Talkmobile Charging for UK Mobile Calls - sometimes

MikeWhite

Hi,

I've just noticed that a few times a month TalkMobile are charging for calls to a UK mobile. This number is called regularly and most times comes from the inclusive minutes. The times it is charged for it is shown in international format with a leading 44, all the free times the 44 is not shown. In all cases, though, the call type is shown as "UK Mobile Calls".

Looks like a bug to me. I have raised it with TalkMobile but thought I would ask on here to see if anyone else had seen something like this?

Thanks
Mike

OneADay

Depends on what the number is - if you gave more information, like the first two digits, not the international prefix.

MikeWhite

Hi,

number is 0781*******.

Originally an Orange number, now on giffgaff.
As I said, 39 times out of 40 the calls are from inclusive minutes. 1/40 (approximately) they are charging.
Thanks
Mike

OneADay

Are you going over your inclusive minute allowance?
Maybe doing a callback or something?
Is the person you are calling abroad sometimes?
Can't really think of something else...

grumbler

Inclusive allowances can only be used whilst in the UK (for clarification this excludes Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man) to UK mobiles and UK landline numbers starting 01/ 02/ 03 only and cannot be used for other numbers including but not limited to: non-geographic, non-standard or premium rate numbers starting 08/ 07/ 05, directory enquiries numbers or numbers which incur special or additional charges. Any Calls made whilst outside of the UK will be charged roaming rates in accordance with the List of Charges.

I think you fall victim of the trap set by our beloved regulator Ofcom that made some "Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man" numbers indistinguishable from UK numbers. Lica mobile are notorious for issuing such numbers to UK customers and keeping secret that other people are likely to get charged through the nose for calling them.

ETA: I seem to have misinterpreted the quotation. The say where you call from, no where you call to. I should have highlighted the following:

to UK mobiles and UK landline numbers starting 01/ 02/ 03 only and cannot be used for other numbers including but not limited to: non-geographic, non-standard or premium rate numbers starting 08/ 07/ 05, directory enquiries numbers or numbers which incur special or additional charges.

Is it not far to vague definition of what is not included making it simply impossible for the customers to know how much it costs to call before making a call and checking the bill?

MikeWhite

@OneADay That's what's so odd. Neither phone is abroad and the calling phone is nowhere near its 600 inclusive minutes.
I will report back when I hear from TalkMobile.
The charges are small currently but I want to either understand why they occur or stop them.

Mike
PS just thought, I wonder if it is sometimes going to voice mail and those are the chargeable calls. Shouldn't be but it is possible?

@Grumbler - interesting thought. Still don't understand why most calls to that number are free but the odd ones, to the same number, are charged?

System

grumbler wrote: »

I think you fall victim of the trap set by our beloved regulator Ofcom that made some "Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man" numbers indistinguishable from UK numbers.

Just a thought but could this be due to the fact that mobile telephone numbers are NOT geographic? And as people can PAC them to and from any UK provider then attempting to identify the provider is a waste of time.

grumbler

Exactly. Lica's number can be ported to Orange. That's why I blame Ofcom whose utter incompetence resulted in this mess with mobile numbers.

System

grumbler wrote: »

Exactly. Lica's number can be ported to Orange. That's why I blame Ofcom whose utter incompetence resulted in this mess with mobile numbers.

So how do you suggest OFCOM do it differently without causing a massive renumbering in other areas?

Ban porting? Reorganise the whole 07 series of numbers into finite blocks depending on provider with the inherent waste of having to overallocate in case the provider outgrows current allocation?

grumbler

It is not my job to offer. They get paid for their job and have to do it. It is absolutely clear that the situation they created is absolutely inappropriate when people know how much they get charged only after checking their bills.
Solutions?
Yes, reserve certain starting digits for such numbers and ban porting. What's wrong with this?
Don't allow networks to charge these numbers differently from UK numbers or change the country code(s) for these islands to make it clear that these numbers are different?

System

grumbler wrote: »

change the country code(s) for these islands to make it clear that these numbers are different?

That is up to the ITU. OFCOM have absolutely no say in international dialling codes. As CI is classed as part of the UK for telecomm purposes then that is not possible.

You either get number portability OR you get area identification. For mobiles the 2 choices are mutually exclusive. OFCOM went with what the majority of people wanted - portability.

It would make more sense to campaign for calls to CI registered numbers to be the same price as mainland calls