Does anybody have geographical numbers  for  BTYAHOO 08440902270 and Wanadoo 08440564000 as my telecom provider Pipex Homecall is charging more than local rates.

mcsurfer

You've not said which package you are on with Pipex, but from a brief glance at their rates page www.homecalltelephone.co.uk/products/everytime_rates.aspx , the rate for "Local & National" is the same as "ISPs on local & national numbers" at each respective part of the day.

Obviously with the anytime package ALL "Local & National" are included
with Hometime it's evenings and weekends.
But on both plans you would need to disconnect and redial after your 89th minute (Iknow it's 90, but does your clock work like theirs?)

What rate are you paying, what plan are you on, what time of day and how long connected.
I'm asking questions rather than supplying info as I don't think the relevent info exists, as the ISP uses the revenue share from 0844 to help pay for their service.

See this thread for geographical ISP numbers.

BT's is 0121 4789200, don't know what Wanadoo's is. Wanadoo is withdrawing its 0845s in favour of more expensive 0844s. You might get through on 0845 0796699 in the meantime; that is how I connect to my Freeserve account. Remember 0845 is more than the price of a geographical call, but may be less than the 0844s you refer to (don't know where the pricing information is for Homecall).

Strange how companies can change numbers when they want to, but Ofcom doesn't want to rock the boat make 0845 the same as a [local] geographical call because of all these poor ISPs.  ::)

a very nice man wrote on Jun 18^th, 2006 at 4:43pm:

You've not said which package you are on with Pipex, but from a brief glance at their rates page www.homecalltelephone.co.uk/products/everytime_rates.aspx , the rate for "Local & National" is the same as "ISPs on local & national numbers" at each respective part of the day.

I noticed from the link above, that HomeCall aren't forthcoming on the cost of 0870 numbers at all although 0845 is mentioned.  I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that they use 0870 contact numbers and don't want their customers knowing how much they are paying for calling customer services?!?

Receved this morning after a request sent only late last night

Thank you for your email regarding Pipex Homecall's call rate charges.

The reason why our chares to 087 and 084 numbers are not listed on our
rate card is because they can fluctuate, as with Premium-rate numbers
and there is not one specific rate to any number beginning with these
digits.

However, typically, 087 numbers are charged at a national rate of 8p
per min (peak) and 5p per min (off-peak). 084 numbers are charged at a
local rate of 3p per min (peak) and 1p per min (off peak) and 0800
numbers are freephone.

I trust that this is the information that you required. If you have any
further queries please do not hesitate to contact us on 0870 220 2112          (Obviously at the now advised rate of 8p per min!)
or by email and we will be pleased to help you with your enquiry.

a very nice man wrote on Jun 19^th, 2006 at 11:17am:

The reason why our chares to 087 and 084 numbers are not listed on our rate card is because they can fluctuate ...

Imagine if a supermarket gave that excuse for putting pricing labels on the ends of selves. "Sorry sir, but due to price fluctuations we have decided that it requires too much effort to go round and change the pricing of items. However, we can give you a rough price."

a very nice man wrote on Jun 19^th, 2006 at 11:17am:

The reason why our chares to 087 and 084 numbers are not listed on our rate card is because they can fluctuate, as with Premium-rate numbers and there is not one specific rate to any number beginning with these digits.

They don't really fluctuate.  I agree that 087 costs vary but majority are 8ppm daytime.
HomeCall, like other teleco's, have until 19th August and then according to Ofcom, teleco's will have to give equal prominence to their charges for ordinary geographic calls and NTS calls.

bbb_uk wrote on Jun 20^th, 2006 at 7:35pm:

They don't really fluctuate.  I agree that 087 costs vary but majority are 8ppm daytime. HomeCall, like other teleco's, have until 19th August and then according to Ofcom, teleco's will have to give equal prominence to their charges for ordinary geographic calls and NTS calls.

But we won't hold our breath to see if Ofcon will enforce that, shall we ::)  

~ Quote box tidied up by Dave

Thanks for response. I,m on Pipex Homecall 5pEverytime package and like other readers i interpreted teir tariff as ISP,s on local r national numbers but Pipex Homecall rejected this argument . So i then tried the line that 0844 is in fact an extended range of 0845 numbers but they also rejected that argument. As to the response from  "very kind gentleman"(I assume he is connected to Pipex), their 0844 numbers are charged at 5p/min daytime; 1.5p/min evening and 1.3p/min weekends whereas their 0845 are charged at 3p/min daytime and 1p/min evenings and weekends.Unlike BT who charge both 0844 & 0645 numbers at the same rate
So it appears that Pipexare cashing in on both 0870 & 0844 numbers. I cannot get any satisfactory response and they are refusing a deadlock letter to enable me to refer to Otelo who, like most Ombudsmen organisations rather ineffective at their job.

I am currently seeking alternative telephone service providers. any suggestions?

Thanks again
mcSurfer

mcsurfer wrote on Jun 21^st, 2006 at 9:27pm:

... So i then tried the line that 0844 is in fact an extended range of 0845 numbers but they also rejected that argument. ...

0844 is not an extension of 0845. Similarly, 0871 is not an extension of 0870.

One would have thought that with all the spare numbering capacity that they would have put them further apart. 0845 and 0870 is charged at local and national rate on BT's non-discounted tariffs, which most people are not on. 0844 and 0871 are charged at a plethora of different rates from BT landlines, 0844 being upto 5p/min at all times and 0871 being upto 10p/min at all times. The exact rate depends on the second or third digit after the 0844 prefix.

mcsurfer wrote on Jun 21^st, 2006 at 9:27pm:

Unlike BT who charge both 0844 & 0645 numbers at the same rate

0645 numbers?

I store THIS LINK so I can check the cost of 0844, 0870 and 0871 numbers before I dial - because they all have variations.