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Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011 (Read 39,008 times)
grumpyboy
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Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Jun 14th, 2011 at 1:44pm
 
Hi virgin just me that they wont be chargiing at all for 0845 and 0870 numbers from 01/08/2011

Is this true?



~ Edited by Dave: Thread title amended
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« Last Edit: Jun 14th, 2011 at 2:24pm by Dave »  
 
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Dave
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #1 - Jun 14th, 2011 at 2:36pm
 
Refer to www.virginmedia.com/callcosts

The Residential tariffs PDF that applies from 1 August shows that 0870 calls are now included in packages at the same times as 01/02/03 calls are, although the per minute rates outside are 10.22ppm, whereas 01/02/03 calls are 8.68ppm.

0845 calls remain at 10.22ppm at all times.
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grumpyboy
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #2 - Jun 14th, 2011 at 3:05pm
 
thanks for the reply.

the Virgin support said they are goona to make ALL my 08 calls free (not free for a certain amount of minutes or time of week/day)
even though im only on a free calls at weekend package.

I got the impression from the customer services guy, that this was a industry wide move.
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #3 - Jun 14th, 2011 at 3:34pm
 
grumpyboy wrote on Jun 14th, 2011 at 3:05pm:
thanks for the reply.

the Virgin support said they are goona to make ALL my 08 calls free (not free for a certain amount of minutes or time of week/day)
even though im only on a free calls at weekend package.

I got the impression from the customer services guy, that this was a industry wide move.

I would very very much doubt that 0844, 0843, 0871 or 0872 numbers would become free, certainly without any limits, as it costs originating telcos like Virgin Media more to connect them than normal 01, 02, 03 and 0870 numbers.

They do that and they open themselves up to being victims of artificial inflation of traffic. Basically, those wishing to make money get a 0871 number and call it having subscribed to an all inclusive package and generate themselves some revenue. The telco carrying the cost of this will be the one that allowed the call to be inclusive in the first place and so will have to pay up. So no, that's not likely to happen.

And referring to the PDF price lists applicable from 1 August onwards confirms it. Only 0870 will be inclusive at times when 01/02/03 numbers are included. At all other times they will cost a few pence a minute more.
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #4 - Jun 14th, 2011 at 4:56pm
 
Yeah sorry, the first person I spoke gave incorrect infomation, the 2nd from overseas didnt have a clue, the third did.

Virgin are making calls to 0870 free at weekends or weekends and evenings, depending on your package.

As part of the line rental increase at the start of august

for a extra 2 pound a month you can get 0845 as well.

The talk unlimited gets both 08 numbers free at all times.

I think theres a minute allowence as well though


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hansi
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #5 - Jun 30th, 2011 at 9:08am
 
I am on the Anytime Calls package with VM and have been told that all calls to to 0870 numbers are free within my package from 1st August. I believe for an extra £5 per month, this also includes 0845, 0844, 0871 numbers too. I will check with VM media before I pay any extra.
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #6 - Jun 30th, 2011 at 9:59am
 
Indeed - I've been having a discussion on this with a few others on the VM support forum (http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Telephone/bd-p/Telephone) - and sure enough...

http://tinyurl.com/6zz8trn under "Talk 08"..

Talk 08 £5: Includes 250 minutes each month of direct dialled voice calls calls to UK numbers starting 08. You must keep your Talk 08 £5 package for at least 30 days.

I fail to see how this can be either loss-making or a mistake. That works out at 2p/minute - a few savvy VM customers could even club together and get themselves an 0871 number!

(Edited for wrong link to VM forum)
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hansi
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #7 - Jun 30th, 2011 at 10:01am
 
Hello again Wink
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Dave
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #8 - Jun 30th, 2011 at 10:06am
 
japitts wrote on Jun 30th, 2011 at 9:59am:
I fail to see how this can be either loss-making or a mistake. That works out at 2p/minute - a few savvy VM customers could even club together and get themselves an 0871 number!

VM is probably banking on many people not using up to the 250 minutes.

