View Full Version : new call charges and connection fees
dodgem22
14-01-2009, 11:36
Hi all just noticed on my bill that the cost of calls to landlines and connection fees are changing from tomorrow it says if you have a call plan there will be no changes to calls included in it.
I just had a quick look and and basically calls not in bundles to normal landlines are going up to 4.4p a minute to 0845s to 6.85p a minute and to 0870 to 9.79p a minute.
Connection fees are going up to to 7.8p for an 0845 and 9.79p for an 0870
connection fees to mobiles and landlines will be 7.82p
details are at virginmedia.com/callingcosts im glad im on the xl phone now but i wont dial 0870 or 0845 any more.
apologies if this is already being discussed
MovedGoalPosts
14-01-2009, 11:54
Puts quite a bit of clear water between Virgin Phone users and BT users where BT have now decided to include the non geographic call costs within any applicable call plan.
dodgem22
14-01-2009, 12:18
it sure does. i think the costs of calling 0845 and 0870 is to high and the connection fee way to high esp for 0870 i will be making a lot of use of say no to 0870 sites from now on.
broadbandking
14-01-2009, 12:25
You have to remember aswell Virgin round the cost up to the next minutes aswell, they are getting very expensive, glad I have got talk unlimited and dont use 0845 or 0870 numbers
BT also round up
---------- Post added at 14:06 ---------- Previous post was at 14:05 ----------
Oh and the 0845/0870 cost have been that price since last year.
The only thing that is changing is the landline call costs and the connection fee.
---------- Post added at 14:09 ---------- Previous post was at 14:06 ----------
http://www.virginmedia.com/customers/calling-costs.php
dodgem22
14-01-2009, 17:20
sorry ben must have mis read it with regards to 0845 and 0870 read it as if that was being changed. regardless it is still very expensive to call an 0845 or 0870 number i didnt realise thats how much they cost so i shall not ring them anymore.
---------- Post added at 15:49 ---------- Previous post was at 15:43 ----------
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/pdf/Virgin_Media_Residential_Tariffs_-_1_Dec_2008.pdf
correction to my op from the above link it states connection fee for o845 and 0870 is 9.79p a call
---------- Post added at 17:20 ---------- Previous post was at 15:49 ----------
http://www.saynoto0870.com/search.php is a great site to avoid 0870 costs
Those prices are ridiculous - thanks for posting.
brimurray
15-01-2009, 20:56
I use 18185 for all my calls. 4p connection and from 1p to around 5p per minute to 0870 etc. Max is 10p to mobile during the day.
www.18185.co.uk
Talk Anywhere through Virgin Media allows you to make calls to any type of number including 0845,0870,UK and International Mobiles and landlines for the equivalent of just 4p per minute with no call connection charge.
it sure does. i think the costs of calling 0845 and 0870 is to high and the connection fee way to high esp for 0870 i will be making a lot of use of say no to 0870 sites from now on.
Agreed. I have been using SAYNOTO0870 for quite some time and it has saved me fortune. However, it doesn't list every number and some of the data is out of date, but generally speaking it does save a lot of money.
---------- Post added at 22:00 ---------- Previous post was at 21:50 ----------
Just had look at the increases (I am seriously glad I am on a talk unlimited plan). It says "These calls will cost 4.4 per minute (they used to cost 3.91p per minute.)" That's a twelve and a half percent increase and the connection fee: "The 6.84p call connection charge will change to 7.82p" That's another whopping fourteen percent increase.
They then have the gall to put, "Just so you know, the prices above are calculated at the reduced 15% VAT rate." As if they are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. Which means that it is a real increase of fourteen and a half percent and sixteen percent increase respectively.
Welshchris
21-01-2009, 05:48
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/3836-bt-make-0870-and-0845-numbers-free-to-call.html
0870 and 0845 numbers are now free on BT!
Which was said in post #2!
Puts quite a bit of clear water between Virgin Phone users and BT users where BT have now decided to include the non geographic call costs within any applicable call plan.
Well now we know how they are paying for it:
http://www.bt.com/callchanges
Welshchris
22-01-2009, 00:43
i wonder if Virgin will b forced to bring their prices back in line like they did when they started charging for Broadband support and ISPs started to offer free support again.
If you don't like the costs, go to another provider.
dannybear
22-01-2009, 02:17
This is a joke with the prices. Glad I left and got rid of there products.
Just another way to rip people off.
dodgem22
22-01-2009, 11:17
If you don't like the costs, go to another provider.
Whilst not agreeing with the Virgin costs i have looked at the link you provided regarding how bt is funding its inclusive 0845 and 0870s inclusive calls and its all smoke and mirrors on bts' behalf.
They give you something really good ie inclusive 0845 0870 but then charge you for it in a different way. Increased line rental, calling pack charges etc.
I have been with Bt in the past there customer service was not very good.
On the whole i feel both Bt and Virgins charges are a little to high mainly with regards to call connection fees and 0845 0870 numbers, however i avoid call connection fees as have gone on virgins xl phone pack, and as for 0845 0870 numbers i dont call them anymore i use the site say no to 0870 and if the numbers not on there i try to email instead.
