You are welcome to use all or part of the below in your next correspondence:

I have a BT line but use call1899.co.uk to make my peak calls to 01 and 02 numbers for 3p each (as long as I want for a fixed fee of 3p).  I also have a package with Primus which gives me free calls to 01 and 02 numbers off-peak. However, instead of 3p per call peak, I have to pay 3p per minute for 0845 calls (it's less off-peak but the rip-off is the same because anything more than the nothing I normally [don't] have to pay is too expensive in my book).

Ignore me though, consider the poor pensioner who has no home telephone and has to make his or her calls from a telephone box.

To call a standard 01 or 02 number, the telephone box flat rate minimum charge of 30p buys a call of up to 15 minutes duration - probably easily long enough for most calls.

If the 'target' number is an 0845 number, that telephone box flat rate minimum charge of 30p buys only the 10p 'connection charge' and 2 time periods - each of 55 seconds.  Consequently, that same 30p minimum charge would run out after only 1 minute 50 seconds - probably just time enough to hear the first set of "Press this, press that" instructions on one of those awful automated systems.

So consider what that 15 minute call would cost if it had to be to an 0845 number instead of an 01 or 02 number.

There are just over 16 periods of 55 second in 15 minutes so, at 10p for each, the call would cost the telephone box flat rate minimum charge of 30p plus 15 more time periods at 10p each.

OK, I'll save you the bother - £1.80

How much loose change do you carry?

That's why 0845 numbers are evil - they rip us all off and they rip off the less-fortunate proportionately more.

Both these descriptions are blatently misleading and are apparently just trying to cover up the fact that it will now cost the majority of citizens more to call than on the 'old' numbers.

I think what it is trying to imply by saying "national local rate" is that it is charged at a local rate from any UK location.

The offending police force in question is Humberside and the contact page with this information is here.

How ironic is it then, that there is currently a commercial on local radio promoting Humberside Police Force's 0845 number that says "Support your local police force buy calling..."?

farci wrote on Mar 14^th, 2006 at 4:57pm:


Of course (it's very similar really):

I have a BT line but use call1899.co.uk to make my peak calls to 01 and 02 numbers for 3p each (as long as I want for a fixed fee of 3p).  I also have a package with Primus which gives me free calls to 01 and 02 numbers off-peak. However, instead of 3p per call peak, I have to pay 7.51p per minute for 0870 calls (it's less off-peak but the rip-off is the same because anything more than the nothing I normally [don't] have to pay is too expensive in my book).

Ignore me though, consider the poor pensioner who has no home telephone and has to make his or her calls from a telephone box.

To call a standard 01 or 02 number, the telephone box flat rate minimum charge of 30p buys a call of up to 15 minutes duration - probably easily long enough for most calls.

If the 'target' number is an 0870 number, that telephone box flat rate minimum charge of 30p buys only the 10p 'connection charge' and 2 time periods - each of 55 seconds.  Consequently, that same 30p minimum charge would run out after only 1 minute 50 seconds - probably just time enough to hear the first set of "Press this, press that" instructions on one of those awful automated systems.

So consider what that 15 minute call would cost if it had to be to an 0870 number instead of an 01 or 02 number.

There are just over 16 periods of 55 second in 15 minutes so, at 10p for each, the call would cost the telephone box flat rate minimum charge of 30p plus 15 more time periods at 10p each.

OK, I'll save you the bother - £1.80

How much loose change do you carry?

That's why 0870 numbers are evil - they rip us all off and they rip off the less-fortunate proportionately more.

Dave wrote on Mar 14^th, 2006 at 5:11pm:

Specially if they spell it like that!

Here's a link to the KC Plan I am on ...

http://www.kcom.com/kctalk/yourplanchatter.html

Note the exclusions!

I have spoken to KC Customer Services in the past and they have confirmed that calls made by me to 0845 numbers cost 3.95 per min (daytime).  KC class them as KC Code "S18" "Special Services:Lower Rate"

Costs (p/min inc VAT) Day 3.95  Evening 1.48 Weekend 1.0



@ Dave - thanks for the "H" word - not  

Press release on Kingston Communications website, dated 10 October 2007:

http://www.kcom.com/mediacentre/news/news_article.asp?ArticleID=DA_187836

Quote: