This company is telling visitors to their website that an 084 number is NOT a premium rate number, and calls to the number will be charged at normal 'national rate'.  Evidently they are getting some brickbats for having such a number.

http://www.castinstyle.co.uk/contact.php

I have emailed them to point out the inaccuracies. If I get a reply, I'll post it on here.

I've had an email reply from them to my email:

Thank you for your email.

Just to clarify the cost of a phone cal to our 08443 575654 is

With a BT land line 4.2p/minute

From a mobile it is 20p/min

We also have an alternative number which is 01902 455700 which is clearly shown on our contact us page.

The cost charged by mobile phone providers can vary and is out of our hands, however, we feel the cost of a call is reasonable and we do not profit form the call. The reason why we use this system is that this number allows us to record all messages and missed calls it also allows calls to be placed in a far queuing system, we use this number not for profit but to improve the customers experience, feedback from customers was that they preferred to wait in a queue rather than keep ringing back..

Hope this clears up you query if you have any other queries please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards

Annie

Support Team
Sales

CAST IN STYLE ®

I find some of their reply extremely implausible to say the least.

They do financially benefit from the call. There is a Service Charge (around 7p/min inc VAT) within the call price, and their provider uses at least part of it to pay the running costs of the number.

Ofcom will shortly require users of 084, 087 and 09 numbers to declare the Service Charge wherever their number is advertised.

If they are not receiving the 2p/min, or so, revenue share that a "g6" number normally pays out, they should ask their provider where that money is going.

While they may think the call cost is "reasonable", the law does not. From 13 June 2014, it will be illegal to offer 084, 087 and 09 numbers for customer service lines. No ban on using them for sales, but when faced with calling a high-price line when buying, many people would choose to shop elsewhere.

All of the features they claim they need on their phone service are available on all 03, 08, and 09 numbers. With an 03 number, the business pays for those features rather than tricking the caller into paying for them.

The cost of calling the 084 number is "unreasonable". As there is a Service Charge to pay, the call does not count towards inclusive minutes on landlines or on mobiles.

Nowadays, the normal cost of a call is zero. Calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers count towards inclusive allowances on landlines and mobiles. Calls to 084, 087 and 09 numbers usually do not.

The ASA will be interested in the false "national rate" claim and the fact that the ex-VAT call price has been quoted without making that clear. They haven't mentioned the 15p connection fee, but ASA never seem to be worried about that omission.

They also claim (on their website) the "4.2p/min" cost applies from "landlines". The same call can cost up to 12p/min from landlines that are not on BT.

Calls to the 0844 number incur a "premium" cost. Whether ASA take action on their claim the number is "not premium" is another matter.

In response to the recent email, the cost from mobiles is not "20p". It is up to 41p/min.