In my opinion if i had to choose between Virgin and Bt for my phone i would stick with Virgin.
I do feel though that both Virgin And British Telecom should bring down there charges. I know im in cloud cookoo land there as it is very rare for any company to lower their charges
If you don't like the costs, go to another provider.
Not that easy when you are stuck in a contract.
ultimate
22-01-2009, 22:02
I don't use VM to make calls, I use Gotalk which has no connection charges and charges are 3p for peak, 2p for evenings and 1p for week ends. I also have a BT line and today I received a notification so that 0871 and 0845 will be free during weekends and evenings. Vm really need to rethink their pricing as on the BT website, there is a BIG advert on the welcome page and they are giving BIG discount if you move from VM to BT !!!
ultimate
23-01-2009, 08:35
I just had a closer look at the offer from BT I received yesterday, they are not going to charge me at all for the evening and weekend free call package!!
Sounds like you are on the self-renewing 12 month contract then
I have virgin free evening and weekend i never call 0845 or 0870 use the say no to 0870 site. Through the day i use virgin mobile phone as i dont use up all the minutes per month good value.
kayc3660
25-01-2009, 20:47
If you don't like the costs, go to another provider.
Well that stopped the conversation dead didnt it? Obviously people will do just that but this forum is for discussion and information exchange and to voice opinions, which the previous posters were doing.
AndyCambs
25-01-2009, 21:09
BT are also doing away with the Friends and Family 10-20% discount, and bringing in another package which is payable - and gives you a discount.
Overall we checked online and www.yourcalls.net (http://www.yourcalls.net) worked out cheaper by about £15 per quarter
Well that stopped the conversation dead didnt it? Obviously people will do just that but this forum is for discussion and information exchange and to voice opinions, which the previous posters were doing.
Looked to me that Ben was offering his opinion, the conversation continues. Well that's my opinion:)
Well to be honest im not reaching for the sky about the reductions on 0845 and 0870 numbers, in fact i'm furious with Ofcom's decision on stopping the revenue share for these numbers.
Basically since they stopped the revenue share, businesses are migrating to 0844 numbers(Not to bad,but not included in Talk anywhere or mobile minutes) and 0871 numbers, 0871 numbers are worse than any of the 08 numbers costing from 10p per minute up to 40p per minute depending on what network you use. Ofcom should have left it alone, why dont it investigate more important things like that sick programme Sky broadcasted about suicides on Sky real lives last month, I thought that was a disgrace! Ofcom have obviously been paid off by Rupert Murdochs team just like they do with politicians. And ofcom dont seem to investigate why BT have blocked Virgin Media/NTL offering there telephone service in Westminster to residential use and why BT wont upgrade the cable network there even though Virgin pay so much for the lease.
BT have planned this for a while and you are not saving much money to be honest because there are some hidden costs with BT, as per usual!:
1471 service: When you press 3 they charge you 6p evertime you do even if the call doesnt connect.
Anonymous caller rejection: £4 per month with BT, its only £2 on Virgin.
Line rental: 50p per month more than Virgin
Use BT Broadband Total option 3? Then you will probably get no higher speeds than 2MB for £25 per month, you can get this same equivalent from Virgin Media for £18 with better speeds or for the same price for 10MB! You can even get 2MB speeds with Orange for a tenner!
BT Call minder costs £2.50 per month, Virgin Media's NTL Advanced voicemail costs £1.75.
And dont forget, BT now charge a connection fee for every chargeable call!
Therefore all those little hidden costs mount up and make up the losses for the free call time to 08 numbers.
Ofcom pokes its fingers into too many pies, its useless! I much prefered it when it was Oftel, at least they dealt with individual complaints back then!
Ofcom have even relaxed the regulations on how much BT charges its competitors for using its wholesale and networks services, so that means bigger bills for customers.
Ofcom have also relaxed its regulations on the call pricing and line rental pricing BT can charge its residential and small business customers meaning that suddenly overnight, you will wake up to prices much worse and when you try to cancel,suddenly you find your in a 12 month contract! You go through 11 months of your contract and you move house, guess what! Your 12 months contract for the line start all over again!
I think all these relaxed regulations over BT was a bad idea as its killing off competition and leading us to large bills!
Must check the connection and charges for VM PAYG dialup as a backup, got stung like hell for the dialup I used when BB was down.
Must check the connection and charges for VM PAYG dialup as a backup, got stung like hell for the dialup I used when BB was down.
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/internet/payg_dialup.html
One simple Pay As You Go (PAYG) rate - 3p per minute
moaningmags
27-01-2009, 22:06
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/internet/payg_dialup.html
One simple Pay As You Go (PAYG) rate - 3p per minute
:shocked: It used to be only 1p per minute.
Hasn't been that for ages. Probably on purpose to make BB more attractive
moaningmags
27-01-2009, 22:31
Hasn't been that for ages. Probably on purpose to make BB more attractive
Aye, I'm going back 8 years when I used to have dial up, before I had Surf Unlimited I had to remember it was 60p an hour and count it up.
