BT wins long-running dispute with mobile operators over 0800, 0845 and 0870 call charging...

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/50302944-074d-11e4-81c6-00144feab7de.html

http://www.cityam.com/1404952138/supreme-court-ruling-favour-bt-ends-dispute-over-charges

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-09/bt-wins-u-k-supreme-court-case-over-charges-to-mobile-networks.html

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2354581/bt-set-for-multimillion-pound-windfall-after-court-victory-on-call-charges

http://www.techienews.co.uk/9714837/supreme-court-upholds-cat-decision-in-favour-of-bt-over-ladder-pricing/

http://www.cbronline.com/news/tech/networks/telecoms/bt-triumphs-in-supreme-court-0800-calls-cost-case-4315054

http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/2014/07/09/bt-wins-supreme-court-ruling-over-mobile-network-charges/

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-07-09/bt-wins-u-dot-k-dot-supreme-court-case-over-charges-to-mobile-networks

http://www.itpro.co.uk/mobile/22677/bt-awarded-compensation-from-mobile-operators

http://www.thelawyer.com/news/practice-areas/litigation-news/bt-in-house-team-beats-kwm-and-herbies-in-supreme-court-battle/3022995.article

http://invezz.com/news/equities/11930-bt-share-price-company-granted-favourable-decision-in-call-pricing-case

I assume this is bad news all round.

I also assume the "unbundled tariff" will make the whole thing irrelevant?

If I remember correctly, BT were claiming that this could potentially lower the costs of calls to these number ranges as Mobile networks may be more inclined to reduce the cost they charge us consumers due to having to pass on x amount (that varies) to BT where BT is terminating provider (TCP).

Personally, I think it was another excuse to get more money.

Ian G wrote on Jul 21^st, 2014 at 6:01pm:

… I also assume the "unbundled tariff" will make the whole thing irrelevant?

It is very hard to work out who is playing games with whom over this issue.

Unless the industry is re-nationalised, the way in which the costs of telephone calls are determined will always be the subject of dirty deals, big players exploiting their market power and competition driven by marketing.

The unbundled tariff and the prohibition of charges on 080 calls will at least make the situation far more transparent. The consumer will thereby be more aware of when they are being ripped-off and therefore this will be likely to happen less often. Whatever we may wish, the regulator must allow businesses to operate as businesses.