The 'discounted' tickets that end up costing you MORE.

Ian011

Beware of a problem affecting the booking of tickets for some theme parks, sporting events, cinemas, theatres and for coach and rail travel.

A number of companies offer the chance to join a scheme, advertised as a 'gold pass', 'VIP pass', 'annual pass' or other such name that offers a discount on the usual cost of tickets.

The problem that arises is that the discounted tickets can be booked only via a premium rate 084 or 087 telephone number, and in a number of cases that phone call ends up costing MORE than the discount that was given by making the call.

tykesi

So do what any savvy money saver would and use saynoto0870 to get an alternative number.

maninthestreet

Ian011 wrote: »

Beware of a problem affecting the booking of tickets for some theme parks, sporting events, cinemas, theatres and for coach and rail travel.

A number of companies offer the chance to join a scheme, advertised as a 'gold pass', 'VIP pass', 'annual pass' or other such name that offers a discount on the usual cost of tickets.

The problem that arises is that the discounted tickets can be booked only via a premium rate 084 or 087 telephone number, and in a number of cases that phone call ends up costing MORE than the discount that was given by making the call.

084 and 067 numbers are not premium rate numbers - 084 numbers are capped at 7p / minute, whilst 087 numbers are capped at 13p / minute.

LilElvis

What's the point in warning others that "a number of companies" direct you to using premium/ more expensive phone lines if you don't actually name them?

paddyrg

Pretty crumby discounts and exceedingly long calls if you're overpaying compared to box office. If the ticket is £8 off, you'd need a call of around an hour or more to outweigh that

Ian011

maninthestreet wrote: »

084 and 087 numbers are not premium rate numbers - 084 numbers are capped at 7p / minute, whilst 087 numbers are capped at 13p / minute.

All 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers are premium rate. The premium is the additional Service Charge paid to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider. In addition to the Service Charge, callers also pay an Access Charge of up to 12p per minute from landlines or up to 45p per minute from mobiles.

If the Service Charge element of the call cost exceeds 7p per minute or 7p per call, the number is classed as a Controlled Premium Rate Service (CPRS) and subject to additional regulation by PhonepayPlus.

LilElvis wrote: »

What's the point in warning others that "a number of companies" direct you to using premium/ more expensive phone lines if you don't actually name them?

Just beware of any and all companies that make you book via an 084 or 087 number.

paddyrg wrote: »

Pretty crumby discounts and exceedingly long calls if you're overpaying compared to box office. If the ticket is £8 off, you'd need a call of around an hour or more to outweigh that

Calls to 084 numbers currently cost up to 19p (12+7) per minute from landlines or up to 52p (45+7) per minute from mobiles.
Calls to 087 numbers currently cost up to 25p (12+13) per minute from landlines or up to 58p (45+13) per minute from mobiles.

bod1467

Isn't the Access charge simply a one-time charge for connecting the call, rather than per minute?

Ian011

bod1467 wrote: »

Isn't the Access charge simply a one-time charge for connecting the call, rather than per minute?

The Access Charge is a simple per-minute rate covering all 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers. It is your landline or mobile provider's charge for connecting and conveying the call. It varies only according to which provider you use and which of their tariffs you chose. It does not vary by number called. Connection fees are no longer permitted on calls to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers.

The Service Charge may be a per-call fee, a per-minute rate, or a combination of both. The Service Charge is passed on and paid to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider. It is the charge levied for making use of the premium service that you called. The charge varies depending on the number that you called, not by which provider you used to make the call.

Exile_geordie

Ive just been on the merlin website and apart from the VIP pass it seems its all done on line.

Any other attractions that do these passes that you have to call for?

zagfles

bod1467 wrote: »

Isn't the Access charge simply a one-time charge for connecting the call, rather than per minute?

No. It sounds like it doesn't it - but in the crazy world of Ofcom mandated "clearer pricing", it's a per-minute charge. It's added to the "service charge" for the number - so there's 2 charges for calling 084/087 numbers.

The company using the 084/087 number just needs to advertise their "service charge" - they might state something like "calls cost 1p/min plus your phone company's access charge".

Which might mislead you into thinking it'll be fairly cheap to call. But the access charge could be 45p/min (it is from most mobiles I think), so a 20 min call which you thought might cost 20p plus a nominal "access charge" will in fact cost £9.20.

Sorry I've diverted the thrust of this vent/warning

d70cw6

this is why all calls should be made from your employer's phones!