I suppose to only go up by 2p in 8 years is actually ok.
What amazes me more is that there are actually still people using dial up.
I remember one particular customer who got broadband, hated it and got it removed and went back to dial up.
Turkey Machine
27-01-2009, 22:55
If you've got a BT line, there are 0845 dial-up companies. Free internet anyone? ;)
chickendippers
28-01-2009, 10:43
Internet access number are excluded, BT aint stupid ;)
Turkey Machine
28-01-2009, 19:38
Internet access number are excluded, BT aint stupid ;)
Now, see, how would they know that? An 0845 number is an 0845 number; by it's definition it's non-geographic. What's it matter whether it's a modem dialling it for the internet or technical support for some random company?
I know what you mean, but I expect that BT et al know what these 0845 ISP numbers are and have them in a lookup table at the exchanges and then bill you accordingly.
Plus it is limited to 1000mins or 150 calls per month, even if BT did allow it for ISPs, it wouldn't last long ;)
---------- Post added at 19:53 ---------- Previous post was at 19:52 ----------
Can I point out with Virgin's Talk Anywhere, Dial up numbers ARE included :D
Ouch! so even VMs dialup is 3p/min at all times
I used to use Geoisp as a backup, but it seems to have finally broken down - call still goes through and connects, but it seems their routing is screwed.
I guess next time broadband goes down, I'll have to learn to like mobile browsing - at 30p for a whole day, it's a bargain compared to stinking dialup rates.
Well if its dial up your after, they still offer Surf Unlimited for a fixed fee.
I noticed they blocked a load of 0844 access numbers too! Icluding the number for Virgin.net access.
What about using AOL via 120??? That still works on my line.
Also Tiscali are able to provide dial up via a range of numbers including 0800 and 0808 access numbers.
Cheapest backup connection, PAYG, or a prepay card with a long expiry.
PS. Broadband just barfed AGAIN! - Ranging fail and and hanging around blinking, reset and it came back - so why the hell didn't it bring itself back?
Are STBs less reliable, as since the install of the glorious Samsung Silver (on the 16th), that's 2 drops already, one major, one minor.
chickendippers
28-01-2009, 23:09
I don't know about being less reliable, but VM would prefer you to have a stand alone modem.
nutellajunkie
04-02-2009, 11:29
another reason I dont even use the (still active) phonline I get with my package. I only keep it there because of loyalty discounts, else Id rid of it completely.
I refuse to use the line atall, im glad of voip, which I hardly use, but for incoming calls its perfect. When I do use it, i pay for what I use, nothing more, nothing less.
I reckon if you can do it, shift to a voip service, and dont bother using your line atall. VM may get the idea, but then, they are slightly arrogant.
Happy I am with my package setup, so no complaints from me :) If you aren't happy, then try something else, dont sit and complain and expect something magic to happen.
We have uber choice here in the UK, take advantage!
If you don't like the costs, go to another provider.
Don't take it as a personal insult, he is just expressing an opinion.
chuzzlemonkey
08-03-2009, 23:42
lol...this thread has been going for a while!
Wonder how long till people are discussing the fact that the call charges to 0844's etc are going up again!? :p
Well they will be now you have mentioned it
chuzzlemonkey
08-03-2009, 23:49
*opens can of worms*
broadbandking
09-03-2009, 08:29
*Sits and waits*
Internet access number are excluded, BT aint stupid ;)
Also,you only get 1,000 minutes per month or 150 daily minutes of free calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers so becareful!!!!
nutellajunkie
09-03-2009, 20:06
I don't use VM to make calls, I use Gotalk which has no connection charges and charges are 3p for peak, 2p for evenings and 1p for week ends.
*sigh*... Remember those ole cable days when 3-2-1 was default ;)
Also,you only get 1,000 minutes per month or 150 daily minutes of free calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers so becareful!!!!
And don't these a***h***s just know it. They will be keeping you on hold for even longer now, to boost their coffers; especially when they know they can get another thousand minutes off of you
moaningmags
11-03-2009, 00:51
Also,you only get 1,000 minutes per month or 150 daily minutes of free calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers so becareful!!!!
You quoted chickendippers when you posted that, he was referring to BT, who were you referring to as I'm confused now as to who's doing what.
---------- Post added at 00:51 ---------- Previous post was at 00:50 ----------
And don't these a***h***s just know it. They will be keeping you on hold for even longer now, to boost their coffers; especially when they know they can get another thousand minutes off of you
Are you referring to BT or Virgin?
Neither, I am referring to money grabbing swines who use the 08 numbers to fleece everyone who dials them.
dodgem22
11-03-2009, 15:33
Neither, I am referring to money grabbing swines who use the 08 numbers to fleece everyone who dials them.
i agree totally. one thing i have noticed when you get companies normal land line numbers from sources such as say no to 0870 and you use them instead of the 0845/0870 you dont tend to be put on hold at all and your call is answered very quick.
chickendippers
11-03-2009, 15:47
In my experience it seemed to take longer to have my calls answered by Sky when phoning the geographic number...however that's just anecdotal evidence.
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