lavillegour wrote on Dec 23
rd, 2005 at 12:17pm:
This an extract from BT’s website at
https://www.bt.com/feedback/feedback.jsp?formid=contactus_phonelist“Numbers prefixed with 0800 are free on a BT line. Numbers prefixed 0845 will be charged at local call rates. Numbers prefixed 0870 will be charged at national rates. Calls to 118 500 (UK Directory Enquiries, previously 192) cost 23p per minute, billed per second, plus a 40p service connection charge. Calls to 118 505 (International Directory Enquiries, previously 153) cost £1.50 per minute with a minimum call charge of £1.50. All call charges include VAT and are from BT landlines (excluding BT payphones). Other mobile and network charges may vary.”
I have recently been quoting the
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)http://www.cap.org.uk/cap/advice_online/ad_alerts/Advertising+0845+and+087+numbe... Quote:Advertising 0845 and 087 numbers
The ASA has recently adjudicated on complaints about the advertising of 084 and 087 numbers. CAP is aware that the cost of calling non-geographic numbers starting with 084 and 087 numbers is variable for non-BT customers and that
calls to those numbers are unlikely to be charged at the traditional ‘local’ or ‘national’ rates that previously applied. To avoid misleading consumers, marketers should not describe calls to those numbers as ‘local’ or ‘national’ respectively.
Marketers should include pricing information in their advertisements, stating the maximum cost of a call or the maximum price per minute (ppm) to BT customers.
They should also make clear that the price of calls on non-BT phone lines will vary and, if space allows, state that callers can check the cost with their phone company.
Marketers who feature several 084 or 087 numbers in their advertisements should not mislead customers if the cost of calling the numbers differs. They should state a maximum cost, either per minute or total call, to BT customers.
and the
Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP)http://www.cap.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2005/Hanging+on+the+telephone+on+and+... Quote:Marketers often use non-geographic numbers, such as 084 and 087, especially if they have, or want to imply, a nationwide presence. Indeed, many marketers probably sought such numbers in an attempt to be customer-friendly: 0845 numbers were, for example, normally charged at ‘local rate’: BT customers would normally pay the same for a call to an 0845 number as for a call to a local geographic number. And BT standard tariff customers would have usually paid the same for an 0870 call as for a call to a national geographic number. Other phone companies have always been able to charge what they like for 084 and 087 numbers; mobile companies, for example, often charged significantly more.
But the link between BT’s local and national geographic call price and 0845 and 0870 prices has been steadily eroding.
In the most recent move, in July 2004, BT abolished its standard rate for the vast majority of its customers and moved most of its domestic fixed line customers from the BT standard tariff to the BT Together Option 1 package. Those customers now pay a slightly higher line rental but, in return, pay the same for all geographic local and national calls: only 5.5p for the first hour in the evening and at weekends and 3p a minute during weekdays.
Hardly any BT domestic customers still pay the BT standard local or national call rates for geographic calls and 0845 and 0870 calls. The charges for most BT domestic customers (who are on a BT Together call package) for 0845 and 0870 calls are very different from what they now pay for geographic calls.
OFCOM recently undertook a public consultation on the future of 084 and 087 numbers and has indicated that an initial assessment of responses suggest that
consumers and service providers unanimously agree that describing 087 and 084 numbers as ‘national’ and ‘local’ is misleading
and most are concerned about how those numbers are advertised. Consumer responses, especially, suggest confusion about price (confirmed by OFCOM quantitative consumer opinion research) and a feeling of being ripped off.
OFCOM has sought help from CAP on how charges to 087 and 084 numbers should be expressed now that the ‘standard’ local and national rates are verging on the notional. After consultation, the CAP Executive believes that, because of potential consumer confusion, ads should not remain silent on call cost. CAP understands that BT customers pay no more than 5p a minute (or per call) for calls to 084 numbers and no more than 10p a minute (or per call) for calls to 087 numbers and that those charges are highly unlikely to increase in future.
And to preclude any response along the lines that:
"Well the ASA / CAP rules don't apply because the item referred to is not 'an advertisement'",
I usually add a comment that these rules clearly describe good practice even if the reference is not strcitly an 'advertisement'.
The ASA & CAP clearly indicate that marketers should not rely on BT's (mis-)description of the call rates.
Hope this is of some help.
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