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Just got my bill and noticed at the top that they still say that their 0845 is 'local rate'! I've just sent the following e-mail to their customer service department and would be interested to know how they'll respond:-
Also, I note you display an 0845 number at the top of my bill, with a note that the call is charged at 'local rate' It costs me 5p per minte to ring this number and three times as much from an o2 mobile. I have a fixed rate calling plan as do many many people now for all calls regadless of distance around the country - the distinction between 'National Rate' and 'Local Rate' doesn't exist anymore and hasn't for a longtime. If you used a conventional 01707 number for me to ring, the call would be free, but since you use an 0845 it costs me 5 per a minute and as much as 15p per minute from my o2 mobile. These non-geographical 0845 numbers are specifically disallowed on fixed rate calling plans with BT and NTL telewest and others, neither are they allowed against one's allocation of free minutes on one's mobile phone
Can you therefore explain why use use the term 'Local Rate' as applied to this number when:-
1) The distinction on distance has long since been abandoned by BT, NTL telewest etc. 2) Ringing your 0845 number actually costs me more to ring than if I telephoned say, Inverness in Scotland. Even without a fix rate calling plan. NTL would charge me around 3p per minute to phone Scotland. If I used 1899 to ring Scotland, the call would cost me no more then 1p per minute. However your 0845 number to call only a distance of less then 20 miles away would cost me around 5p per minute, being five times as much as 1899.com
Your 0845 number is therefore a 'Premium rate' number to almost your entire customer base.
Please explain.
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