MSE News: 'Just been charged £183 for one call via 118 118' – that's more than a sex

Ian011

As a reminder, this is what the most expensive Directory Enquiries services cost:

http://giffgaff.screet.co.uk/call/?n=1025t69800t34900f&via=BT-landline

http://giffgaff.screet.co.uk/call/?n=2500t69800t34900f&via=Three-mobile

http://giffgaff.screet.co.uk/call/?n=4400t69800t34900f&via=EE-mobile

http://giffgaff.screet.co.uk/call/?n=4500t69800t34900f&via=Vodafone-or-O2-mobile

To find the cost of calling from a different network, change the Access Charge.

To find the cost of calling a different service, change the Service Charge.

There are directory enquiries services that cost less than a tenth of the above example, but they are not well advertised.

clivecopping

I am very disappointed by the arrogance and tone of many people posting on this forum. I am not elderly, infirm or losing my marbles, yet I mistakenly made 4 118 calls while driving (hence internet not an option). I'll never do it again that is clear, but to be called an idiot (etc.) by some arrogant people on this forum just seems unnecessary. Ok, I knew it would cost a bit more than a normal phone call, but £6.19 per minute (on vodafone) was not a figure that was made clear to me. I kept the calls as short as possible, and refused the option to have them dial the number, yet still I received a tremendous shock when my bill arrived. This exorbitant amount of money for a service that used to be free (BT landlines...) is NOT clearly advertised. Does it say that it's going to cost you more than £6 for one call of less than one minute, on the TV ads. These adverts got on my nerves before this happened to me, now I am going to be fuming every time I see one. There should be billboards up in every town telling you the price of the bloody calls.

Ian011

All users of 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers are required to declare the Service Charge element of the call cost in close proximity to the number, everywhere that it is advertised or promoted. If they fail to do so, you should take it up with the Advertising Standards Authority.

The 'memorable' 118 providers have extortionate Service Charges. The highest are
"£6.98 per call plus £3.49 per minute (after 60 seconds)", and
"£5.74 per call plus £2.99 per minute (after 60 seconds)".
Other providers have much lower rates, some as low as 40p per minute.

It's worth getting a list of all of the 118 providers (there are hundreds) and comparing their respective Service Charges.

Your landline or mobile provider should have communicated their Access Charge details covering all 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers. Vodafone's Access Charge is 45p per minute, the same as for O2 and Three. This is the minor part of the overall call cost.

Ian011

This is one list of 118 numbers:
http://www.bt.com/pricing/current/Call_Charges_boo/1634_d0e5.htm#1634-d0e5
Under the new system, the Service Charge is the same irrespective of which landline or mobile provider is used to make the call. This is the charge that is set by the Directory Enquiries service for looking up a number.

Saints4eva

£7.08 for 48 second call. Why did I not use my PC? Because it was being used by someone else and I was in a hurry.

That'll teach me to wait no more 118118 for me!

cj1951

I am adisabled pensioner and was forced to use this outfit when i had a power cut, which turned out to be more than local. I got charged £28 for the privilege of finding out who the electricity generator was for my area and to find out how long it was likely to last. I thought 'emergency' calls were either free or local rate?

poppasmurf_bewdley

cj1951 wrote: »

I am adisabled pensioner and was forced to use this outfit when i had a power cut, which turned out to be more than local. I got charged £28 for the privilege of finding out who the electricity generator was for my area and to find out how long it was likely to last. I thought 'emergency' calls were either free or local rate?

Emergency calls - ie 999 - are free from landline or mobile phones.

Non emergency calls to the police - 101 - is a flat rate 15p from landline or mobile phones. Or you can get through to the same operator by dialling the local number for the police in your area. Mine in Worcestershire is 0300 333 3000, which I keep on speed dial on all my phones. That cost is within my call allowance. I personally will not call the 101 number when I can get through to the same operator for free!

The non-emergency NHS number - 111 - is free to call. However, you'll probably be connected to a monkey.

Calls to any 118 number will result in costing you an arm and a leg. What exactly were you after? Who did you need to call?

PS. There is no such thing as a local rate number and hasn't been for about 15 years.

Ian011

Reporting power cuts and blackouts is set to become much easier in the very near future. Ofcom allocated the access number 105 for this service in June 2015. Once operational, calls will be free from landlines and from mobiles. The service was provisionally scheduled to come into operation in April 2016. Most of the set-up work has been done, and it is likely now only days away from official launch in England, Scotland and Wales.