0800 Calls From Your Mobile Will Be Free From This Wednesday Onwards.

[mikey4444]

http://www.ukcalling.info/freephone

I saw this in the back of the Saturday Times as well. This move is not before time and it seems we have Ofcom to thank. The Mobile operators have been getting way with murder for far too long.

[hc4361]

Hurrah! I have had several texts from my service provided, Virgin, telling me this over the last few months.

I was horrified that I was charged £6.52 for calling the non-emergency police number 101 from my landline. Reporting crime certainly does not pay.

[mikey4444]

I can't recall 02 telling me about this hc !

And its a disgrace that you should be charged anything for dialing 101. The Police want us to use this number, instead of 999, for anything less than the very urgent, so it should be free from any phone.

[youngmafbog]

The problem is who now pays.

[anotheoldgit]

Can anyone tell me how long these 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers have been in force and why?

At one time each company etc had a national phone number just like the ordinary person, and calls were charged at a local or national rate.

Who gets this extra cash?

[mikey4444]

The Companies do AOG !

I worked for BT for nearly 25 years. The principle used to be that the person making the call, paid for the call. All that changed not long after BT was hived off.

Now, a Company can have a telephone number where not only do their customers have to pay for a call to them, but they make a profit on that call themselves.

[hc4361]

I think it is only 0871 and 0872 numbers that give the businesses a cut of the profits.

[anotheoldgit]

Thank you mikey.

I am also with Virgin, but unlike hc, I have not received and text from them.

Although I have had a letter from them informing me that the monthly charge of a sim card only deal is going up by a massive £2.50 per month.

[mikey4444]

AOG...that is quite a large price hike !

Shop around and I expect you will find a cheaper tarrif. I have an Iphone 4s, which is mine outright,...ie it is not part of any contract. I pay o2 about £20 a month. I can't remember what exactly I get for that but I use the phone a lot and rarely have to pay any more than the £20/month. And if you change companies, you can easily retain your number, unlike years ago.

Ofcom really do seem to be doing a good job nowadays, and its not a moment too soon.

[hc4361]

I pay £8 a month for my Virgin sim only which gives me 1GB data, unlimited texts and 2000 minutes a month. It is also gives me the Blackberry services which is usually an extra charge. I'm pleased with it.
0800, 0808, 0845, 0870 numbers are included

[Baldric]

I have a few 0800 numbers I call on a regular basis, I have never paid for calling one on a mobile (Orange)

[anotheoldgit]

hc4361

Are you sure, because look at the list of deals, notice also the star against the £18 unlimited and also this at the bottom of the list:

*Includes calls to 0800, 0845, 0870 and 0808 numbers

Meaning that these free numbers are only applicable to the £18 monthly deal.

http://store.virginmedia.com/virgin-media-mobile/sim-only/pay-monthly-sim.html?buspart=uk_ps_a_mobile_google_purchase_P-GENERIC-SIM%25P-SIM-ONLYN33505.1282461422613093731im&CMP=DFA:1882230:116010892:289033621:%ecid

[hc4361]

I am sure, I get a £10 a month discount off my mobile bill because I'm a good negotiator. :)

[anotheoldgit]

hc4361

Then you must also get Unlimited Minutes, Unlimited Texts, and 5GB of Data.

Instead of what you say you get, 2000 Minutes, Unlimited Texts, and 1GB of Data.

[hc4361]

No, I don't. My deal is 5 years old (it used to be around £6.50) and includes the blackberry data. My particular plan is not on the new list of plans.

[Buenchico]

>>>The Mobile operators have been getting way with murder for far too long

You're blaming the wrong people. 0800 numbers are provided by BT and it was BT that was charging mobile operators heavily for forwarding calls to them.

[jourdain2]

Good News! ~Thanks mikey!

[zebo]

I'm with Virgin and have had the texts about this too. Has anyone renewed recently with Virgin, I've been told that they no longer offer loyalty rates, we them for many years and I currently get a reduction of £11/month?

[hc4361]

Who told you that, Zebo? I renewed about 4 months ago and got a good deal.