Chris J

Recieved a letter today informing me that from 1 july any phone calls to 0800 numbers and the like will be charged at the normal network rate. I suppose that is ok, I think, but then it goes on to say that these calls won't count as part of my inclusive airtime.

Not happy,

Chris

MarkO

They already charge for 0800 numbers!

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

Wasn't it local rate before ? Is it national rate now ?

Chris J

But before I could count them in the 1000 minutes of free time I get, now they are saying that normal landlines count in the free minutes, but not what are normally free phone or 0845s etc.

Thats what really grates.

Chris

sillysi

Virgin do this as well as they get charged, probably by BT for connecting an 0800 number.

SWRTWannabe

One of the reasons I moved to Virgin was that Freephone numbers were just that - free. My thoughts were that if I had broken down, I didn't want to be worrying that I haven't enough credit on the phone to make call to the recovery service.

I would have thought that making freephone numbers free would be a major selling point - everybody seems to charge now.

P1Fanatic

So how do Orange still do them for free?

MarkO

Here's the reason for the change, no doubt:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/7/25471.html

Nexuas

Think that should explain a few things?

Diesel

I am really angry at this, and have been told to write in by them.

Not only was it mean to previously charge for the cheapest numbers available (0800, 0500, 0845) but now to EXCLUDE these calls from your inclusive minutes is outrageous.

Also the patronising 'positive spin' tone of the letter explaining this was insulting to anyone's intelligence. To pass off a cost increase as 'simplifying things for the customer' is a pathetic attempt at burying crap news.

Now I will have to obtain the direct 'non 0800/0845' numbers for these calls, and now these WILL be included in inclusive minutes. Shortsighted bloody robbers.

They will NOT re-coup £13 billion this way - esp as I am checking out other service providers now...

D

Chris J

Diesel,

Nice to know it annoyed someone else as well, thought I was overracting. Do you have a specific address to write to, or is it just to customer services.

a related question, is it possible to transfer my number to a different network, and if so what tare they likely to charge me?

Chris

Diesel

Chris write to

Director Support (sic)
Vodafone
Pembroke House
Banbury Business Park
Aynho Road
Addersbury
Oxon
OX17 3NS

Hope I get time to write. I use international calls frequently by dialing Onetel 0800 from me mobie. Sydney's all of 5p a minute - or WAS!

rr_ww

Can anybody understand/explain how a compnay can make a £13.5 bn loss and then the shares go up in value?!

Richard