0844 with no costwarning

Ian011

and.why.not wrote: »

That used to be the price until some time last year - now it is up to 7p per minute (the exact price depending on the next few digits) plus an additional access charge from your telephone provider which is also charged on a per minute basis. :mad:

BT used to charge around 2p per minute for calls to 0845 numbers. Nowhere was it explained that BT passed on 2p per minute to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider and retained almost nothing of the call cost.

Likewise for 0843 and 0844 numbers, calls were charged between 0.5p and 5.1p per minute depending on the exact number called with almost all of that passed on and almost nothing retained by BT as call originator.

TalkTalk used to charge 8p per minute for calls to 0845 numbers. Nowhere was it explained that TalkTalk passed on 2p per minute to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider and retained 6p per minute of the call cost.

Likewise for 0843 and 0844 numbers, calls were charged between 2p and 8p per minute depending on the exact number called with the same 0.5p to 5.1p per minute passed on as BT would pass on and the remainder (1.5p to 2.9p per minute) retained by TalkTalk.

EE used to charge 41p per minute for calls to 0845 numbers. Nowhere was it explained that EE passed on 2p per minute to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider and retained 39p per minute of the call cost.

Likewise for 0843 and 0844 numbers, all calls were charged at 41p per minute with the same 0.5p to 5.1p per minute passed on as BT would pass on and the remainder (40.5p to 35.9p per minute) retained by EE.

Except for BT who were not allowed to make margin on call origination on calls to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers, the amount retained by the caller's provider was even greater for calls to 09 numbers, and fairly extortionate for calls to 118 numbers.

One mobile network used to charge £6 per minute for all directory enquiries calls. Nowhere was it explained that on some calls they were passing on £3.50 per minute and retaining £2.50 per minute while on others they were passing on 40p per minute and retaining £5.60 per minute.

Nowadays the call charge is split. Landline providers never retain more than 12p per minute. Mobile providers never retain more than 45p per minute. The amount that is passed on is declared by the called party. Users can no longer deny the financial benefit that flows to them and/or their telecoms provider.

Many users of 084 and 087 numbers had never intended to charge callers extra. Many had been fed a yarn by their telecoms provider that calls are 'local rate' and had believed it. They can now see this isn't true (and many telecoms providers are still saying it!).

Calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers are either 'inclusive in allowance' else 'Xp per minute' outside of allowances. Calls to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers are non-inclusive and cost 'Xp per minute PLUS Service Charge'.

While the cost of calling 084 and 087 numbers has gone up, the cost of calling 09 and 118 numbers has come down. At the same time, numerous regulations and directives disallow the use of 084 and 087 numbers for very many purposes.

Ofcom's changes brought transparency to the pricing and this has convinced most users that they should change to a different type of number. Most have changed to 03 numbers. The end result is what we all wanted... the effective phasing out of 084 and 087 numbers.

Once there is no longer a demand for 084 numbers, Ofcom can close the number range - as they are doing for 0500 numbers next year. A review of 055, 056, 070 and 076 numbers will also happen in the next year or two.

bubblegun

Double_V wrote: »

You can use http://www.saynoto0870.com/search.php
It will give you alternative landline numbers.

The weq4u app is good for this on smartphones too.

Ian011

bubblegun wrote: »

The weq4u app is good for this on smartphones too.

If you are using this to call a customer service line or a financial service, it is quite likely that you are keying in an obsolete 084 or 087 number and the app will connect you to an unofficial geographic number.

If you instead take a moment to first look at the official website of whoever you intend calling, in most cases you will see that the old 084 and 087 numbers have been replaced by new numbers - usually the matching 034 or 037 number or occasionally some other 01, 02, 030, 033 or 080 number.

Treat all 084 and 087 numbers found on old paperwork and on third-party websites as out of date. Only use numbers found on official websites.

There are numerous scams involving 084 and 087 numbers. These include scammers who call using fake CLI to make it look like they are calling from your bank and will empty your account if you part with your details. You cannot trust what is shown on CLI, call back using the number found on official website or official paperwork.

The 'wangiri' scam is on the rise, a missed call from a premium rate 084, 087 or 09 number to tempt you to call back at great expense. If you do not recognise the number, do not call it back - especially if the number starts 070, 084, 087 or 09.

Hundreds of websites promote 'fake' 084 and 087 'call connection service' numbers for thousands of organisations such that you pay much more for the call than if you had called the 'official' 01, 02, 03 or 080 number. Only use numbers found on official websites. Treat all third-party websites as either out of date or part of a scam, especially where 084, 087 or 09 numbers are shown.

Another scam sees people receiving a text message purporting to be from their bank and informing them of a dodgy transaction that is about to take place. The message gives an 084 or 087 number to call. Callers are held in a queue for half an hour and then the call cuts off. Banks no longer use 084 or 087 numbers so treat all such numbers as fake. If you do decide to call your bank, use the telephone number found on their official website, not the fake one in the text message.

shoi

So following advice here, (for which thanks) I did moan to the ASA, and they did reply on 27 June saying that they had spoken stiffly to the naughty company and they promised to stop asap.
Guess what - they haven't. So I prodded the ASA twice this month, and now they aren't answering my (polite but pointed) emails. I guess the question is quis custodiet.. - how does one complain (effectively) about the ASA themselves?

Ian011

If the organisation hasn't complied with the directions from ASA, the next stage is for ASA to prepare a formal adjudication which is then published on their website.

shoi

Ian011 wrote: »

If the organisation hasn't complied with the directions from ASA, the next stage is for ASA to prepare a formal adjudication which is then published on their website.

I'm not sure that would be giving the malefactor sleepless nights

What are the timetables here do you know? I have set my mind to follow this through, but there's no point hassling ASA if they will wait until end September come what may (mind you seeing as the necessary changes could be done in a day I don't really agree with giving them an age to do it)

Thanks

Ian011

ASA tends to be fairly forgiving/lenient, and takes into account where people are on holiday and so on, and therefore give companies quite long lead times to fix issues.

Leave it at least another few weeks before making contact again, quote the original reference number and point out that nothing has changed.