farci wrote on Dec 15^th, 2005 at 12:51pm:

I can't give you an exact answer to your question because I don't know. But, don't BT have to allow a numbers to be called? They also provide most payphones in railway stations and the like. It is only in built up areas, busy shopping areas and the like that competitors come in to take some of the rich pickings. An airport would obviously fit that category, but I think that they would therefore have to exclude BT Payphones. Can they and would they do this and bring in some other telco?

Do you mean that all 0800 numbers are barred, or only certain calling cards?

The issue of using calling cards is tricky anywhere. In this country, as we know, Orange has recently become the last network to charge for 0800 calls, mainly to cut out the loophole of cheap calls providers not paying them.

Abroad, some providers charge the customer a higher tariff and pass part of this on to the callbox or mobile network. Others charge no premium and do not pass on any revenue. Unsurprisingly, the access numbers of this latter group are subject to being barred when recognised.

In America, there are FCC rules that compel 800 providers to compensate callbox providers. So I rather doubt if it is illegal there, but US cards don't often pay in other countries

I can't speak for KPN, except that I knew it is one of the strictest on this.

If you can't call a freephone taxi number either at Schipol, that could be a nuisance, but if your favourite calling card has a choice of paying 20p per minute or being barred, then you are in the grips of their agreements, or lack of them.

Try a different calling card.