This is part of the scam. Telcos hide the costs of these numbers in the small print, or even omit the costs and like yours try to avoid giving you a statement of their costs. Ofcom also does nothing to regulate this sort of behaviour, which is completely unacceptable. Some of them are not even clear that these numbers are not included in so called "inclusive" call packages, and wait for you find out!

The point is if they had nothing to hide they would not be indulging in these tactics!

Thanks for that,  I must need new glasses!   
Spent ages looking for it this morning.

Out of interest I rang Telewest again,  and was again told they would not give out the info.    So I asked why and was told it was company policy.  I asked if that was allowed and was told yes.     So I said that I would be checking with Trading Standards to see if this was correct.

Guess what....  they gave me the prices !

I would advise speaking to Trading Standards on this one. Get them to ring up puporting to be a customer.

As for changing provider, I don't see how this saves money and improves sevice.

I would have expected a large company like Telewest not to rip off customers, but hey, money making is more important than anything else.

I do not believe in competition in essential public services (electricity, phone, rail etc.) because all you get (or at least with the way it works now) is companies trying to sell you things at over inflated prices. They cut back on preventative maintanence, the railways are a perfect example.

Take caller ID with BT, it's £1.75 per month!! Text messages cost (typically) 10p or even 12p! Does it cost them this much? They can then sell you 'bundles', creating the illusion that they are giving you something.

As for quality of service, how can we have the best? If, say you leave BT and go to Telewest because BT has treated you badly, that will not really improve BT, nor are you guaranteed better (or the best) service from Telewest.

If many customers leave BT, what happens to the network? Most of us need it, Ofcom don't seem to be bothered about ensuring it is maintained. When I choose my provider I don't have a choice about this.

If you do decide to go back to BT because of this, how much will it cost you? The savings you made when you went to Telewest, were they worth it with the upheaval caused by going back to BT? Also, if Telewest turns out to cost more now, would move away from them?

Alot of "sales" calls I get, when you press 1471, you get an 0870 number that called.

To add to their profits, some people probably call back and get an automated message!!

These companies have already found a way around BT's anom call rejection!!

However, by encouraging customers to use the basic 1571, there's alot of customers paying BT's 1 hour plan of 5.5p per call, to keep trying to call someone.  An engaged tone, or nobody answering would result in no charges.  BT might think they're trying to give us enhanced services, but they're getting more money in through the back door to pay for these.

Some people would of course use free calls packages, or other carriers on their BT line, or maybe cable or mobile, but BT have a large market share, and a large percentage of wasted calls, get charged by BT.

Dave - in reply to your comments...

"I do not believe in competition in essential public services (electricity, phone, rail etc.) because all you get (or at least with the way it works now) is companies trying to sell you things at over inflated prices".

I think you are too young to remember the old BT!! - and I am showing my age... But I can assure you that the present system with multiple telecos is infinitely superior both in price and service levels to the old BT monopoly. When I were a lad you could wait 2 to 3 months to have a line installed and you paid 0870 rates for ALL YOU CALLS. Remember - that is where the 0870 rates come from!!! - BT's standard rates! And you had no choice - you could take it or lump it.

And generally speaking, telco companies are not selling at over inflated prices. There is cut-throat competition in the market - with many companies loosing millions and with huge debts. Take a look at Telewest - they are £5,000,000,000 - that's 5 billion pounds sterling - in debt.

You have a free market - and YOU the consumer - are free to take your business elsewhere! Have to call a company on their 0870 number? Why bother - just take your business elsewhere.

Ironically it's the GOVERNMENT running "essential public services" such as pensions, welfare payments etc... who are using 0870 numbers - and we have no choice but to call them! No chance of a free market there!!!

If you do find a telco making huge profit please let me know and I will invest my savings in them!

"They cut back on preventative maintanence, the railways are a perfect exam"

The railways (contrary to popular opinion fueled by the media in seach of scare stories) are actually safer and safer as the years go by. Passenger deaths per mile traveled have decreased steadily and continue to do so.

Private companies have invested billions in cable infrastructure worldwide - and they will loose almost all of this as the business they expected has not materialised.

"Where it is shown, the phrase "National Call Rate" is used to describe 0870 and 0871 numbers"

...deep within the BT website at a very boring and badly designed page!

"BT now describe them as "premium rate services""

...can you confirm you have seen this on their webpage or in a publication? So far a guy from BT has only said this on radio.

"Is there any likelihood that  the real price of calls will have to be included for 0845,0870, 0871 etc as with 090 numbers?"

...possibley. Ofcom are looking at forcing 0870, 0845 & 0871 users to declare how much it cost to call these numbers. Alongside a geographical number if they have one.

WOW! That's amazing...

I suspect that this is someone within BT who is not involved with the whole "scam" and is just describing what a BT subscriber has to pay to call these numbers. In their innocence they have described them as "premium rate" - as that is what they are!!

Once BT proper are made aware they will change it I bet!!