idb wrote on Mar 15^th, 2006 at 6:03pm:

For all geographic calls - to anywhere within the U.K. - with 1899, the calls are unmetered at a flat rate of 3p (about 5.25c) per call.  For a call to the US or Canada, I pay 0.5p/min (less than 1c per min).

trevord wrote on Mar 15^th, 2006 at 7:23pm:
Indeed, but just how many UK *businesses* or *organizations* (not individuals) actually use geographic numbering these days? Very few. To carry out routine, day-to-day activities by phone, you invariably have to call a NGN. Here we either call toll-free (0c/min) or local (0c/min). Try calling BA, NatWest or Sky with 1899 and see how much you'll pay (as you already know). Here we can call virtually any customer service organization for nowt.

Well it seems to me that neither telephone plans are perfect and the UK could learn from how the US do it and vice-versa (only in certain aspects though).

The lack of disctinction (with regards to call charges) between local and national rate, I believe has made our numbering system (geographicals anyhow) easier.  Before this it was hard to determine what was local and what was national with regards to area codes/STD codes.  I know BT's website does help you to determine what is local and what isn't for those few on Light User Scheme.  I don't remember Telewest having a similar thing to determine what they classed as local and national although they were probably same as BT's.

I agree that our 0800/0808 range known as freephone is ok the way it is but the rest of our numbering range is completely and utterly messed up beyond comprehension in some cases!  We have 0844 costing various amounts and in some cases more than an 0845.  Then there is 0871 which again can cost various amounts upto 7.51ppm (0870) / or upto 10ppm (0871) but in most cases these 087x numbers are generally the same cost for the price-band they are in.  It is impossible to determine from the first few digits or our whole 084x/087x range just what they will cost and what makes it worse it is often difficult to actually still obtain these costs from landline companies nevermind mobile networks.

As idb has pointed out, it is almost impossible to get accurate price information on calls to NGNs from mobiles - the worst is 0844 - simply because mobile networks charge more for these calls (a lot more in most cases) so they go out their way to hide the cost of such calls so as not to put people off ringing them.  All this despite the fact that they are under obligation to publish their tariff costs to such numbers which when I contacted ofcon over this they agreed but as usual with ofcon they just responded saying that they are looking into it and it will be mentioned in a forthcoming consultation (which it was in the NTS Way Forward).  Basically, even though they are under obligation to display this information, ofcon was trying to get out of forcing this upon them for as long as possible.

I agree that the local/LDD thing even within the same state appears confusing which is why I think ours is easier (like I said geographicals only though).

The reason why in the States, calls charges are lower for calls from mobiles and calls to toll-free numbers are actually free from mobiles is because the cost of this is ofset against the income the US networks get when they charge the person who is actually receiving the call as well as the person making the call.  At least over here we only get charged for outgoing calls and not receiving them like the US but of course this comes with a price and this is the high cost of calls to NGN's, premium rate, freephone numbers, and to a lesser degree, calls to landline numbers.

IDB, what is the average cost of line rental in the States for comparitive reasons to what we get charged here (£11 by BT)?

bbb_uk wrote on Mar 15^th, 2006 at 7:41pm:
I do not know the average cost within the US, but my Bell South bill, which provides unmetered local calling within the local area and 25c flat rate per call drop within the county outside of the local area, with CLI, ACR, basic voice mail and call waiting is $41 per month. Take off around $8 per month to exclude the extras (CLI etc). So, just over $120 per quarter, or 68 pounds per quarter. I have no idea of the current cost of BT basic line rental, but I believe it to be less than what I pay here. Nevertheless customer service from Bell South is excellent - you actually speak to someone who knows the area and is not situated thousands of miles away. Having been through three hurricanes, with most utility wiring exposed to the elements, they do a great job here in sunny FL.

Main domestic BT packages:
Option 1 - GBP 11.00 per month, including evening & weekend geo calls at 5.5p for the first hour per call.
Option 2 - GBP 16.50 per month, including free evening & weekend geo calls
Option 3 - GBP 25.50 per month, including all geo calls free up to 1 hour.

trevord wrote on Mar 15^th, 2006 at 7:16pm:
Consumer protection on 900 calls is very strong (compare to ICSTIS). Local service providers cannot disconnect local service for non-payment of 900 call charges. 900 call charges can be removed from the bill if unpaid for 60 days. Oral notification of disputed 900 charges is sufficient to trigger a billing review where no payment is required during that review. The billing review must be completed within 90 days. If the billing was correct, you get a written notice of the amount and the due date. If you fail to pay, you may be reported as delinquent with collection efforts taking place, however you cannot be disconnected from your local or long distance servcice provider. All 900 services have to comply with federal laws and regulations. 900 blocking can be obtained free of charge.

All print, radio, and television advertisements for 900 number services must include:

the total cost of the call if there's a flat fee;
the per-minute rate if the call is charged by the minute, as well as any minimum charge. If the length of the program is known in advance, the ad also must state the total cost of the complete program;
the range of fees if there are different rates for different options. The ad also must state the initial cost of the call and any minimum charges;
the cost of any other 900 number to which you may be transferred; and
any other fees the service might charge.

This information can't be hidden in small print: The cost of the call must be next to the 900 number and printed in a size that's at least half the size of the 900 number. In a television ad, an audio cost disclosure must also be made.

From the FTC web site:

Billing Errors and Disputes
The 900 Number Rule has procedures for resolving billing disputes. Always check your telephone bill for 900 number charges. For each 900 call, your statement should include the date, time, and, for services that have per-minute rates, the length of the call. These charges must appear separately from local and long distance charges. Your statement also must include a local or toll-free number for questions about your pay-per-call charges.

Under FCC regulations, the phone company cannot disconnect your regular local or long-distance service if you don't pay a 900 number charge. However, you could be blocked from making future calls to 900 numbers if you don't pay legitimate 900 number charges.

If you find an error on your bill, follow the instructions on your statement. They will tell you who to call or write to dispute the charge. In most cases, it will be your local or long-distance telephone company, but it could be the 900 number company or an independent firm that provides billing services for that company.

You must notify the company listed on your bill within 60 days from the date the first statement containing the error was sent. The company must acknowledge your notice in writing within 40 days unless it has resolved the dispute by that time. Within two billing cycles, but no longer than 90 days, the company must:

correct the billing error and notify you of the correction, or
investigate the matter and either correct the error or explain the reason for not doing so.
A company cannot charge you to investigate or respond to a billing dispute. No one can try to collect the disputed charge from you — or report it to a credit bureau — until the company handling the dispute either has corrected the error or explained its reason for not doing so. Companies that don't comply with these rules lose their right to collect up to $50 of each disputed charge.

However, even if the 900 number charge is removed from your bill, the service provider might pursue the charge some other way, such as through a collection agency. If so, you have additional rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

trevord wrote on Mar 15^th, 2006 at 8:00pm:
Again, I can answer by example. My cellular provider, which in my case is Cingular GSM, but others are similar, charges $60 per month for 500 minutes anywhere within the US and unlimited night (after 9pm) and weekend calls to anywhere in the US. This is shared across two handsets (me and the Mrs), and I can use the service anywhere where there is coverage (known as domestic roaming). Billing is in one-minute intervals. Calls to voicemail incur airtime. Incoming calls are charged at the same rate as outgoing. Unused minutes are rolled over. Unfortunately there are lots of taxes to add on, especially in FL, so my monthly bill is around $79 which includes 9.6k data access.

Many people here have dispensed with a landline as the costs from a cellphone are reasonable and there is no need to worry about what is long distance. Some plans do not allow roaming and there is a large range of options and plans, just as in the UK. Unfortunately a lot of calls are dropped due to capacity reasons, esp after 9pm!

I would never call a 900 number from a landline let alone a cell phone, so I have no idea whether any additional charge is made. As I stated earlier, call charges to PRS are set by the provider with the phone company usually acting as a billing and collecting agent. 900 numbers really are uncommon for general day-to-day activities.