T-mobile charging for calls to lyca mobile

paperclip4201

Today i noticed some odd charges on my t-mobille account when checking my allowance. Apparently there's a network called lyca mobile, which t-mobile say they charge me (23p for 3 seconds) for under because it is a virtual network and therefore not included within my allowance, despite it looking like a UK mobile number. However, when i debated it with them, arguing that i had never consented to these charges and was oblivious to it, they wiped (or said they would, fingers crossed) the charges to that number from my current bill.

However, i have been calling that number for a while, i was oblivious to the idea because despite noticing the charges, i had assumed it was because i had gone over my allowance. Now, i know this is my own fault and i should just put it down to experience. However, it is out of order for a number to be masquerading as a UK number and for me to be charged such extortionate rates for it, so is there anything i can do?

Firstly, i was unaware that it was a premium number (will have to find the contract somewhere).

Secondly, i cannot be expected to know which numbers are lyca, indeed, unless i get to an answerphone (in which case it'll be too late) i'm usually completely oblivious to the networks my friends are on. Isn't it cheating to have a number masquerading as a UK number? The easy way to screen out premium numbers is to look at the first few digits. Surely Ofcom should do something about this?

To be honest, it's been a few quid every month. Whilst i can't afford to lose any money (living in student overdraft), it's something i usually would ignore. However, the person i've been calling is my mother, who is quite severely mentally ill so can't really make a rational product decision. I find it outrageous that lyca has done this without fully informing her of the costs involved (okay, i'm assuming here that it's some sort of 0870 style trick? :S)

Anyway, for those of you that may have this problem, t-mobile sent me a list of lyca mobile numbers:
07404, 07405, 07417, 07424, 07438, 07440, 07466

I don't even know how i'm gonna use this list to be honest, my phone's worth a tenner, has a call diversion but not for outgoing calls, and i'm not gonna memorise these :S

DUTR

paperclip4201 wrote: »

Today i noticed some odd charges on my t-mobille account when checking my allowance. Apparently there's a network called lyca mobile, which t-mobile say they charge me (23p for 3 seconds) for under because it is a virtual network and therefore not included within my allowance, despite it looking like a UK mobile number. However, when i debated it with them, arguing that i had never consented to these charges and was oblivious to it, they wiped (or said they would, fingers crossed) the charges to that number from my current bill.

Anyway, for those of you that may have this problem, t-mobile sent me a list of lyca mobile numbers:
07404, 07405, 07417, 07424, 07438, 07440, 07466

I don't even know how i'm gonna use this to be honest, my phone's worth a tenner, has a call diversion but not for outgoing calls, and i'm not gonna memorise these :S

You have the list, so check if the prefix is on the list before you dial :cool:

grumbler

Hardly a news.

Re the 'virtual network' they were talking rubbish. Tesco, Virgin, Talkmobile, giffgaff and many other networks are virtual.

Non-inclusive 07 mobile numbers customers after 1st February 2012

It's our beloved Ofcom who created this mess by allowing networks to do this and T-mobile are notorious for taking advantage of this.

Interestingly, any UK number can be ported to Luca, so calls to some their numbers are charged, some are not.

Even worse, AFAIK, Lyca numbers can be ported to other networks. If so, T-mobile theoretically can charge you for calling a friend on the same T-mobile network.

DUTR wrote: »

You have the list, so check if the prefix is on the list before you dial :cool:

What if they add a hundred more? Will we still be supposed to check and how?
Also the list on the website is already longer than the above one, so the CS were either incompetent or lying:
074067
074080
074081
074082
074088
074089
074182
074187
074189
075594
07609
07610
07621
07682
07683
07684
078920
078931
079112
079788
Even now it is very difficult (if not impossible in practice) to check every number before dialling it.

paperclip4201

DUTR wrote: »

You have the list, so check if the prefix is on the list before you dial :cool:

I know that was an option, but checking before you dial EVERY number would be a right pain (this would be especially true for things like business clients or heavy users).

Maybe i am making a mountain out of a molehill. I've never had a problem with call charges, if i'm dialing an 0870 number it's obvious i do know to avoid it, if customers can be tricked like this i do believe the company has some responsibility. Having a pre-programmed message warning the consumer isn't to much to ask - after all, i am paying for a service. In fact, i do recall 3-4 years ago when i was on O2 they had an automated message when i tried to call an 0800 number that it wouldn't be free. But i guess profits come before service these days.

