Buzzcard -- Anyone used it

andy88_2

by the way Martin, I haven't developed any product, only combined the use of existing ones, and this is why the idea occurred to use 2 calling cards as I mentioned

andy88_2

Any chance of the special offer for MSE members being re-introduced?

RadioactiveFrog wrote:

I should note that i have recieved permission from Martin to post information about Buzzcard as well as offering the Discount Code.

RadioactiveFrog

Andy88, thank you for all your questions and comments regarding the card. There are a couple of items i need to clarify before fully answering your first post following Martins and so as not to confuse anyone i will wait untill i have the full information required.

With regards to the money saving expert discount code being reintroduced i am afraid that the code has expired, however we may consider introducing another one at a later date. Our current offer code is 'summerbuzz' which offers a 10% discount on the value of the card ordered. This offer expires at the end of august.

Again, i will respond to the questions tomorrow when i am back in the office. If anyone else has any questions please post them here and i will answer them tomorrow too.

Many Thanks,

Graham

RadioactiveFrog

Hello everyone,

Here as promised are the answers, apologies for the delay as I've been verifying things with our Customer services manager.

It is safer to assume that mobile providers will charge you for toll-free numbers as this is not something we control. We think it's an unfair charge to mobile users and you'll probably find any toll-free numbers itemised separately on your contract bill. So watch out! This is why we've introduced an 0207 number for UK mobile access. You can certainly make real savings, though, calling a mobile abroad eg Singapore from a landline.

VAT is a tricky issue. Our rates page gives the maximum number of minutes for a £5 card including VAT. The rules on VAT are complicated for service suppliers. VAT has to be charged except where a person buys a Classic plastic card which is sent in the post to an address outside the EU. Inside the EU - we have to charge VAT. With virtual cards we have been told to charge VAT on all orders as the method of delivery is electronic and there is no proof of posting under the VAT rules.
Our method of advertising rates and call minutes has been chosen to give proper comparison with other product advertisements so it's easier for customers to choose what's best for them.

It is quite correct that we don't charge extra connection surcharges when Buzzcard is used outside the UK via a landline. That will only change if we get charged more for connections. However, as I've already mentioned, you should assume all mobile providers will charge for making any toll-free calls. It's a bit like hotels - some charge for call toll-free numbers, some don't. Check first.

As an extra tip, to save more money, avoid calling service numbers like directory enquiries. These services are really expensive to calling card users (Buzzcard or others) because the service provider charges the calling card company more. Buzzcard doesn't mark up any service provider charges or phone box surcharges but passes them on at cost. Stick to landline numbers for the very best savings.

Card shelf life - we automatically renew cards being used or with large amounts of credit. This process is carried out every year. A card can be reactivated again too or credit transferred to another card..

Hope this helps. If i have missed out any questions from anyone please point them out and i will get back to you asap.

Kind Regards,

Graham

andy88_2

RadioactiveFrog wrote:

It is quite correct that we don't charge extra connection surcharges when Buzzcard is used outside the UK via a landline. That will only change if we get charged more for connections.

That does not sound like a price guarantee, and you only mention landlines, not mobiles or callboxes. Please clarify.

Your access numbers all appear to come from the same families as those of the operator GoTalk. It is interesting that your tariffs are so much lower using apparently similar routing. How long will this last?

However, as I've already mentioned, you should assume all mobile providers will charge for making any toll-free calls. It's a bit like hotels - some charge for call toll-free numbers, some don't. Check first.

This is untrue, as my previous posts have made clear.

Several mobile networks and callboxes make no charge for freephone numbers, but do block recognised calling card numbers, eg KPN Netherlands.

As I have now discovered that your numbers are similar to GoTalk, I probably already know that your numbers are blocked from some networks - eg "regional besetzt" by Vodafone Germany.

Therefore I'm not blithely following these assumptions, and that is why I asked.

andy88_2

Some or all networks in these European countries have free calls to freephone numbers; the list is not complete however.

B, HR, CZ, DK, SF, D, IRL, I, LV, LT, NL, E, CH,

andy88_2

monomer wrote:

Not sure if this was recently added or not but there's a footnote on the buzzcard page:

*Calls from mobile or payphones may incur a surcharge from the service provider.

It says 'may', which isn't particularly specific!

Sorry it's late at night and I didn't read the post properly, you're right - buzzcard itself doesn't add a surcharge to its own advertised rate. It just warns that there might be a surcharge from the network you're using to access the calling card.

Actually, now I think you were right to ask.

RadioactiveFrog wrote:

Buzzcard doesn't mark up any service provider charges or phone box surcharges but passes them on at cost. Stick to landline numbers for the very best savings.

It is still ambiguous.The website says no surcharges, but RF now appears to say that Buzzcard passes on these surcharges at cost.

Perhaps this needs clarification in both places, and we could have some details of the charges.

RadioactiveFrog

andy88 wrote:

That does not sound like a price guarantee, and you only mention landlines, not mobiles or callboxes. Please clarify.

Who knows what the price of a service will be in 10 years time? There is no guarantee re pricing. As costs rise in the industry as a whole, these do eventually work their way down to the customer. Sometimes costs go down too. And we pass on any savings directly to the customer by lowering rates which we have done once this year already.

Landlines don't attract a surcharge. Payphones are operated by different service suppliers so we have no control if they charge you at their point of service. If they make a connection surcharge (typically 9p per minute) we would deduct this from the card. Most cards charge 25p and make a markup. We pass this on at cost so I think we deal fairly. No money should need to be put in the phone box though.

With mobiles no one knows what every single network will do with toll-free numbers so our suggestion with all phone cards is to assume they will charge you on your contract. We don't take anything else off the Buzzcard credit for accessing via a mobile. Our best advice on our FAQ page is to call from a landline to make the best savings.

Your access numbers all appear to come from the same families as those of the operator GoTalk. It is interesting that your tariffs are so much lower using apparently similar routing. How long will this last?

We don't use the same routing - that's why we're cheaper. We also use a single carrier network so the line quality is excellent.

However, as I've already mentioned, you should assume all mobile providers will charge for making any toll-free calls. It's a bit like hotels - some charge for call toll-free numbers, some don't. Check first.

This is untrue, as my previous posts have made clear.

It is not that my statement is untrue. I'm simply making a cautionary assumption for consumers. I did say it's best to check with the service provider first. Orange have already told us they will charge for Toll-free numbers so I woudn't be surprised to see some extra itemised charges. You may get access but most people get billed later. You have been cautioned.....

Several mobile networks make no charge for freephone numbers, but do block recognised calling card numbers, eg KPN Netherlands.

As I have now discovered that your numbers are similar to GoTalk, I probably already know that your numbers are blocked from some networks - eg "regional besetzt" by Vodafone Germany.

We definitely don't use the same network as GoTalk so your assumption may be incorrect.

Therefore I will not blithely follow these assumptions, and it's a pity that you haven't really answered the question.

That's up to you. We do the best we can to offer a great new global service.

Hopefully this is of use to everyone here. I will reply to andy88's most recent post shortly.

Kind Regards,

Graham

RadioactiveFrog

andy88 wrote:

Actually, now I think you were right to ask.
It is still ambiguous.The website says no surcharges, but RF now appears to say that Buzzcard passes on these surcharges at cost.

Perhaps this needs clarification in both places, and we could have some details of the charges.

Surcharges

To clarify for everyone.

There are no surcharges for using Buzzcard outside of the UK on a standard landline. We do not charge for the priveledge. Most international cards will slap on a per minute surcharge. Buzzcard doesn't raise any surchages of its own - this is why the card sells well in the US, Australia and Europe.

Most cards charge a daily maintenance fee of 10p. Buzzcard doesn't.

Many cards expire after 28 days. Buzzcard can continue indefinately. And we can transfer credit from one card to another for free.

Payphone operators and mobile operators can charge you for dialling toll free numbers. Buzzcard does not make a surcharge for using its service via a mobile. But your mobile provider may charge you separately for calling a non geographic number.

Payphones charge us approximately 9p a minute for someone accessing our platform as they do for all phone card operators. Most mark this up and deduct 25p a minute off the card. We just deduct from a Buzzcard what we have to pay the payphone company. That's the only "surcharge" that we warn you about because there aren't any others. The rate you see on the rate page applies to all 30 countries. Provided you use a landline and not a payphone there's no hidden extras.

Hope this helps.

Graham

andy88_2

The question of your rates from callboxes was implicitly raised on 28th July on this thread.

On the other thread where Martin mentioned your product, your initial, special offer post (which has expired now you have secured more exposure here) said this

We have been asked lots recently about how the price is affected when calling from outside the UK so i thought i would point it out here that the cost displayed on the rates page on the website is the rate you pay regardless of the country you are calling from!!

Your website makes no explicit or detailed mention of your surcharges from callboxes either.

Furthermore you made no effort whatsoever to correct the assumptions that monomer and I had made of no surcharges.

Only now under extensive questioning do you eventually admit that there are surcharges from your company, not the callbox operator as your site ambiguously tends to imply*, on callbox usage.

*Calls from mobile or payphones may incur a surcharge from the service provider.

I respectfully suggest you reword this on your site, as at the moment the claim in your last post to warn people of these surcharges relies on the assumption that they can decode the wording rather faster than the 18 days it has taken here.