I hope this is in the right place.

Can anyone please let me know the legality of charging RATE A for NGN NUMBER B?

Example, 0844 xx is charged at 4.2ppm on the OFCOM website which, with VAT at the time was a 5ppm end user cost.

If a Service Provider is charging 8ppm for the call to that number then is this something the Regulatory Body would be interested in?

Same applies were they to attempt to charge 15ppm to call a 0871 number, which should be a 10ppm minute number?

Looks like profiteering to me and wondered if there was a legal recourse?

Thanks for any replies to my first ever post on here.

rbw91 wrote on May 10^th, 2009 at 1:07pm:

I hope this is in the right place. Can anyone please let me know the legality of charging RATE A for NGN NUMBER B? Example, 0844 xx is charged at 4.2ppm on the OFCOM website which, with VAT at the time was a 5ppm end user cost. If a Service Provider is charging 8ppm for the call to that number then is this something the Regulatory Body would be interested in? Same applies were they to attempt to charge 15ppm to call a 0871 number, which should be a 10ppm minute number? Looks like profiteering to me and wondered if there was a legal recourse? Thanks for any replies to my first ever post on here.

Different 0844 and 0871 numbers are charged at different rates from BT landlines. Note that the only provider that must adhere to the charging regulations is BT.

For 0844 it is up to 4.255 pence per minute exclusive of VAT or 4.894 pence per minute inclusive of VAT at 15%. The 5 pence per minute was applicable when VAT was at 17.5%.

Can you clarify what you mean when you refer to "a service provider"?

It has different meanings. A service provider can be the organisation taking a call on a NGN, such as a bank or insurance company. The way I read your posting is that you are talking about a communications provider or telephone company.

If it is the latter, unless it is BT, then they can charge as they see fit.

Hi, yes it is a Service Provider which is not BT and is in fact a VoIP Provider who is charging calls to NGN at a massive amount more than BT' standard (regulated) RRP for that particular call type.

Was wondering if this was something for the Regulator or can they have Carte Blanche and charge what they want??

rbw91 wrote on May 10^th, 2009 at 1:54pm:

Was wondering if this was something for the Regulator or can they have Carte Blanche and charge what they want??

They can charge what they want. This is the case with all telephone numbers and not just revenue sharing NGNs.

Dave wrote on May 10^th, 2009 at 2:11pm:

They can charge what they want. This is the case with all telephone numbers and not just revenue sharing NGNs.

Ultimately they face a potential investigation by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) if they charge prices on certain classes of number which do not represent simply a fair profit margin in relation to their underlying costs.

I am sure if they tried to charge say £1 per minute to call 0871 for people on 18 month contracts that this would happen.  The question is at what point between 10p per minute and £1 per minute does the OFT consider the charges excessive enough to consider that it is worth starting an investigation.

Of course it gives one little confidence that both the OFT and Consumer Direct (part of the OFT) use 0845 numbers as their main point of  telephone contact for the general public................... :'(

NGMsGhost wrote on May 24^th, 2009 at 12:26pm:

...The question is at what point between 10p per minute and £1 per minute does the OFT consider the charges excessive enough to consider that it is worth starting an investigation....

Well doesnt it cost upto around 40ppm to call an 0871 from some mobile networks?  I suspect that if OFT where to consider starting an investigation then it would have to be around the £1 per minute charge you mention.

Problem is that phone companies would moan about it and just take the OFT to a appeals court or something.  Didn't a few phone companies moan and consider appeals court when Ofcom announced that 03x numbers would forced to be included in any inclusive minutes allowance with any 01/02 numbers a customer may get.

Thankyou for the replies.

It seems the provider can charge what the Hell they like.

Therefore one can only vote with one's feet? (and only once the contract is expired?)