I would expect that there will be a clause in there on artificial inflation of traffic: where someone gets a number and then dials it to generate a profit in that way.
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SilentCallsVictim
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #9 - Aug 23rd, 2011 at 5:22pm
 
The long overdue inclusion of 0870 numbers in packages is a welcomed repentance of a sinner. The premium rate (although lower connection charge) on non-inclusive 0870 calls remains unjustifiable.

I am surprised that this further case of someone "Saying No to 0870" passed me by until now.

I would congratulate VM on holding out by not inflating general packages rates so that 0845 calls can be included (as BT has done).

VM has long been engaged in offering premium rate bundles of premium rate calls. As with BT's inclusion of 0845, this must not be allowed to distort any view of the general position regarding inclusion in packages.
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #10 - Aug 23rd, 2011 at 5:29pm
 
It's funny because I was only looking at this earlier today. More and more landline providers are bringing their 0870 charges into line with geographic and 03 calls (and this includes making the zero fee where applicable).
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SilentCallsVictim
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #11 - Aug 23rd, 2011 at 8:21pm
 
Dave wrote on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 5:29pm:
It's funny because I was only looking at this earlier today. More and more landline providers are bringing their 0870 charges into line with geographic and 03 calls (and this includes making the zero fee where applicable).

Two years late!!
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #12 - Aug 23rd, 2011 at 8:30pm
 
SilentCallsVictim wrote on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 8:21pm:
Dave wrote on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 5:29pm:
It's funny because I was only looking at this earlier today. More and more landline providers are bringing their 0870 charges into line with geographic and 03 calls (and this includes making the zero fee where applicable).

Two years late!!

Indeed.

But it is happening gradually and we are not at the stage of only one or two as it was two years ago.
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #13 - Aug 24th, 2011 at 2:25am
 
Quote:
calls to 0870 free at weekends or weekends and evenings,

I'd imagine that the vast majority of these calls are made Mon-Fri in the daytime - specifically, during working hours.
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Re: Virgin Media - 08 numbers free from 01/082011
Reply #14 - Aug 24th, 2011 at 7:11am
 
catj wrote on Aug 24th, 2011 at 2:25am:
Quote:
calls to 0870 free at weekends or weekends and evenings,

I'd imagine that the vast majority of these calls are made Mon-Fri in the daytime - specifically, during working hours.

0870 calls are now added to the list of those which are included at the time that the selected Plan is in effect.

The whole point of the way in which landline services are provided nowadays is that one needs to select the Plan that reflects the times when one makes calls. The level of the penalty charges imposed for calling outside the terms of one's package, e.g. during working hours if subscribed to Talk Evening and Weekends, makes it essential to only incur such charges very rarely.

We have not properly come to terms with the fact that calls to Geographic Rate numbers (which should now include 0870) are not subject to call charges under normal circumstances. Simple arithmetic shows that call inclusive packages are not some "extra" for those who make lots of calls, but a basic element of one's telephone service.

I can understand why the least inclusive (i.e. the cheapest) call packages are offered as the default. I would however make a case for considering the "Anytime" options as the norm, with discounts available for those households where generally nobody is at home making telephone calls during the working day or weekday evenings. Having taken the discount, one may expect to incur penalty charges for calling during times outside those covered by the selected package.

All of that said - calls to Business Rate and Premium Rate numbers are obviously subject to call charges, as some of the charge has to be paid on to the recipient.

BT's inclusion of 0845 is an exceptional situation, enabled by its special regulatory status and brought about by mistakenly anticipating Ofcom's intentions for future regulation. BT correctly anticipated the change to 0870 by just over six months and expected to be perhaps twelve or more months ahead of the game with 0845. As it has turned out the expected change to 0845 has not happened, as Ofcom has decided to take a different course.

The VM Call 08 packages are an unusual marketing ploy, not followed by other providers. As with BT's inclusion of 0845, they stand outside the norm. We wait to see what effect forthcoming regulatory changes have on these exceptional arrangements.

We may not be very far away from a situation in which calls to mobiles join calls to geographic rate numbers as part of "normal" telephone usage. There will be lots of issues raised, but this will serve to further isolate calls to Business Rate and Premium Rate numbers as exceptions.
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