Owain <[email protected]> wrote:

    > "chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn" wrote
    > | Spam certainly, but not a bad message actually. For someone
    > | visiting the UK, the 0870 numbers are a convenient and
    > | inexpensive way of calling abroad. ... Downside is that
    > | the minimum from the payphone is 30p.
    >
    > Also, the payphone starts charging as soon as the call-through system
    > answers, regardless of whether or not you get a connection to the distant
    > number.

Good point.

    > If you have a number of short calls to make, it would be wise to
    > choose a call-through system that allows 'follow on' calls i.e. where you
    > can terminate one call (usually by pressing * or # during the call) whilst
    > still being connected to the call-through system and not having to pay
    > another 30p into the payphone.

I'm not aware of a call-through that permits this, however. None of the
numbers I use have the feature. They well exist though.

The problem for the visitor is a useful alternative. I believe that the
minimum 30p charge would apply to an international call as well, so you
can't just make a quick call to make sure the party you're calling is
'at home.'

    > The * or # (or whatever) to terminate a call might interfere with telephone
    > banking or using call centre menus, etc.
    >
    > The Gov is carrying out a consultation/review on 0845 and 0870 and similar
    > numbers generally, because although usually advertised as local or national
    > rate within the UK, they are significantly more expensive than the rate for
    > ordinary (geographic) calls on standard residential tariff[1]. While this is
    > not directly relevant to payphones, as the calls cost the same[2], any
    > reduction in the margin passed to the call-through operators may cause a
    > shake-up in the market.

In principle, I don't have a problem with such numbers- it's the
advertising as local and national 'rate' that's the problem. You're
right about the difference in price. Given that I pay 1p for the
_connection_ alone to a landline, and the rest of the call is 'free' the
difference can be exponential for longer calls!

There's a useful website which lists geographic number alternatives to
many common 0845 and 0870 numbers. Google for the URL, which I don't
have to hand.

    > [1] BT Together Option 1 now is the standard residential tariff.

Yes- this represented an increase in my BT bill, which I resented, as
their "plan" is of no use to me.

[]
    > [2] In fact it is cheaper to use a payphone to call 0870 during the day than
    > a home phone line, if the call is likely to last longer than about 4 minutes
    > to cover the 30p minimum charge.

Worth remembering if you have to make an 0870 call to a number that
typically keeps you on hold for a while! :)

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

"chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn"
    | There's a useful website which lists geographic number
    | alternatives to many common 0845 and 0870 numbers. Google
    | for the URL, which I don't have to hand.

www.saynoto0870.com

Extremely useful for a 20-minute call to GNER train reservations

    | > [2] In fact it is cheaper to use a payphone to call 0870
    | > during the day than a home phone line, if the call is likely
    | > to last longer than about 4 minutes to cover the 30p minimum
    | > charge.
    | Worth remembering if you have to make an 0870 call to a number
    | that typically keeps you on hold for a while! :)

Like GNER train reservations. However when they can do me Stirling-York for
GBP 21 return I suppose I shouldn't really begrudge them 90p on a phone call
... except that using a geographic number costs 6p.

Owain

Owain <[email protected]> wrote:

[]
    > Like GNER train reservations. However when they can do me Stirling-York for
    > GBP 21 return I suppose I shouldn't really begrudge them 90p on a phone call
    > ... except that using a geographic number costs 6p.

With 18866, it would cost 1p!

If I don't have an alternative to an 0870 or 0845, I usually wait until
it's offpeak, then call them for free from the mobile, as it's inclusive
on my plan.

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn
<[email protected]> wrote:

    > It won't be. Or at least, I've never found an 0870 callthrough which
    > would place a call to a mobile in a country (where party calling pays
    > the premium, like NL)

A couple of years ago, i was able to call australian mobiles from the uk
on just-dial, which made it cheaper than calling the same mobile from
within Australia.

just a data point



--
Joan McGalliard, UK http://www.mcgalliard.org

Joan McGalliard <jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au> wrote:

    > chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > It won't be. Or at least, I've never found an 0870 callthrough which
    > > would place a call to a mobile in a country (where party calling pays
    > > the premium, like NL)
    >
    > A couple of years ago, i was able to call australian mobiles from the uk
    > on just-dial, which made it cheaper than calling the same mobile from
    > within Australia.

Are you sure it was an 0870 or 0845 number? It might have been 0871 for
example, which can be charged at a higher rate, and almost certainly was
for a call-through. They certainly use an 0871 number now for mobiles
now. I'm also pretty certain that 0871 calls are not included in the
'national rate' from payphones.

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn
<[email protected]> wrote:

    > > A couple of years ago, i was able to call australian mobiles from the uk
    > > on just-dial, which made it cheaper than calling the same mobile from
    > > within Australia.
    >
    > Are you sure it was an 0870 or 0845 number? It might have been 0871 for
    > example, which can be charged at a higher rate, and almost certainly was
    > for a call-through. They certainly use an 0871 number now for mobiles
    > now. I'm also pretty certain that 0871 calls are not included in the
    > 'national rate' from payphones.

Absolutely sure. This was probably '99, and I remember thinking they
probably didn't actually know it was a mobile number.

joan
--
Joan McGalliard, UK http://www.mcgalliard.org

Joan McGalliard <jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au> wrote:

    > chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > > A couple of years ago, i was able to call australian mobiles from the uk
    > > > on just-dial, which made it cheaper than calling the same mobile from
    > > > within Australia.
    > >
    > > Are you sure it was an 0870 or 0845 number? It might have been 0871 for
    > > example, which can be charged at a higher rate, and almost certainly was
    > > for a call-through. They certainly use an 0871 number now for mobiles
    > > now. I'm also pretty certain that 0871 calls are not included in the
    > > 'national rate' from payphones.
    >
    > Absolutely sure. This was probably '99, and I remember thinking they
    > probably didn't actually know it was a mobile number.

Ah, this happened when calling my brother's norwegian mobile, when he
had an older code beginning with 4. Doesn't work now though! :)

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk