SAYNOTO0870.COM - BT's 632% call box scam for 0870/0845.

snorton Newbie Offline Posts: 4 Cambridge Gender:	Re: BT's 632% call box scam for 0870/0845. Reply #15 - Aug 20^th, 2010 at 6:35pm I've come across an advantage for 0845 numbers. My office phone is barred for long distance calls but allows local calls. It also allows 0845 calls.
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sherbert Supreme Member Offline Posts: 2,011 Gender:	Re: BT's 632% call box scam for 0870/0845. Reply #16 - Aug 20^th, 2010 at 6:45pm snorton wrote on Aug 20^th, 2010 at 6:35pm: My office phone is barred for long distance calls but allows local calls. What is your explanation of a long distance and a local call? They cost the same.
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Dave

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Re: BT's 632% call box scam for 0870/0845.
Reply #17 - Aug 20^th, 2010 at 6:54pm

snorton wrote on Aug 20^th, 2010 at 6:35pm:

I've come across an advantage for 0845 numbers. My office phone is barred for long distance calls but allows local calls. It also allows 0845 calls.

If the idea is to prevent more expensive calls, then I take it as read that calls to mobile telephone numbers are also not allowed.

In order that this bar has the intended effect (to stop more expensive calls), then the calls which are prevented must indeed be more expensive than the ones which are allowed.

In general terms, 0845 calls are more expensive, although there are some exceptions. If your employer is on one of these perverse tariffs, then 0845 numbers can be used as an alternative to geographic calls (we know this to be the case most notably with some BT residential tariffs).

Or perhaps the bar was put in place and has not been considered with respect to the current tariff on your office's telephones.

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« Last Edit: Aug 20^th, 2010 at 6:57pm by Dave »

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snorton

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Re: BT's 632% call box scam for 0870/0845.
Reply #18 - Aug 20^th, 2010 at 7:09pm

I may say that this bar dates back to when there were real distinctions between local and long distance calls. I remember studying the contention that one could get a long distance call by dialling a series of local call numbers, as a way of avoiding the bar rather than paying less, but never managed to get that to work for even the 2 step link between Cambridge and Huntingdonshire.

How this bar works now is probably an accident. As I said, I can still make calls from my office to those areas which used to be classified as local, and I can still make 0845 calls.

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sherbert Supreme Member Offline Posts: 2,011 Gender:	Re: BT's 632% call box scam for 0870/0845. Reply #19 - Aug 20^th, 2010 at 7:25pm snorton wrote on Aug 20^th, 2010 at 7:09pm: I may say that this bar dates back to when there were real distinctions between local and long distance calls.. It was I think 2004 when the distinctions stopped
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Dave

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Re: BT's 632% call box scam for 0870/0845.
Reply #20 - Aug 20^th, 2010 at 8:57pm

snorton wrote on Aug 20^th, 2010 at 7:09pm:

I may say that this bar dates back to when there were real distinctions between local and long distance calls. I remember studying the contention that one could get a long distance call by dialling a series of local call numbers, as a way of avoiding the bar rather than paying less, but never managed to get that to work for even the 2 step link between Cambridge and Huntingdonshire.

How this bar works now is probably an accident. As I said, I can still make calls from my office to those areas which used to be classified as local, and I can still make 0845 calls.

Surely the point of any barring in a corporate environment is stop employees ringing unnecessary expensive telephone numbers. If any number that is necessary is barred and this causes inconvenience (and thus increased cost to the business), then surely the bar is actually costing the company more.

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snorton Newbie Offline Posts: 4 Cambridge Gender:	Re: BT's 632% call box scam for 0870/0845. Reply #21 - Aug 20^th, 2010 at 9:09pm The calls in question were personal. I dare say they don't want me booking hotels in Scotland but don't mind me arranging an appointment with my doctor, which is of course a local call.
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SilentCallsVictim

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Re: BT's 632% call box scam for 0870/0845.
Reply #22 - Aug 20^th, 2010 at 9:24pm

snorton wrote on Aug 20^th, 2010 at 9:09pm:

... arranging an appointment with my doctor, which is of course a local call.

Now there is a controversial comment, if ever I heard one! Grin

The amalgamation of local and national rates in 2004 did not necessarily apply to rates on business tariffs. I have however been looking for a current example of a difference without success, which may suggest that the two are now generally the same on business tariffs also. I do not have the reference material to confirm when this came about, although I can recall seeing many examples of differences a couple of years ago. I would be most grateful if someone could through some light on this.

It is important to note that the difference between local and national calls does still exist for landlines. It is just that the respective rates are generally the same, with just a few particular exceptions.

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