On Telesave, who offer non-geographic numbers, I came across the following note:

when you dial our 0870, 0844 or 0871 numbers the cost per minute for the call starts straight away. So if the person you're calling is engaged or isn't answering please hang up promptly as you will be charged for the time you're on the line to our numbers by your telephone provider.


Does this mean anybody dialling one of their 08xx numbers will be charged from the moment they dial regardless which provider is being used? I can't believe that any telecomms company charges before a connection is made.

Surely I am misunderstanding this?

These are typically Dial-Through numbers, which means they answer immediately (so you start paying) and then dial the number you really want.     They're generally pretty up front about the charges though, and the reason you'd use them is to save a fortune in eg. Internationbal call charges.     So they do provide a useful service helping you to save money.

Whether you get through to the number you want is not their fault/problem.    Just don't keep retrying a busy number too often, as you'll get at least the minimum call charge per attempt

wrote on Oct 14^th, 2005 at 12:27pm:

I can't believe that any telecomms company charges before a connection is made. Surely I am misunderstanding this?

joe65 has provided an answer to your question, however as to your assertion above, here in the United States, some telecommunication providers, both landline and cellular, will start billing after a specific given time, even if no connection is made. This isn't as common as it used to be but does exist. Typically a call will start to bill after thirty seconds irrespective of whether anyone answers. Nevertheless, the absence of 0870s and similar scams plus a consistent numbering structure and a regulator that is interested in consumer protection means that using the telephone here is far less stressful and expensive than it is in the UK.

wrote on Oct 14^th, 2005 at 12:39pm:

These are typically Dial-Through numbers

Doh! I had totally misunderstood this web page because I was assuming they were talking about non-geographic number provision (which they do as well). Having read this web page again, this time properly, I realize that these are dial-through numbers.


wrote on Oct 14^th, 2005 at 12:39pm:

They're generally pretty up front about the charges though

Yes, Telesave are a really decent company and the provide excellent support.

Sorry about the stupid post. Just forget you ever saw it.

wrote on Oct 14^th, 2005 at 12:49pm:

, some telecommunication providers, both landline and cellular, will start billing after a specific given time, even if no connection is made.

Some older telephony networks cann't guarantee an answer signal,  hence the need to presume when answer is likely to have occurred (eg. 30 seconds).   Such limitations have largely been eradicated in the UK, but may occasionally  be encountered when calling abroad.

[Though that's nothing to do with these Dail-Through numbers]

The elegance of 'Premium' rate Dial-Through service, is getting all the charges (whoever you use) on one  bill   and arent BT as cheap as anyone for all premium numbers ?

wrote on Oct 14^th, 2005 at 1:19pm:

The elegance of 'Premium' rate Dial-Through service, is getting all the charges (whoever you use) on one  bill   and arent BT as cheap as anyone for all premium numbers ?

But what's not elegant about it is that when you look at the bill, you can't tell what actual destination numbers were called.

wrote on Oct 14^th, 2005 at 8:19pm:

But what's not elegant about it is that when you look at the bill, you can't tell what actual destination numbers were called.

That's very true, and worth remembering befor being seduced by the convenience of Dial- Through.