Talk Talk Rip off on phone calls

DavidP24

I have always hated the way 0845 numbers have become the hidden "premium rate" by phone providers.

I noticed recently that the radio station LBC had changed it number to an 0345 number, occasionally I try to get on air but it is frequently busy or there is no answer around the top of the hour because they change the topic.


(I do think that LBC should publish the landline on saynoto0870 so people can get the number included on their call plan)

So recently I noticed a lot of charges for the 0345 number LBC uses. Some of these charges were a minute apart and apparently lasted for a minute. That made no sense so I queried it with Talk Talk, here is what they told me.

1. They charge 11.5p a minute but they round that up to 12p

2. They have also invented a new "connection" charge (a la 118118) of 15p

3. They confirmed that they charge you for "connection" if you get a ring tone or an engaged tone. I.E. They are CHARGING YOU IF THEY DO NOT "CONNECT".

4. That they round up the call duration to the minute, so they are ROUNDING UP TWICE.

So when you look at the TalkTalk page below you are simply told that you are charged 11.5p a minute which is an out and out LIE because it is rounded up.

http://sales.talktalk.co.uk/pricing/package/eveweekend

It does NOT mention the rounding

*Maximum inclusive call time 60 mins per call (redial to avoid 11.5p per min rate).

0845/0870 numbers are inclusive when line rental is taken with TalkTalk. Customers who connected before June 2009 must opt in. All rates in pence per minute

With no mention of rounding and the "All rates in pence per minute" is too vague to let customers realise that they rounding up.

So with no mention of rounding, one might might expect a 20 second call to cost you 0.02p but here is what you will be charged:

20 second call multiplied by 300% to 60 Seconds 11.5p rounded to 12p 15p connection charge added even if you do not get through.

So the call now costs you 27p, an increase of 1173% BUT WHAT IS WORSE IS YOU SHOULD NOT EVEN BE CHARGED AS THEY DID NOT CONNECT.

These round up are applied on anything outside your call plan, so if you go over the hour or you call a number outside your hours or calls excluded.

Couple this with the line rental pre-pay price increases in September, May and July taking line rental from the £114 I paid previously to £172.20 (an increase of 51% while inflation is under 3%).:(

It seems to me that existing customers are being charged to fund the daft voucher offers for new customers. So no alternative but to leave.:mad:

They also limit the number of 0845/0345 numbers to just one.

jbuchanangb

For £5 per month you can have the Anytime UK Calls boost, and all the numbers you mention are included. It doesn't take much time on the phone or many short calls with connection charge to rack up £5, so I consider it good value.

Jemma-T

Not sure what the complaint is you have (or should of had) all the facts.

Good luck finding another supplier with cheaper prices.

poppasmurf_bewdley

The solution, as many, many people have found, is not to make landline phone calls at all.

I can get 500 minutes of calls to either landlines or mobiles, unlimited free texts, unlimited free calls to others on the same network, and 1Gb on internet for £10 per month with GiffGaff. That works out at the most at 5p per minute with no connection charges.

The reason BT, TalkTalk, etc are making such astronomical charges is to make up for all the calls they are losing to mobiles. Once they have the infrastructure in place, all calls via BT, etc are pure profit, and every year they're saying "we want more".

I can't remember the last time I made a chargeable landline telephone call.

wongawonga

DavidP24 wrote: »

I do think that LBC should publish the landline on saynoto0870 so people can get the number included on their call plan)

1. Both the 0845 number and 0345 number are included in your talk talk inclusive landline minutes.

2. Companies dont publish numbers on Say No To 0870 people submit them for inclusion.

PS. Call Connection/Call Set Up Fee. Where have you been its been going on for years.

DavidP24

My complaint is that there are so many RIP OFF charges that if you do not have ANYTIME you can't risk anyone using the phone.

My complaint is that all this rounding up is a RIP OFF

My complaint is that OFCOM allow them to round up TWICE, first rounding up a call by 300% from 20 seconds to a minute, then rounding up the rate.

My complaint is paying for a call that does not connect.

My complaint is paying for a call that gives the engaged tone.

My complaint is that they do not say this in the tariff page above.

Even if you have it if you go over the hour then you get the same RIP OFF rounding.

You are right that paying an extra £5 a month mitigates but where is the consumer choice? I should be able to have the Evening and Weekend Tarriff without being RIPPED OFF and so forced to pay more.

I realise that people put the numbers on SayNoTo0870 but LBC could just make the number public.

Just because something has been going on for years does not mean it is acceptable, we feel it more now because of the RIP OFF line rental increases, 3 in a year!

An increase of 51% while inflation is under 3%.

Well the cheaper prices are that you have to leave to pay for these stupid shopping vouchers and the commissions earned by affiliates like MSE.

OldGreyFox

DavidP24 wrote: »

but LBC could just make the number public.

The 0345 number is charged the same as 01/02 number,s and is included in inclusive minutes.So how would that help.

Jemma-T

I still don't see what the problem is. TalkTalk are clear about their charging and you agreed to it.

If you want more services or a different service you'll have to pay for it.

I think you're doing a lot of moaning but I don't see much complaining because there's nothing to complain about.