intention that its customers could contact it at less than the basic rate, only for mobile networks to charge more than the basic rate. One could then question who is actually breaching the regulation - the business (with its good intention) or the mobile network (with its bad intention).

[Deleted User]

Apart from the blinkin obvious, ie the numbers are there to make money, I fail to see any benefits to joe public.
I accept that we have 07....numbers for mobile phones and perhaps a premium rate number for voting and giving cash but other than that why for goodness sake. All we hear is that Ofcom are going to make it simply but its never simpler.
And my local council in Norwich years ago used to be 22233, then went 622233, then another 6 digit number 212 something.....all fine. Then it went 0844 980 333 at 3p a minute and was outside everyones call package. Then after public pressure it became 0344 980 3333 and they say it costs no more than an 01 or 02 number but is it included in a calling package? For the life of me, just leave it alone and tell me how is a eleven figure number easier than a six figure number? OFCOM is you read this, I doubt it, please stop giving all these people the opportunity to confuse the public.

NFH

Deleted_User wrote: »

Apart from the blinkin obvious, ie the numbers are there to make money, I fail to see any benefits to joe public.

No, they're not. 0800 numbers exist to save consumers money, whereby the called party, and not the caller, pays for the call. They are intended to be very consumer-friendly.

Deleted_User wrote: »

And my local council in Norwich years ago used to be 22233, then went 622233, then another 6 digit number 212 something.....all fine. Then it went 0844 980 333 at 3p a minute and was outside everyones call package. Then after public pressure it became 0344 980 3333 and they say it costs no more than an 01 or 02 number but is it included in a calling package?

Yes, 03 numbers are included in your calling package if 01 and 02 numbers are. Anyway, this thread is about 0800 numbers, not 03 numbers or other 08 numbers.

Stuart_W

This will be a very good thing - and it will mean free really means free, as it should. I imagine the cost of businesses having 0800 numbers will probably end up increasing - otherwise there will be another rise in 0800-based calling card style services which Orange and T-mobile (one2one at the time) were in a continual losing battle in trying to block.

If costs to the owners of 0800 numbers do not increase, there will be little to stop ordinary households getting an 0800 number for their home landline and paying minimal charges - 2p per minute on a pay as you use basis - by giving the 0800 number to family and close friends. This would seriously dent PAYG mobile income especially.

thegoodman

The 0800 call may become free but the cost somewhere else will increase.
The monthly cost is already going up. The mobile phone companies will try to make the same profit.