I can't believe this but it appears to be correct.

Following a recent thread on the uk.telcom newsgroup (where fellow parents of offspring, who have recently started at university, were bemoaning the cost of calls to their study bedrooms, which are allocated 0870 numbers...), it was suggested that 3U only charge 2p/1p/1p (daytime/evenings/weekends) for such calls.

Since then, i have made contact with 3U ( 0800 279 0091 and www.3utelecom.co.uk ) and they have confirmed this is their charge for both 0870 and 0845 calls (in fact, all non-geographic calls as far as I can tell). They also provide the option of a call-by-call service (using 12911) or CPS service.

On the face of it, this is a lot cheaper than any other provider I am aware of - in fact they must be making a loss on such calls.

Is this too good to be true? If not, the cheapest call provider's list will need updating and calls to my daughter will become longer and more frequent than in the last couple of weeks!

Yes, I couln't find anything about it on the website either so i emailed them and now have written confirmation from them that 0870 and 0845 calls are charged at the same rate as geographic calls.

Contact them yourself if you don't believe it. Why they don't publish this info more clearly I do not know. Perhaps their (simple) tariff structure relies on users only making a small percentage of non-geographic calls and, once the word gets out, they'll block the loophole? Oh, why didn't I keep it to myself!?

Is it because they have off shore facilities that they can offer the savings on the 08xx numbers?

Well spotted dorf.

Interesting about that 'confirmation' e-mail Victor Delta received - just goes to prove even the telcos can be fooled by the continued use of that damned 'National Rate' phrase.

Or does it?  (see below)

All we need now is to get your own 0870 number, which some companies will pay 3p minute in revenue during peak time.

Then call yourself at 8am in the morning, then hang up at 6pm, every weekday.

Your phone bill is 2p minute, your revenue is 3p minute.

1p per minute profit per minute = 60p hour = £6 per 10 hours.

Do this every weekday, and you make £30 per week!!

All this for just calling yourself.  Quite a loophole here.

Just hope their rates are correct, else you won't get the money to pay for the large phone bill.

PS - What about 0871 rates!!

Have you tried any 0870 numbers?

I had the same experience as you with an 0845 number but more success with 0870 numbers. Which seems odd, doesn't it?

I've just spoken to them. Apparently they have a known problem (fault) at the moment with calls to 0845 numbers owing to an issue with one of their partner networks.

They are currently trying to resolve the problem and I have been promised an email when they have. I'll keep you posted.

hmm, I wonder if 0fcom might consider this anti-competitive?

Another reminder to put those consultation responses in.