OverlordKain wrote on Oct 27
th, 2006 at 12:20am:
Now I'm thoroughly confused! With 18185, you know there's a 4p connection fee as soon as you dial the final digit, whether or not the call connects. ...
You don't get charged until the call is answered with BT and 1-prefix providers like 18185.
OverlordKain wrote on Oct 27
th, 2006 at 12:20am:
... So with full-minute charging, a 61-second call to Canada would cost 4p (connection) + 3 minutes at ½ppm = 1½p erm, make it 2p, so 6p. ...
A 61 second call to Canada will cost 4p connection charge plus 1p (2 minutes at half a pence), so the total is 5p.
OverlordKain wrote on Oct 27
th, 2006 at 12:20am:
... If the remote line is busy (engaged), do I still get charged? That would be a huge shift for BT.
You don't get charged if you are with BT and the line is engaged. But the thing is that answering services like 1571 and mobile voicemail answers the call and thereby charging the caller.
OverlordKain wrote on Oct 27
th, 2006 at 12:20am:
I've just signed up for one of Deltaphone's 0871 numbers (781 3343 if I'm lucky). Does this mean that' BT's minimum call charge to that number will be 13p? ...
No, because anarchical whole minute charging 'only' applies to calls to geographical numbers, mobile numbers and international calls when making a call with BT. There will be a minimum charge of 5.5p (see
here).
OverlordKain wrote on Oct 27
th, 2006 at 12:20am:
... If someone phones my normal landline number, which is 028 (or 048) 90xx xxxx, and gets my 1571 and hangs up, is the charge 3p+5½p, ie 8½p? And if they hang up before 1571 kicks in, are they still charged the 3p?
The minimum charge when calling a geographical number (at 3 p/min) is 6p.
OverlordKain wrote on Oct 27
th, 2006 at 12:20am:
... Too much ambiguity, and now that BT's been giving an aggregate cost per number, you have no idea what an individual call costs, unless you only make one cal to that number during your billing period.
As someone who follows these things quite closely, I'm finding it difficult to keep up and be sure that my interpretation is correct.
Another thing to bear in mind is call rounding, which doesn't necessarily affect minimum length calls:
Quote:CALL CHARGE ROUNDING - RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
Operative Date:01.10.2006
Each call charge will be rounded up to half a penny, except for calls to Number Translation Services (NTS) which will be rounded up to a tenth of a penny. Calls to mobiles using NTS will be rounded up to half a penny. The total call bill will then be rounded up to the next whole penny before VAT is added. VAT will be calculated up to the next whole penny. Fixed fee prices where duration charges do not apply, will be rounded up to the nearest tenth of a penny.
These roundings appear to be before VAT is added. As we tend to think of prices including VAT, it adds a source for confusion when working out what the actual cost is.