Block on extra charges

akkers

Previously I was with 3 on a monthly contract and I had a block in place where I could not make any extra calls outside my allowance (ie: those expensive numbers, premium calls etc).

I am now with Vodafone on a monthly contract. Just recently I made a call tpo a 0844 number without realising and racked up £15 in extra charges. I have asked Vodafone to place a block so that I cannot go over my monthly allowance and they have refused; they didnt say why. I know why they would do it - because they make that extra money off people who make calls to these expensive numbers by mistake - its a big earner.

Is there a legal way I can force them to put this block on? If 3 can do it why cant Vodafone?

indesisiv

As far as I know vodaphone doesn't have capped contracts (Maybe someone can correct me though)

Only certain networks offer capped contracts.

macman

Tesco Mobile do, Voda do not. No, you can't force them to, you agreed to take out an uncapped contract.

Frozen_up_north

Maybe Martin can start a campaign to wake up OFCOM and get them to mandate that Networks provide spending caps.

I'm with Three, originally for their value for money and latterly for feel at home. However, we only travel to Spain these days and other networks offer EU roaming too. I had been looking at both Vodafone and EE, but neither offer spending caps, so I won't switch to them. I was told by one Vodafone store assistant that Voda didn't have a spending cap for customer safety reasons :rotfl:

From mid June EU "free" roaming should be included in all contracts, so I'll look again at what's around with a spending cap.

d123

akkers wrote: »

I made a call tpo a 0844 number without realising and racked up £15 in extra charges.

How do you make a call to a number starting 0844 without realising it? did someone else dial the number and then hand the phone to you?

akkers

It was to renew a car insurance policy. The number was on their renewal letter (there was no notice about charges) and I just dialled the number thinking it was like a 0845 number.

glentoran99

indesisiv wrote: »

As far as I know vodaphone doesn't have capped contracts (Maybe someone can correct me though)

Only certain networks offer capped contracts.

its not a capped contract with 3 its a tick box on the account that you can enable or disable at will

Frozen_up_north

akkers wrote: »

It was to renew a car insurance policy. The number was on their renewal letter (there was no notice about charges) and I just dialled the number thinking it was like a 0845 number.

0845 numbers aren't included in most phone bundles either...

Alternative numbers for almost all 0845/0844/0870 numbers are listed on:
http://www.saynoto0870.com/search.php

We had the same nonsense type of number to obtain service for our washing machine, the above site listed an 0800 number, turned the tables on the greedy company by them picking up the call cost!

Ian011

akkers wrote: »

It was to renew a car insurance policy. The number was on their renewal letter (there was no notice about charges) and I just dialled the number thinking it was like a 0845 number.

FCA regulations effective 26 October 2015 do not permit banks, card companies or insurers to use premium rate 084, 087 or 09 numbers for contact by existing customers. The regulations require an 01, 02, 03 or 080 number. The insurance company must refund the call costs. Make sure you complain to the FCA so they can take action to end this.

Ofcom regulations in place since 1 July 2015 require call costs to be stated alongside any 084, 087, 09 or 118 numbers. These are premium rate numbers. Missing call costs is an additional breach of regulations.

What are your thoughts on 0845 numbers? These are premium rate numbers too. 0845 numbers used to be 'local rate' but this applied only when called from landlines and came to an end in 2004.

Most organisations have replaced 084 and 087 numbers with 034 or 037 numbers. Others have chosen a new 030, 033 or 080 number.



See also
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5292529
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5437763

[Deleted User]

Someone mentioned a cap?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5641143

d123

akkers wrote: »

It was to renew a car insurance policy. The number was on their renewal letter (there was no notice about charges) and I just dialled the number thinking it was like a 0845 number.

You would have paid for the call if it was 0845 as well.

The only free calls on 08xx is 0800 and 0808.