SAYNOTO0870.COM - The "Access Charge" Thread...

bigjohn Supreme Member Offline Posts: 2,316 Gender:	Re: The "Access Charge" Thread... Reply #15 - May 20^th, 2015 at 10:31am Worth noting Plusnet like many other suppliers dont allow you to use your inclusive 0845/0870 minutes to make cheap calls via an access number. They normally charge the full price for the call.
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nicholas43

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Re: The "Access Charge" Thread...
Reply #16 - May 20^th, 2015 at 1:32pm

Ian01 wrote on May 20^th, 2015 at 7:19am:

It says that calls to 0870 and 0845 numbers will remain inclusive at the time of day and on the days of the week relevant to your call plan (i.e. weekends, evening and weekends or anytime) for calls of up to 70 minutes long.

I can't see this. Where is it? Might they mean that the access charge will be included, but they will bill the service charge?

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allegro

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Re: The "Access Charge" Thread...
Reply #17 - May 21^st, 2015 at 6:49am

I can't see this either, hence my question a few posts back.

One thing the access/service charge model will do is wreck the business of the 0844 etc dial through services for cheap international calls. At the moment you're paying a one-off connection charge plus a typically very small per minute charge. If you're paying 9p/minute access charge this becomes non-viable.

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Ian01

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Re: The "Access Charge" Thread...
Reply #18 - May 21^st, 2015 at 7:51am

The 'connection fee plus very low per-minute rate via an 084 number' charging model applies only if you make the call from a BT landline. The same numbers cost more when dialled from other landlines and a lot more when dialled from mobile phones.

The cheap deals for BT customers exist because BT is currently regulated to make zero margin on call origination to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers. When you pay BT for the call, almost all of the money is passed on the terminating telecoms provider. That regulation will end on 1 July 2015. Thereafter BT's rates will no longer vary from all other providers.

Providers of international dial-through services haven't always been explicit about using their service only from a BT landline. I am sure that many people have been caught out by high charges when using other landlines and mobile phones, not realising the quoted rates apply only to calls made from BT landlines.

While the 'call via an 0844 number' system may go into decline, most dial-through providers now offer an 020, 03 or 080 number and a simple way to top-up in advance by calling an 09 number or texting a mobile shortcode with a, e.g., £5 one-off fee.

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« Last Edit: May 21^st, 2015 at 8:48am by Ian01 »

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lompos Supreme Member Offline Posts: 791	Re: The "Access Charge" Thread... Reply #19 - May 21^st, 2015 at 7:31pm I received a letter from BT according to which the access charge from 1 July will be 9.53 pence- per-minute. This implies that the access charge will continue during the whole duration of the call. Am I (hopefully) wrong?
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Ian01

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Re: The "Access Charge" Thread...
Reply #20 - May 21^st, 2015 at 9:57pm

Yes, the Access Charge is a simple per-minute rate for the whole of the call charged in one second increments and with an option for a minimum one minute charge.

BT is the only network that currently has, effectively, a zero access charge whereas all other landline and mobile providers do make a charge for connecting and conveying the call as well as collecting the money that is passed on.

This price cap regulation is imposed solely on BT and is known as 'The NTS Retail Condition'. It will end on 1 July 2015. At the same time, connection fees will be banned on all calls to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers.

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« Last Edit: May 22^nd, 2015 at 8:41am by Ian01 »

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derrick

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Re: The "Access Charge" Thread...
Reply #21 - May 22^nd, 2015 at 1:32pm

Just received a text from EE informing me of changes from 01st July 2015.

I have a T-mobile PAYG sim and calls to 01/02/03 and mobiles currently cost 35ppm, ( this sim is very rarely used and the credit on it came free with the sim).

"Calls to 0808, 0800, and 116 will be free to call from your mobile.

Calls to a service number 084, 087, 09, 118, will be made up of an EE access charge of 44ppm and a service charge that will vary based on the service provider you are calling"

Question:

What about 0500 numbers? i.e. Radio 5 Live uses freephone,(from a landline),0500.

