"From today, customers who sign up to Three’s new plans can call 0800, 0808 and 0500 numbers for free, while all other 08 numbers, like 084 and 087, will cost 5p per minute. These charges typically range from 14p to 40p. Existing customers can swap over from their existing plan without paying a fee and can keep their existing contract end date."

Does not apply to payg.

http://www.threemediacentre.co.uk/Press-Releases/Brits-shell-out-over-half-a-billion-pounds-on-08-calls-each-year-35e.aspx

That's good news.

But call me sceptical but I think this is most likely in anticipation of Ofcom's new regulation over freephone actually being freephone even from mobiles and the unbundled tariff.

They are making 0800 and 0808 numbers free to call some 15 months ahead of the Ofcom requirement to do so and without the benefit of receiving an increase in the call origination fee until that time.

Ofcom's rules do not force 0500 numbers to become free from mobiles at any point, and there will be no increase in the call origination fee. Instead, 0500 numbers will cease to be used and move to 080 in a three year transition period beginning later in 2014.

The 5p/min call price for 084 and 087 numbers sees them losing money on 0871, 0872 and 0873 calls. They appear to be taking a gamble that the profits made from 0845 (2p/min Service Charge), 0870 (zero Service Charge), and the lowest level Service Charge 0843 and 0844 calls will be more than the losses made on those 0871, 0872 and 0873 calls with a Service Charge of more than 5p/min.

The 5p/min rate will be welcomed by consumers, but will need to be changed by 26 June 2015. Ofcom wants a fixed level Access Charge for 084, 087 and 09 numbers rather than a fixed level call price.

bbb_uk wrote on Mar 18^th, 2014 at 9:57pm:

But call me sceptical but I think this is most likely in anticipation of Ofcom's new regulation over freephone actually being freephone even from mobiles and the unbundled tariff.

They had no need to do that at this stage, they are well ahead of Ofcoms requirements.

Whilst they add 0800 etc  the unlimited tethering option, that was previously offered on some tariffs as an add-on, or as standard on The One Plan, is now  history on new contracts– replaced instead with a fixed ‘personal hotspot’ allowance that maxes out at 2GB.

More data can be purchased at £5 per gb

Ian G wrote on Mar 19^th, 2014 at 12:09am:

The 5p/min call price for 084 and 087 numbers sees them losing money on 0871, 0872 and 0873 calls..

Maybe they're not losing that much money after all !

I would have thought dialling these numbers from a mobile has declined partly because of bill shock and partly because more and more consumers are (albeit slowly) becoming aware of the costs of these numbers can be expensive from a few landlines never mind mobiles  :)

bbb_uk wrote on Mar 19^th, 2014 at 8:25am:

Ian G wrote on Mar 19th, 2014 at 12:09am: The 5p/min call price for 084 and 087 numbers sees them losing money on 0871, 0872 and 0873 calls.. Maybe they're not losing that much money after all ! I would have thought dialling these numbers from a mobile has declined partly because of bill shock and partly because more and more consumers are (albeit slowly) becoming aware of the costs of these numbers can be expensive from a few landlines never mind mobiles  :)

But the USP of 3's new service is that rates are now much lower, a fact which I imagine is likely to be promoted strongly. Consequently 3 subscribers are more likely to call these numbers than the average mobile phone user.

Note the new offer is not available on sim only deals. Only on 24 month contracts with mobiles.

Indeed bigjohn

Having previously worked for them I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole...

it's just a gimmick to pull in more customers I suspect.

bigjohn wrote on Mar 20^th, 2014 at 7:00pm:

Note the new offer is not available on sim only deals. Only on 24 month contracts with mobiles.

But they'll be forced to offer free 080 calls soon enough.

Approx 14 months time is hardly soon,unless they adopt it earlier. ;)

I'm about halfway through a 24 month contract with 3. I've looked on their website and I can't see how to get the new 0800 deal. Am I being thick or have they hidden it away under the sofa?

allegro wrote on Mar 28^th, 2014 at 6:53am:

I'm about halfway through a 24 month contract with 3. I've looked on their website and I can't see how to get the new 0800 deal. Am I being thick or have they hidden it away under the sofa?

Go To http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Sharing_stuff/free0800calls

and then click on View New Plans.

Thanks, but that only seems to cover new contracts. I haven't yet spotted how existing contracts can be amended to include this. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

allegro wrote on Mar 29^th, 2014 at 8:59am:

Thanks, but that only seems to cover new contracts. I haven't yet spotted how existing contracts can be amended to include this. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

The press release states very clearly:

Quote:

Existing customers can swap over from their existing plan without paying a fee and can keep their existing contract end date.

The web page on “Changing your Contract” does not address this change directly, but does not necessarily preclude what is promised.

The fair telecoms campaign will be quick to jump on any failure to honour what is suggested by the press release. Please let us know if there are any problems with swapping.

The 0843 number referred to (for calls other than from a Three phone) will need to be changed shortly; we are keen to know that the necessary arrangements are in hand.

allegro wrote on Mar 29^th, 2014 at 8:59am:

Thanks, but that only seems to cover new contracts. I haven't yet spotted how existing contracts can be amended to include this. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

Its not just a question of adding free freephone calls and cheaper 084x/087x calls etc  to your existing contract, you have to take out one of  the new contracts i pointed out, to get them. Which can result in you losing other benefits  eg unlimited tethering.

The OP said:

Quote:

Existing customers can swap over from their existing plan without paying a fee and can keep their existing contract end date."

Hence my questions. Unfortunately the link he gave no longer works.

Three Media site is down at mo.

You dont pay a fee to switch,and you can keep your existing contract end date, but users on existing tariffs  need to change to one of the new tariffs to benefit from free 0800 calls etc etc.


See this guys useful article which includes a copy of the press release.

http://jmcomms.com/2014/03/18/threes-new-tariffs-free-0800-calls-cheap-08450870-access-unlimited-texts-plus-a-tethering-cap/

Free 0800  calls  and cheaper 084/087 calls  have recently been added to their new sim only deals. Only for new customers not existing ones.

http://www.three.co.uk/Store/SIM