0870 rip-off / Oftel Consultation

"Andy Pandy" wrote in message news:hDkAb.17662$ snipped-for-privacy@wards.force.net...

Sorry no.

Regards Sunil

"Andy Pandy" wrote in message news:VdkAb.17653$ snipped-for-privacy@wards.force.net...

Surely TPS woudn't stop marketing calls from BT to BT customers as they are existing customers/have a business relationship with them etc?

Regards Sunil

"Linus Surguy" wrote

I suggest that the "industry" check a dictionary for the true definition of the word "premium" !!

No, they've probably been persuaded by BT to move to BTT because someone phoned them up saying it'd save them money.

Being told you are being charged at "national rate" is a lie. You are being charged at your telco's 0870 rate, which will not be national rate unless you're on the BT standard tariff and haven't used up your call allowance (if applicable).

Duh, yes. This is getting pretty boring, I think I'll go and rearrange my sock drawer.

Whilst I don't want to comment on the technical aspects of this, I think it is worth mentioning that experience from other countries suggests that when call centres are allowed to set their own rates on a particular type of number the result tends to be that companies compete over how high they can push the price without losing too much business, they have little or no interest in lowering it to try and gain business.

And Oh look!, isn't that exactly what has happend with the 192 fiasco?

tim

This was Andrew"s argument :

- Forcing a reduction in 0870 cost will also drive down 0870 termination revenue which would mean uncertainty of income for telephony operators. Because of tight margins this could force some out of business which would be bad for competition which could ultimately will drive prices up.-

Now I consider that if some (as he says) companies can't survive if prices were reduced then that is tough luck for them and that that should not mean that prices be held artificially high to keep them in business or to supposedly ensure good competition.

"Sam Albrow" a crit dans le message de news: cNjAb.17638$ snipped-for-privacy@wards.force.net...

I'd definitely subscribe to that. Difficult thing to prove though.

Indeed to be more specific, 'premium' numbers are those that are judged to be providing a service, or a means for paying for a service that is seperate from the telephone call itself at a price that is above that (a premium on top of) normal call charges. For Oftel's definition this means in excess of 10p.

Linus

I'm using marginal costing here, which is why I say "effectively free"

Let's say I get my credit card bill from Halifax, and I need to phone them about it.

I look at the back of the statement. It says, "to contact customer services call 0845 604 7000 (UK) or +44 2920 446 001 (International)".

If I call the 0845 number, I get charged between 5p and 35p per minute depending on the time of day I call. If I call the 02920 number, it is included in my monthly call allowance, so there is no extra charge.

I have to pay the line rental whatever happens, so that is not a relevant factor in deciding which of the numbers to call, or whether to write to them instead.

As you can probably guess, I call the 02920 number.

"Phil Thompson" wrote | > the Oftel approved "charged at national | >rate" bollox. | the OFTEL approved slogan is intended for the sort of moron | that watches consunmer programs and takes no responsibility | for their own actions, they probably are on BT standard tariffs.

This sort of consumer programme?

"our contact number is: 0870 010 7070 National Rate - tariffs may vary."

Owain

Maybe a prosecution for attempted extortion should follow.

Michael Chare

With Virgin you can buy a sim for 10 quid and stick it in any phone you like so long as it will run on the 1800MHz PCN.

buy one sim free.

Not rocket science is it?

and if (as the poster was wanting) it is "top of the range" then I would imagine it'd take a number of months to spend the same amount on 0870 calls to match the cost of that phone. I think the longest call I've had on 0870 in the last 2 years has been 20 minutes, but I guess the people complaining about 0870 are spending hours each week on 0870s for the costs to be so much of a "break the bank" worry. Some appear not to know it's pretty cheap from a landline especially over the weekend :-)

not if you're with NTL, they charge the same tariff 24/7. It's a reason that I don't switch to them

tim

Holly Cr@p, they don`t do they?

"John Rumm" wrote

Erm - the 'full' name of the XDA is "O2 XDA". It is actually "locked" to the O2 network. So, you are suggesting:

1. Buy the XDA sim free; 2. Take out a contract with O2 to get a sim to enable the thing to work.

Wouldn't it be easier & cheaper just to get the normal contract without messing about with the two things separately?!!

"John Rumm" wrote

Nope - it's far more advanced than that.... (for you at least, obviously)

I would normally assume most people were aware of this web site but as this has been x-posted outside uk.telecom its quite possible you don't so...

it seem that they have different tariffs for different regions.

The web site refuses to give me the details (I get a 'network' error).

But this was some timme ago, long before the 'unlimited' packages came along.

tim

Or get it unlocked from O2...

If you are making a volume of calls on the mobile that justifies the cost of having a contract, then sure get one - it will likely be cheaper than PAYG anyway. If the only reason that you countenance a contract phone is to get a particular handset then you seem to have a priority issue (or more money than sense!) there are other ways to solve the problem that will cost you less.

Having said that you are right - it will be "easier" to buy the thing as a bundle with contract, but since when have you expected the easiest route to give the best results?

More milk tibbles?