Calling 03 numbers from a mobile

Justmeandher

Well, having asked Mr Google and reading various websites, including Ofcom, I am still perplexed. I took MSE's advice last year and opted for a 12Gb Lebara monthly plan, with unlimited calls and texts and am generally very happy with it, so much so that I bought plans for my wife and our grandson.  However, we have been considering upgrading our broadband to full fibre which will save us about £10 a month but we will lose our landline, which we still use a fair bit, especially for 03 and 08 numbers.  Can anybody please tell me whether I will be charged for 0845 and particularly 0300/0345 numbers on Lebara, which uses the Vodafone network, and if so, how much?  I spoke to Lebara customer service and was told that Lebara regard 0345 numbers as "premium numbers" and I would need a credit top-up, whereupon I was duly given £5 as a goodwill gesture.

On the Ofcom website, the call cost guide for 03 numbers states, "Call costs from mobiles vary according to the calling plan chosen. Typically, they are included in free call packages."

Are Lebara/Vodafone atypical?

Thanks and regards, Paul

Veteransaver

0845 numbers usually require credit or are billed to you if on a contract, 03 numbers are normally included in any minutes package, however it seems that 0345 numbers on Lebara are not included, 0330 numbers are though!
You can often find an 0800 number for these, or use the "calling from abroad" number which is usually a standard UK number.

Stuart_W

Justmeandher said:

Well, having asked Mr Google and reading various websites, including Ofcom, I am still perplexed. I took MSE's advice last year and opted for a 12Gb Lebara monthly plan, with unlimited calls and texts and am generally very happy with it, so much so that I bought plans for my wife and our grandson.  However, we have been considering upgrading our broadband to full fibre which will save us about £10 a month but we will lose our landline, which we still use a fair bit, especially for 03 and 08 numbers.  Can anybody please tell me whether I will be charged for 0845 and particularly 0300/0345 numbers on Lebara, which uses the Vodafone network, and if so, how much?  I spoke to Lebara customer service and was told that Lebara regard 0345 numbers as "premium numbers" and I would need a credit top-up, whereupon I was duly given £5 as a goodwill gesture.

On the Ofcom website, the call cost guide for 03 numbers states, "Call costs from mobiles vary according to the calling plan chosen. Typically, they are included in free call packages."

Are Lebara/Vodafone atypical?

Thanks and regards, Paul

You've slightly misunderstood Ofcom's wording. When it comes to 03 calls Ofcom mandate that...

Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and must count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.

These rules apply to calls from any type of line including mobile, BT, other fixed line or payphone.

Source: What are 03 numbers? - Ofcom

Note these are RULES, not guidance or recommendations or best practice but RULES set down by Ofcom.
You can only be charged for an 03 call the same (or cheaper) than an 01 or 02 call would cost. 

The quote you used is referring to 01/02 calls and the variation in price is due to different tariffs:

Call costs from mobiles vary according to the calling plan chosen. Typically, they are included in free call packages. However, if you call an 01/02 number outside of any inclusive minutes, they can cost between 3p and 65p per minute.

Whilst the cost for 01/02 calls can vary, the cost for 03 calls MUST be the same or cheaper ("no more" in Ofcom's words) - whether that's inclusive or 65p (I have never seen a tariff with 65p/min charges for a landline call but clearly Ofcom have!). If 01 landline calls are inclusive, 03 must be too. If 01 landline calls cost 50p a minute, 03 cannot cost any more.

As the rules only refer to charging, if Lebara are insisting a credit balance is required to make the call, it could be argued that's not strictly against the rules if the call still isn't be charged differently for (although not really in the spirit of the rules as it is forcing you to buy a top up). If they are actually charging differently for the calls, then that is wrong. If the top up wouldn't otherwise be necessary then different charging could be argued.

If Lebara don't agree, begin formal complaint procedure then follow the ADR procedure Making a complaint and using ADR schemes - Ofcom. They are breaking the rules if they charge for 03 differently to 01/02. 

PHK

Lebara include 0345 in their inclusive minutes. See https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/rates.html I've just tried it and they are included


A bit off topic, but prompted by the above page, It's a little bit naughty of Ofcom not to point out that not all 01/02/03 are the same. 

For example calls to Jersey or Isle of Man start 01 but are not included in most calls bundles and are at a higher rate. Not all 07 numbers are mobile and are not included. 

danco

You say you will lose your landline when upgrading to full fibre. Where do you get broadband from? Several providers do have a digital voice (or similarly named) landline number with full fibre.