topic Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile in Other Products and Services

Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 08:45:37 GMT

Hi,

Ids anyone able to tell me why '0300' numbers are prohibited from being called on your mobile phone with O2?

These '0300' numbers were brought in apparantly to replace the '08' numbers that cost an absolute fortune to call on a mobile. The '0300' numbers should come out of your allowance and basically not cost you a penny - but when speaking with an O2 advisor I was told that using these numbers could lead to 'disconnection of your account'. Why? She said that she could not comment when I stated 'but Offcom supports this number usage?'.

Whats going on O2 - why are you going against rules and regs and not helping out your customers in a time when 'free' numbers are a godsend pn a mobile phone?

You can see details here: http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/c/345,349,355/a_id/10424 and http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/files/2010/01/numbering.pdf - You can see that Offcom clearly states that:

Many organisations use 03 numbers as an alternative to more
expensive 08 numbers.
How much do calls cost? Calls cost no more than calls to geographic
numbers (01 or 02) and must be included in inclusive minutes and
discount schemes in the same way. Calls from landlines are typically
charged between 2p and 10p per minute; calls from mobiles typically
cost between 10p and 40p per minute. Calls from landlines and mobiles are included in
free call packages."

So does this beg the question as to why O2 have to be different and hold such a forceful way of stopping you using these new numbers?

Someone please tell me?

Thanks

Carrie

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

jonsie — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 09:18:51 GMT

Maybe you need to contact customer service? I have no problems calling 0300 numbers from my pay monthly mobile ever since the number range was introduced. Maybe it's a problem unique to yourself? Not too sure about P&G though.

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

adamtemp64 — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 09:58:05 GMT

http://www.o2.co.uk/support/generalhelp/howdoi/specialnumbers explains o2 stance

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

perksie — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 11:34:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Whats going on O2 - why are you going against rules and regs and not helping out your customers in a time when 'free' numbers are a godsend pn a mobile phone?

I think you have misunderstood what you were told calls to 03 numbers are fine.

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 10:02:01 GMT

Hi,

Have a read of the conversation transcript and see if I misunderstood what they told me:

Carrie: Hi Jo, Can you tell me please how much it costs per minute to call an 0300 number on a monthly contract phone?

Jo: Let me check this.

Carrie: thanks

Jo: Carrie, this number is free and will be deducted from your allowances, but please don't call this number, this is against our terms and conditions.

Carrie: ??

Jo: Calling this number may lead to your account disconnection.

Carrie: that doesnt make sense? Why is it against your terms and conditions?

Jo: Customers call these numbers because they accrue a calling credit for each hour that they call the 03 number to enable them to make ‘Free’ calls to a country such as India or Pakistan. So, for example, a customer may make 4 calls at the same time to 03300 3XXXXX and they will accrue 10 minutes of calling time for each hour dialled.

Jo: These customers are breaching 6.3.d of our Consumer T &C’s – You must not use or permit anyone else to use the service to generate Artificially Inflated Traffic.

Carrie: How comes the Offcom supports this number as a replacement for o8 numbers as they cost a fortune to phone from a mobile?

Jo: I am sorry I won't be able to comment on this, as this is against O2 terms and conditions, and calling this number may disconnect your account.

???

Thanks

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

adamtemp64 — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 11:14:00 GMT

Live chat is a waste of time for most things just use the info I'm my link above or call 202 from your handset.

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

jonsie — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 12:07:52 GMT

Unbelievable advice from webchat! The advice on here is correct.

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Toby — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 12:08:17 GMT

Hi BugBum,

Feel free to send me a private message to see if I can help with this.

Cheers, Toby

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 12:18:54 GMT

Another example of useless live chat just when are they going to learn

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 15:44:53 GMT

Pahahaha that live chat transcript just gave me a right good chuckle!

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Toby — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 10:03:52 GMT

Hi guys,

Just to clarify, adamtemp64's link leads to the correct info on which numbers cost what.

@BugBum: Please send me a private message and I can give you a hand with this.

Cheers, Toby

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Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 18:53:16 GMT

I used to call an 0300 number on my mobile all the time, because the local branch of Remploy is on an 0300 number.

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 08:47:10 GMT

0300 numbers (and 0330, 0333) were rolled out by Ofcom to be companion numbers to your traditional 01 or 02 local area numbers. They are treated in exactly the same manner like 01 and 02 numbers, in that:

They cost the same as a call to an 01 or 02 numbers, or
They are free to call if you have inclusive minutes, whether on contract or pre-pay

The same is true whether you're calling from a mobile (any UK network) or landline.

Perhaps the OP had run out of inclusive minutes?

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:10:09 GMT

hahaha

That O2 livechat was hilariously stupid. I found myself on this thread because HMRC's Tax Helpline is an 0300 number.

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

MI5 — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:12:11 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
hahaha

That O2 livechat was hilariously stupid. I found myself on this thread because HMRC's Tax Helpline is an 0300 number.

Did it help with your problem or can we help you some more?

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

perksie — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:13:16 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
hahaha

That O2 livechat was hilariously stupid. I found myself on this thread because HMRC's Tax Helpline is an 0300 number.

Which comes out of your call allowance, are you having a problem with it?

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:14:15 GMT

Can we help you

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 13:39:57 GMT

Looks like the OP is calling a certain type of 0300 number, not used by a charity/business/landline service but a service provider who then keeps his telephone number connected for 2,3,4 hours at a time in exchange for a little time for international calling.

In other words, its aimed at circumventing international dialling charges, whilst falsely inflating network traffice, which is the most applicable Ts and Cs breach.

It can eventually result in termination of contract.

EDIT: And it looks like the web chat advisor was bang on the money with it too...

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

adamtemp64 — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 14:02:24 GMT

@pablo

Yes the circumvention if that is what the op was doing but the op never said they were using that type of service so we can only answer on facts in front of us.

I wish that ofcom would prevent the 03 range being used for these services.

Re: Calling 0300 numbers from your O2 mobile

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 14:06:07 GMT

@adamtemp64 wrote:
@Anonymous

Yes the circumvention if that is what the op was doing but the op never said they were using that type of service so we can only answer on facts in front of us.

I wish that ofcom would prevent the 03 range being used for these services.

Yep the OP didn't, but if you read the webchat transcript you see the webchat advisor specifically talking about a certain number and then saying what I said myself.

I'd bet proper money on this being the case.