OK question answered: http://www.ukcalling.info/faqs

"0500 numbers are not part of these changes and calls from mobiles to these numbers may still be charged for. Ofcom has decided that the 0500 number range will be withdrawn from use in 2017."

.

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« Last Edit: May 23^rd, 2015 at 7:35am by derrick »

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Ian01 Supreme Member Offline Posts: 767	Re: The "Access Charge" Thread... Reply #22 - May 22^nd, 2015 at 5:17pm All users of 0500 numbers have the option to migrate to the matching 0808 5 number. The new number retains the last six digits of the old number. The new number is one digit longer than the old number. Ofcom announced the changes on 3 June 2014 with three years allowed for transition.
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lompos

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Re: The "Access Charge" Thread...
Reply #23 - May 23^rd, 2015 at 1:57pm

Ian01 wrote on May 21^st, 2015 at 9:57pm:

Yes, the Access Charge is a simple per-minute rate for the whole of the call charged in one second increments and with an option for a minimum one minute charge.

BT is the only network that currently has, effectively, a zero access charge whereas all other landline and mobile providers do make a charge for connecting and conveying the call as well as collecting the money that is passed on.

This price cap regulation is imposed solely on BT and is known as 'The NTS Retail Condition'. It will end on 1 July 2015. At the same time, connection fees will be banned on all calls to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers.

do I understand this correctly?
As an example, 10 min call from UK BT landline to French landline:
at present: 15p connection + 10 x ½p service charge = 20p
from 1 July: 10 x (9.5p + ½p) = 100p

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« Last Edit: May 23^rd, 2015 at 1:57pm by lompos »

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kasg

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Re: The "Access Charge" Thread...
Reply #24 - May 23^rd, 2015 at 4:21pm

lompos wrote on May 23^rd, 2015 at 1:57pm:

do I understand this correctly?
As an example, 10 min call from UK BT landline to French landline:
at present: 15p connection + 10 x ½p service charge = 20p
from 1 July: 10 x (9.5p + ½p) = 100p

Assuming that you are talking about using an 08 dial-through number to call a French landline then yes, you have understood correctly. These numbers will no longer be an attractive option for these services.

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Ian01

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Re: The "Access Charge" Thread...
Reply #25 - May 23^rd, 2015 at 6:43pm

In the new system there are no ½p service charges. They are in 1p increments up to 13p, then larger increments for the higher rates.

These dial-through services have relied on some outdated regulation imposed solely on BT to make their existence viable. That regulation ends on 1 July 2015. Thereafter, BT will no longer be forced to have a zero Access Charge.

Some of these dial-through services will close. Others have made 020, 03 or 080 access numbers available.

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« Last Edit: May 23^rd, 2015 at 6:53pm by Ian01 »

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Ian01 Supreme Member Offline Posts: 767	Re: The "Access Charge" Thread... Reply #26 - May 25^th, 2015 at 9:43pm Three's Access Charge may be 25p per minute. Awaiting confirmation.
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Ian01 Supreme Member Offline Posts: 767	Re: The "Access Charge" Thread... Reply #27 - May 25^th, 2015 at 9:45pm EE Home Phone Access Charge may be 11p per minute.
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nicholas43

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Re: The "Access Charge" Thread...
Reply #28 - May 26^th, 2015 at 4:12pm

Ian01 wrote on May 25^th, 2015 at 9:45pm:

EE Home Phone Access Charge may be 11p per minute.

Thanks. We have EE Home Phone. I've just phoned and asked them. The muppet I spoke to had no idea what I was talking about.
Any idea whether EE (like some other home phone companies ??) will include the access charge, or n minutes of access charge, in (some?) packages?

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nicholas43

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Re: The "Access Charge" Thread...
Reply #29 - May 26^th, 2015 at 5:10pm

Any bets or knowledge about what Finarea will do? Is it viable for them to announce an access charge of 1p a minute, ie what they charge at present from non-BT lines and mobiles? I guess they will continue not to provide access to 118 or 09? How many rates would Finarea have to list (ie, including the service charge) if they provided all 084cde and 087c?

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