Re: Phone cost increasing
 

VM have been trying to get hold of me for the past 3 or so weeks and finally did last night. They were ringing up to offer me the extra £5 option for all 08 numbers to be included in my call package.

The person ringing me (from Newcastle call centre I was told – Home Services?) said I had incurred a cost on these services of over £6 so a benefit to me. However I said I would check my bills first before proceeding if worthwhile which is good that I did.

I checked back 10 months worth of bills and only found a single month bill over £5 cost for 0844/0871 and even combining the total 0844/0871/0845/0870 calls I could only exceed £5 cost in 2 out of 10 months.

Even accounting for VAT, my average monthly bill for such numbers was around £3.60 so this was very close to getting to be a con and was disappointed that whatever systems VM use to calculate such figures did not give an accurate picture of my costs on these numbers. Of course the person ringing me may have “accidently” not been that specific on the £6+ charge mentioned as I did have a single month when that was the case.

But it only took me a few minutes work to confirm paying £5 a month is not worthwhile for me even if every insurance firm, etc who I tend to ring on these numbers moved over to 0844/0871.

So the morale of this story is to check your own records before committing to anything new to your call plan, the data you are being quoted may not be accurate or may only reflect a single month, as the only way in my case a £6 figure could be quoted.

Incidentally I’ve checked all the main insurance companies I use right now and the reason for 08 numbers being on my bill. Only 1 uses a 0844/0871 number and one even still provides me with a 0800 free number for insurance renewals; all the rest are 0845/0870 right now which are about to become free of charge from August onwards if phoned within your call package time, which I will do of course.

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

Only 0870 is. For 0845 you'll need either the £2 or £5 Talk 08 package as well

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

Yes correct, stand corrected. Just checked the residential tariffs from August 2011 and it does state 0870 only is included within your call plan while 0845 is still charged.

Doesn't change my situation on that £5/month offer though, always check your own bills before committing to anything extra.

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

Oh Thanks for that Info

I didn't realise there was two levels, think I'll check it out

That was a really helpful post :tu:

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

I didn't realise that either. So, now that my 0870 calls will be in my call package (Anytime) from August, does that mean that if I pay another £5 per months, all calls to 0870, 0871, 0844, 0845 numbers will be free ( 250 minutes per month?)

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

Yes within your call plan ie talk weekends =weekend only,talk evs weekend,= evs weekend ,talk unlimited you would get to use the inclusive 08 add on anytime. Hope this helps.:)

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

:D:Thank you.:D That's great, as it only takes a few minutes to rack up £5 on an 08 number. Do I just ring 150, go to Billing and ask them to add it from August or can I do it online?

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

Hi yes i agree racking up large amounts on those numbers does not take too long!:shocked: ring 150 option option 4 they will add them for you.:)

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

I couldn't believe it when I saw it, but indeed the £5 option includes all 08x numbers - so 0843, 0844, 0871, 0872 & 0873.

The silly thing, the wholesale termination rates on quite a few of these number ranges are at least 2p/minute - several 0871 providers offer 6-8p/minute revenue-share.

- VM are hoping not everyone uses the full 250 minutes. Quite possible.

- VM are willing to take a loss on this. Can't quite believe this.

- Someone somewhere hasn't done their sums. Keep an offline copy of the VM website!

I still maintain that we should be dealing with the underlying causes of the whole 08x ripoff regime (i.e. refuse to deal with firms who use such numbers, avoid them, campaign for take-up of 03x ranges etc) rather than sticking-plaster the symptoms as this package is... but as a PR exercise, I have to admit it's not bad!

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

Why wouldn't people just use

www.saynoto0870.com I've never failed to find an 01/02 or 0800 number to replace 0844/0845/0870 numbers.

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

Exactly my experience as well :)

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

how can they increase prices when you are on a contract?

Re: Phone cost increasing
 

The contract is for the service and not the cost of said service. It is covered in the T&Cs I believe.