Non emergency 101

Worcesterman

Just noticed on my BT bill that if you use the above number it is chargeable. This is a shame, I don't know what the mobile charge would be. If the police and government want us to use it then why charge. If I was cynical of course it could be the VAT that they get for each call. Encourage people to use this service and remove the charge.

LazyTyper

It's a one-off charge, no matter the length of the call.

It's only 15p and goes to your provider. Land line or mobile charge the same. Nothing goes to the police for the call.

See http://www.police.uk/contact/101/ for details.

Dan-Dan

well , its really just another way to make cash , same as most calling plans now include 0870/0845 and all of a sudden many companies are 0844...

just have to seek alternatives (saynoto0870)

teddysmum

Dan-Dan wrote: »

well , its really just another way to make cash , same as most calling plans now include 0870/0845 and all of a sudden many companies are 0844...

just have to seek alternatives (saynoto0870)

I thought that 0844 numbers had been outlawed several weeks ago, many being replaced by 03s.

Dan-Dan

teddysmum wrote: »

I thought that 0844 numbers had been outlawed several weeks ago, many being replaced by 03s.

Nope , we have been billed for 0844 numbers this week

LazyTyper

Numbers beginning 084 and 087 have not been outlawed. But consumer protection regulations mandate that a company must not make it expensive to call them for customer services. More specifically, a trader must make available phone numbers which cost no more than basic rate.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/265898/consumer-contracts-information-cancellation-and-additional-payments-regulations-2013.pdf#page=19&zoom=auto,0,430 states

Help-line charges over basic rate
41.—(1) Where a trader operates a telephone line for the purpose of consumers contacting the
trader by telephone in relation to contracts entered into with the trader, a consumer contacting the
trader must not be bound to pay more than the basic rate.
(2) If in those circumstances a consumer who contacts a trader in relation to a contract is bound
to pay more than the basic rate, the contract is to be treated as providing for the trader to pay to the
consumer any amount by which the charge paid by the consumer for the call is more than the basic
rate.

LazyTyper

The 15p charge is to cover the cost of the call for the mobile or fixed line operator only.

Definitely a better deal than the 0845 numbers the police had previously.

rdn

I know I am resurrecting an old thread, but looking through my BT bill for my home phone, I find that BT has been charging the 101 calls at 15p *per minute*, not per call.

This is not what BT themselves say should be happening. I cannot post links, but if you google "bt mobile 101 charge" the first hit is BT's customer help page explaining it is 15p per call.

It should be per call, not per minute. This is also what police.gov.uk says, but the link above is from the horse's mouth.

I doubt my account is the only one affected.


Grrrr BT!

JJ_Egan

Do you dial 101 a lot ??

Heinz

rdn wrote: »

I know I am resurrecting an old thread, but looking through my BT bill for my home phone, I find that BT has been charging the 101 calls at 15p *per minute*, not per call.

Complain then.

It should be 15p per call, regardless of duration.

Ian011

Home Office rules require every police force to advertise an 01, 02 or 03 number alongside 101. All forces do have an alternative number but not all of them bother to prominently display it.

There is a list here: http://www.police.uk/contact/alternative-non-emergency-numbers/

If you have inclusive calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers the call will not attract any additional charges. If you pay a per-minute rate for calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers you are probably on the wrong call plan. Call 101 at 15p per call and then spend some time investigating changing to a better deal for your calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers.