18866 3p connection charge

BexTech

Grumpy_Old_Duffer wrote:

I have heard (from a family source who has access to Company details) that the English operators of 18866 were in fact 'insolvent'. This was when the rate was 1p.

At the end of the day it does make you wonder how they can do it ... even at 3p!!!

We recently had a daft scenario where we contacted our daughter in America, on a mobile phone, AND IT WAS CHEAPER THAN PHONING A MOBILE PHONE IN THE UK!!!!!

That is because the cost of calling a USA mobile is the same as the cost of calling a USA landline, as unlike almost the rest of the world, in the USA the mobile user you are calling has to pay the difference, either by paying 10c/min on incoming calls or from their included incoming minutes.

This is why mobiles are nowhere near as popular in the USA as they are in Europe.

santana-mx3

BexTech wrote:

That is because the cost of calling a USA mobile is the same as the cost of calling a USA landline, as unlike almost the rest of the world, in the USA the mobile user you are calling has to pay the difference, either by paying 10c/min on incoming calls or from their included incoming minutes.

This is why mobiles are nowhere near as popular in the USA as they are in Europe.

They have this in Canada too. On one of my visits, when I was moaning to my Canadian relatives about how awful it was, they said that they didn't think it was bad because calls were free (to make and receive) to others on the same network and it was only cross network minutes which came out of your call allowance or credit. I don't know if that is still the case. I still think being charged to receive calls is an awful system though.

Hunnymonster

Grumpy_Old_Duffer wrote:

I have heard (from a family source who has access to Company details) that the English operators of 18866 were in fact 'insolvent'.

Many companies seem to manage their accounts so that subsidiaries subject to higher rates of tax make no money or a loss - then declare the profits where the tax regime is more favourable.....

pricefighter

Grumpy_Old_Duffer wrote:

I have heard (from a family source who has access to Company details) that the English operators of 18866 were in fact 'insolvent'. This was when the rate was 1p.

They have always been run by Finerea of Switzerland!!! are you confusing them with the DQ company 118866?

BexTech

santana-mx3 wrote:

They have this in Canada too. On one of my visits, when I was moaning to my Canadian relatives about how awful it was, they said that they didn't think it was bad because calls were free (to make and receive) to others on the same network and it was only cross network minutes which came out of your call allowance or credit. I don't know if that is still the case. I still think being charged to receive calls is an awful system though.

Yes, in Canada too, as they use the North American system.

China also uses the system where the mobile owner covers the higher cost.

I don't like that system either, and this is why PAYG mobiles never took off like they have elsewhere.

hansi

Deleted_User wrote:

It DOES say connection is 3p per minute on the 18866 web page, which suggests to me it has been done in a rush. Has the announcement just appeared today?

No,what is says it is 3p CONNECTION CHARGE not per call!

hansi

I really don't understand what the fuss is all about. For heavens sake, 3p per call and you can talk al day! What do you want? Blood!

Aiadi

hansi wrote:

I really don't understand what the fuss is all about. For heavens sake, 3p per call and you can talk al day! What do you want? Blood!

The question hansi is when will this stop ? or will we all end up tolerant to these gradual price rises ?

bbb_uk

Aiadi wrote:

The question hansi is when will this stop ? or will we all end up tolerant to these gradual price rises ?

I see what you mean but try and look at the wider picture. BT charge 0.77ppm (daytime) for calls ending (known as a termination charge) and also charge an originating fee (calls starting) on their network which means any geographical call over 4mins then Call18866/1899 are then making a loss from that call. Call18866/1899 must hope that they make enough money from the calls that are less than 4minutes, or from other calls like NGN's, international calls, etc.

Call18866/1899 therefore can't make much of a profit (if any).

If you're interested this originating/termination fee along with other fees that Call18866/1899 have to pay BT were discussed here (from post 13 onwards) but I should warn you it does become a bit technical in parts.

CrazyChemist_2

hansi wrote:

I really don't understand what the fuss is all about. For heavens sake, 3p per call and you can talk al day! What do you want? Blood!

Donating blood is always a good idea :cool: