SAYNOTO0870.COM - Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute"

kasg

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Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute"
Reply #15 - Oct 14^th, 2017 at 3:39pm

Grrr. After several exchanges with George Bowden of Huffpost, I can see that he is getting his information from the very government call charges page I posted earlier.

https://www.gov.uk/call-charges

Quote:

03 0345 UK-wide numbers up to 9p 3p to 55p 030 Not-for-profit organisations, charities and public bodies up to 10p 3p to 40p

Needless to say, he will not be convinced that the government has got it wrong.

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Ian01

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Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute"
Reply #16 - Oct 14^th, 2017 at 4:03pm

Point him to the BT landline "out of allowance" charges, shown as 12p per minute for all 01, 02 and 03 numbers.

Point him to the Vodafone contract mobile "out of allowance" charges, shown as 55p per minute for all 01, 02 and 03 numbers.

What is shown on a provider's price list trumps anything shown on an out of date government web page.

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« Last Edit: Oct 14^th, 2017 at 4:05pm by Ian01 »

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kasg Senior Member Offline Posts: 320 West Sussex Gender:	Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute" Reply #17 - Oct 14^th, 2017 at 4:41pm Oh dear, even Ofcom gets it wrong on this page, which he has just quoted back to me: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs... I give up!
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CJT-80 Global Moderator Offline Posts: 1,714 Manchester Gender:	Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute" Reply #18 - Oct 15^th, 2017 at 11:54am kasg wrote on Oct 14^th, 2017 at 4:41pm: Oh dear, even Ofcom gets it wrong on this page, which he has just quoted back to me: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs... I give up! They have 2 entries for 03 numbers... is that really needed!
Back to top	Regards, CJT-80 Any comments made are my own and are not those of SayNoTo0870.com IP Logged

kasg Senior Member Offline Posts: 320 West Sussex Gender:	Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute" Reply #19 - Oct 15^th, 2017 at 3:05pm CJT-80 wrote on Oct 15^th, 2017 at 11:54am: They have 2 entries for 03 numbers... is that really needed! My point exactly, and with different rates! Unfortunately they don't make it easy to submit corrections to web pages.
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kasg Senior Member Offline Posts: 320 West Sussex Gender:	Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute" Reply #20 - Oct 18^th, 2017 at 9:51am Universal Credit helpline charges scrapped - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41659504
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Ian01

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Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute"
Reply #21 - Oct 18^th, 2017 at 10:50am

Work must now begin in earnest to educate the masses that 03 numbers are not now, and never have been, premium rate and to look at what is included within inclusive call packages.

The break-even point between paying a per-minute rate and paying for unlimited calls can be as low as 15 to 20 minutes per week on a landline or 20 to 30 minutes per month on a mobile.

Inclusive calls are available on pay-as-you-go deals. This fact doesn't seem to be as widely known as it should be.
https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/cheapest-pay-as-you-go-bundles

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« Last Edit: Oct 18^th, 2017 at 10:55am by Ian01 »

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allegro

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Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute"
Reply #22 - Oct 18^th, 2017 at 12:23pm

[quote author=Ian01
Inclusive calls are available on pay-as-you-go deals. This fact doesn't seem to be as widely known as it should be.
https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/cheapest-pay-as-you-go-bundles

[/quote]

Indeed. Unfortuantely many of those most in need of a good deal are the least likely to be reading Ken's Tech Tips. Or saynoto0870 for that matter.

Those of us here are the clued up who know how to look for a good deal. I suspect we're more likely to have stable housing etc which allows us to get the best deals on utlilities, have a washing machine so we don't pay for launderettes etc etc. I'm very glad I'm not poor or marginalised.

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kasg

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Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute"
Reply #23 - Oct 19^th, 2017 at 9:30am

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/government-refund-universal-credit-helplin...

Quote:

While 0345 numbers are often treated the same as local calls by operators and on landlines, costs can be higher for some mobile customers.

They still don't get that there is nothing special about 0345 (or any other 03) numbers.

Quote:

And the figures mean any historic refund bill could reach as much as £14.5m a year - were all calls charged at a maximum rate.

And we know it would be a tiny fraction of that as very few will have been charged anywhere near 55p a minute.

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kasg

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Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute"
Reply #24 - Oct 19^th, 2017 at 9:35am

CJT-80 wrote on Oct 15^th, 2017 at 11:54am:

kasg wrote on Oct 14^th, 2017 at 4:41pm:

Oh dear, even Ofcom gets it wrong on this page, which he has just quoted back to me:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs...

I give up!

They have 2 entries for 03 numbers... is that really needed!

Aha, this page has now been corrected.

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SilentCallsVictim

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aka NHS.Patient, DH_fairtelecoms

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Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute"
Reply #25 - Oct 19^th, 2017 at 10:00am

kasg wrote on Oct 19^th, 2017 at 9:35am:

Aha, this page has now been corrected.

The, now single, 03 / 030 entry has been fixed by removing any reference to call costs, other than referring back to the entry for 01/02 numbers. This was deemed essential and steps are being taken to get the authors of https://www.gov.uk/call-charges to follow suit.

Action is also in hand to review and revise the whole of the page. The fair telecoms campaign is supporting this work and will be pleased to receive suggestions of points to be considered. See contact details below.

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@fairtelecoms (tweets)

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CJT-80

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Re: Universal Credit helpline costs "55p a minute"
Reply #26 - Oct 19^th, 2017 at 11:29am

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Oct 19^th, 2017 at 10:00am:

kasg wrote on Oct 19^th, 2017 at 9:35am:

Aha, this page has now been corrected.

The, now single, 03 / 030 entry has been fixed by removing any reference to call costs, other than referring back to the entry for 01/02 numbers. This was deemed essential and steps are being taken to get the authors of https://www.gov.uk/call-charges to follow suit.

Action is also in hand to review and revise the whole of the page. The fair telecoms campaign is supporting this work and will be pleased to receive suggestions of points to be considered. See contact details below.

One word: EXCELLENT

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Regards,

CJT-80

Any comments made are my own and are not those of SayNoTo0870.com

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