What the heck? 0845 and 0870 numbers not included in bundle!

[Anonymous]

What a shocker of a bill this month. I had to make a few calls to call centres (0845 numbers) over December and it turns out that 0870 and 0845 numbers aren't included in your minutes bundle! What kind of a joke is this? Why on earth, when you're paying £35 for a 600 min bundle can't lo-call numbers be included. Disgraceful!

Is it just me, or do the majority feel this is an underhand way of generating income outside a standard tarrif?

[Anonymous]

This is the same for all networks - indeed some put the prices up this year!

BT will be including them in free call bundles from landlines from this weekend but I doubt the mobile networks will take notice

Try using this http://www.saynoto0870.com/ to find an alternative

[Anonymous]

My orange phone includes 0845 numbers, just comes out of my monthly minutes. Pretty sure about that *shuffles off to check bill from Orange to be certain*...

[Anonymous]

I'm sure o2 used to include these numbers but about a year ago they stopped. They used to on my contract anyway.

[adamtemp64]

These numbers generate an income for the company that uses them and the company that provides the number so call costs have to be paid.

As far as I can remember o2 have always charged for these and most 0800 numbers.

Ofcom has been working on the removal of these number types by introducing the 03 number range and most landline providers treat 03 numbers the same as a normal 01 02 number as do o2.

As said before use saynoto0870 to find a 01 02 number and then the call is included this also applies to landline calls as well as they also excluded those until recently on bt but other landline provioders may not follow bt's lead.

[Anonymous]

These numbers are classed as non geographical numbers, they are not standard UK landlines and therfore are chargeable.

Once again its something that is stated in the T$C's but it seems that nobody seems to read them these days then just kick off when there not happy with whats not included.

[Anonymous]

I have been with O2 since these numbers were included, and have stuck with them even though they now are not (although I did cancel a contract because of this change). No other network includes them anyway, and I think O2 have the best service-coverage combination for me.

BT has started including them in bundles, which might or might not lead to these numbers being included in bundles again. However lots of companies have since switched to 0844 or even worse 0871.

I think the situation with 0845/0870 isn't so bad because it affects all phones. The one I really have a bone to pick on is charging for Freephone calls. It's the one reason why landlines are still useful....