Telediscount 09xx telephone numbers

oldharryrocks

Heinz wrote: »

I'm not sure you read their table correctly. I make is 4p connection + 2p/minute via their freephone access number (0808 1 703 703) to call an Australian landline (the 8p/minute is to an Australian mobile).

That would mean Virgin could not charge her/you anything and you'd pay 18185 directly.

I was under the impression that they were calling an oz mobile as that's what the Telediscount 09 number is for, perhaps the OP can confirm.

Heinz

He's cancelled his Virgin phone line anyway so I suppose it's a bit academic!

oldharryrocks

neil52 wrote: »

Other people will unsuspectingly fall into the same problem unless someone does something about premium line calls on supposedly discount telecomms numbers provided by discount service telecomms providers.

Many will read the instructions, and also use the MSE Intl Call Checker.

But leaving that aside I have just checked the Virgin Call Rate for calling a 0911 922 number cos it didn't seem correct, as they are not normally that much more expensive to call then BT.

That number should be charged by Virgin at the P31 band rate 15.94p connection and 19.52 a minute. So have Virgin actually overcharged you ? or was she ringing a different access number to 0911 922 95 95.
http://store.virginmedia.com/content/dam/eSales/Downloads/020913-Residential-Cable-V1.pdf

neil52

The telephone number my wife was given over the phone by telediscount to call Australia was 09 119 220 220.

neil52

Harry, I understand the phrase 'buyer beware'. However, I do see that my wife being provided with a premium rate telephone number when she called a discount telephone call company she had used on and off for 12 years is not reasonable. By this I mean ask how can it be reasonable for a discount telephone call service provider to use such numbers in the first place. It is in the telecomms industry. It knows that these numbers are premium rate numbers with some providers. It provided the premium rate number to my wife who used the service because she had experience of it as a discount service . It all says to me that there is a possibility that it is done deliberately. I have not been able to find out who benefits from the price charged on the call. Telediscount said that they charge 13p per minute. Is there another company owned by the same shareholders who benefits from the remaining £1.40 with Virgin (the call was £1.53/min), or is it Virgin only who benefits? It is simply wrong for a discount phone call service provider to be able to place a customer in the position of having to pay a premium rate. Financially, it doesn't really hurt us, but it could really hurt others. The reason why people use a discount phone service is to save money and it could hurt someone if it isn't stopped. It should not be a possibility for someone to be charged this way when using a discount service provider. The fact that they choose the telephone numbers could mean it is deliberate, and that is not right.

I am going to raise the story with a large Midlands newspaper group, to see if they are interested in investigating the circumstances, and I am thinking about raising it with one of the BBC teams who investigate consumer issues. If anyone has suggestions on who to contact, i would appreciate them.

neil52

It could also simply be that Virgin does not like the cheap rates offered by telediscount and therefore chooses to price the number at £1.53 to cause problems for telediscount and the customer. I was notified by telephone call by virgin of the cost of the calls and at the same time offered a virgin package of cheap rate overseas calls. Therefore, it could simply be a method by which Virgin tries to keep out the discounters by hurting their own customers (whilst claiming not to be responsible) and bringing them in to Virgin charging schemes. I would really like to know which way round this problem lies..............Who gets the benefit of that £1.53/min charge rate. Who? That is the question.

oldharryrocks

neil52 wrote: »

The telephone number my wife was given over the phone by telediscount to call Australia was 09 119 220 220.

This number should also be charged at the P31 band by Virgin Media. 15.94p connection and 19.52 a minute.

http://store.virginmedia.com/content/dam/eSales/Downloads/020913-Residential-Cable-V1.pdf

So if Virgin Media have charged you £1.53 a minute to call it they are to blame nothing to do with Telediscount. No wonder they offered you 50% off when in fact they should have refunded you full difference.

If Virgin Media had charged the correct rate the cost would have been reasonable.

So you need to pursue Virgin Media for the difference owed to you.

The use of premium rate numbers to provide cheaper intl calls in itself is perfectly legal and acceptable,and clearly you would expect both sides to share any profit .You have been unfortunate in that Virgin Media have considerably overcharged and you need to seek redress from them.

Normally the rates you are actually charged on your bill depend on the prices depends on how Virgin Media has configured on their billing system. Telediscount would have no influence on their billing system, nor would they receive any extra for the overcharge.

An E-Mail to the CEO tom-moxby<A>virginmedia.co.uk often does the trick to sort things out.

redux

For calling Australia, I'd be hoping to find services costing about a penny or less to landlines and a couple of pence to AU mobiles

If all else fails, get two SIMs from Toggle Mobile, add an Australian mobile number to the one there, and call each other both using mobile phones for 3 pence a minute

Ypaymore

If you call a number normally charged by Virgin Media at approx 20p a minute and they charge you £1.53 a minute. Clearly they have something wrong with billing system for that number.Ask them for a full refund not half your money back.