Damn capitalism :mad:

paperclip4201

grumbler wrote: »

Hardly a news.

Re the 'virtual network' they were talking rubbish. Tesco, Virgin, Talkmobile, giffgaff and many other networks are virtual.

Non-inclusive 07 mobile numbers customers after 1st February 2012

It's our beloved Ofcom who created this mess by allowing networks to do this and T-mobile are notorious for taking advantage of this.

Interestingly, any UK number can be ported to Luca, so calls to some their numbers are charged, some are not.

Even worse, AFAIK, Lyca numbers can be ported to other networks. If so, T-mobile theoretically can charge you for calling a friend on the same T-mobile network.What if they add a hundred more? Will we still be supposed to check and how?
Also the list on the website is already longer than the above one, so the CS were either incompetent or lying:
074067
074080
074081
074082
074088
074089
074182
074187
074189
075594
07609
07610
07621
07682
07683
07684
078920
078931
079112
079788
Even now it is very difficult to check every number before dialling it.

Thanks! I'll probably send that along with my letter of complaint. Now i'm thinking it would be advantageous for me to say that i say that i was oblivious to the fact that customer services gave me misinformation until i learnt it on a forum, rather than claiming i found it on their website. I'm hoping it will illustrate the dynamic nature of these companies, that they're not even up to date with their policies and that i had to learn it from a secondary source. Does that sound like the beginning of a coherent argument? Sorry, i'm extremely stressed (exam season, this makes good procrastination) at the moment and don't know what to do

Would it be worth also contacting ofcom?

grumbler

Contacting Ofcom about what?!
It's a result of their own incompetence in planning, they are well aware of the situation but wash their hands as they just don't know how to get out of this mess.

In fact T-mobile (and other networks) have a good reason for charging more for calls to Lyca - because Lyca charge them more for incoming calls - blessed by Ofcom.

paperclip4201

grumbler wrote: »

Contacting Ofcom about what?!
It's a result of their own incompetence in planning, they are well aware of the situation but wash their hands as they just don't know how to get out of this mess.

In fact T-mobile (and other networks) have a good reason for charging more for calls to Lyca - because Lyca charge them more for incoming calls - blessed by Ofcom.

Oh, i am dissapointed. I thought the regulatory bodies were there to protect us?!? :mad:

Cheers for your help fellas. I love MSE :beer: (and hotukdeals at that)

thefirs

DUTR wrote: »

You have the list, so check if the prefix is on the list before you dial :cool:

I know that was an option, but checking before you dial EVERY number would be a right pain

Quite so, and what a bizarre suggestion from the DUTR.

One idea for those likely to be hit would be to create a contact list entry on their phone with all the prefixes given by grumbler above, headed "Lyca?". If you then start calling a new number most recent phones will predict your final input and you'll be alerted automatically and you can then take an informed decision...

NFH

T-Mobile should either make the cost of calls predicable by the prefix (by charging all UK mobile numbers at the same rate) or it should provide a means to check how much a call will cost to a specific full number. T-Mobile appears to be unique in singling out specific destination networks for surcharges. Its policy on this is unreasonable because consumers cannot predict the cost of a call before making it. Note that the above list of prefixes is irrelevant because it shows only which network first issued the number; it does not show which network the number is currently on.

latam2012

Unfortunately my mother got caught out by Lyca calls too. There should be some kind of warning when making calls to 07 numbers that aren't included in monthly allowances.

Sure we could check all numbers before dialling, but we shouldn't have to. It's ridiculousl that T mobile are letting customers rack up large bills, without any warning, for numbers that look like they are included allowances.

Are other networks doing this too? I'm due an upgrade next month and I'm a bit iffy as to whether I should stick with T mobile.

bayness0

I have also been caught out on Lyca calls. Seems they are included in their expensive full monty plans but not on their lower plans.

It is impossible to know whether you are caling a Lyca mobile or not.

I have spoken with Offcom and they are useless. they class this as a commercial decision, stupid people.

I recommend everyone move away from T Mobile phones.