Acess Charges to 0844 etc numbers

[DJSat79]

A warning to all potential users of premium rate services.

"Access charges" apply to many calls from all telecomms providers.

BT added a 10.24p PER MINUTE access charge to all 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers from 1st July.

The first I noticed that the charges had increased was when my bill arrived - instead of the £2.10 cost (based on the 0844 number charging 7p per minute) I was charged £5.17
I queried this with BT who said it was the fault of OFCOM that the charges had been introduced. (Not OFCOMs fault that BT have made the charge so high though)
So BT is now making more out of the calls than the companies who use this premium service.
At the moment, it looks like Skpe charge 9p per minute, so I will be using Skype in the future. (Unless there are hidden charges with them)

PS The number I call is satellite and work related - I can be on this line for hours!

[ozzsurf]

my post office landline is a rip

15.5p connection charge to other local landlines
+ 10p a min
thats 25.5p
if it goes 1 second in to the 2nd minute
another 10p
so a 1 minute 1 second call
cost 35.5p

iv stop using it

just need the phone line for internet

[holmroad]

Yet another case of total rip off these charges for 0844 etc prefixes - our local doctors surgery used to use these but after numerous complaints they have now changed back to 'normal' std prefixes - so at least 'some' people DO listen to we public majority and justice is served!!

[ian]

I never risk any of these number types,simply because I'm ignorant of all the charges associated with them and so to be safe if I have to call any number like this I go here first.

-http://www.saynoto0870.com/

9 times out of 10 there is an alternate (cheaper) number that you can use.

Ian.

[ozzsurf]

there is no cheaper numbers any more

connection charge
+ what you pay a minute

25p minimum just for the 1st minute

on any number


if the phone number your calling
goes to a answer machine
you still pay the connection charge
+ what you pay a minute
will still cost you 25p minimum

[ian]

There is from my mobile.

If I find an alternate number I use that instead and the call is then taken from my minutes (3000 a month) or if its an 0800 number I just use 0800buster to call it so those are taken from my minutes too.

Landlines are old hat these days and I never use mine.

Ian.

[ozzsurf]

my Landline is needed for internet

the phone its self is going in the bin

i can't afford big phone bills

[ian]

Same as

All I pay for now is the line rental

Not used the phone itself in at least 3 years.

Ian.

[sattvfan]

I queried this with BT who said it was the fault of OFCOM that the charges had been introduced. (Not OFCOMs fault that BT have made the charge so high though)

BT are full of it! (put politely!). They changed their minimum charge to a connection charge a long time ago and have stealthily increased it from around 8p to I think over 20p per call.

Line rental has become one big rip off too with the main providers within £1 of each other.

[ford]

Nice 1 Ian.
Was going to suggest it, but you beat me to it :-)
I use it all the time..

I never risk any of these number types,simply because I'm ignorant of all the charges associated with them and so to be safe if I have to call any number like this I go here first.

-http://www.saynoto0870.com/

9 times out of 10 there is an alternate (cheaper) number that you can use.

Ian.