Vodafone have stopped the helpful warning

didgemaster

Hi Forum
A quick for your information so that you might not fall foul of outrageous phone call charges.
Vodafone used to have a very helpful service that warned you of additional charges that you'd incur if you dialled a number that was outside your calling plan. With all the different non geographic phone numbers its hard to know which are part of your calling plan and which aren't. So I came to rely on this service however it seems that they have now stopped this service - I found out as I was charged over £7 for a 9 minute phone call to a training company (the number started 0844). I complained but Vodafone really weren't interested just kept stating that the "call charges are clearly stated in your contract". Way to go Vodafone not interested in my actual complaint of removing a small but very useful service and more interested in profiteering than providing a customer informed quality service

Poor service Vodafone :-(

flashg67

 I'd suggest it's common knowledge that number starting with 08 are premium rate numbers. I;m sure Vodafone make money from these, but so do the company you're calling. I'd be asking whether I wanted to deal with a company that used these numbers as their main/only contact.  

[Deleted User]

Set your account call limit to zero and it won't let you call non-inclusive numbers

Neil_Jones

It's been the case for many many years that most 08xx numbers (with the exception of 0800 and 0808) cost a fortune to call from mobiles, its not exactly a trade secret.

There are online resources to find alternative non 08xx numbers for a lot of companies.  Can't recall the last time I ever phoned 0844 or 0870/0871, in favour of a free alternative.  Funny how quickly companies answer the phone when they're paying for the call and not you

DoaM

Just Say No ......  

moneyman_34

Vodafone uses this term a lot "self managed account" they use that saying to put the responsibility on to you and they really dont care. Although it is common knowledge that any number starting 084 or 087 is chargeable with 0800 being free phone. That's besides the point, you have made a complaint to Vodafone and they have dismissed it even though it is a valid charge they need to explain this to you so this does not happen again in the future.

Neil_Jones

moneyman_34 said:

Vodafone uses this term a lot "self managed account" they use that saying to put the responsibility on to you and they really dont care. Although it is common knowledge that any number starting 084 or 087 is chargeable with 0800 being free phone. That's besides the point, you have made a complaint to Vodafone and they have dismissed it even though it is a valid charge they need to explain this to you so this does not happen again in the future.

It is not "beside the point", that's what T&Cs are for, they wave tick boxes at you which you tick to say you've read them.  If people don't read T&Cs and miss the clause that says they can only make complaints to the provider while wearing baggy pants and a big red nose while crammed inside a mini alongside 25 other folk in similar attire, that's their fault when they complain in a shirt and tie from the office.  Its a very extreme and silly example but the principle is the same.  The clues are in the T&Cs.

Back in the days of landline only, I believe a lot of call charges for non-local numbers used to be listed in the phone book and any messages on the line about call charges were the responsibility of those who were operating those (more expensive) services, not the phone company.  But if you were going to phone Lands End from John O'Groats, you always knew it was going to be expensive, so you did the call and got off the line pretty sharpish, rather than leaving it open for hours on end and then complaining "I didn't know it was going to cost £x" to BT...