Conference call charges

[Iain15]

During the current Covid-19 crisis I am having to dial into work conference calls, the cost of which are bing added to me monthly bill. I have an allowance of 1000 minutes per month, a large proportion of which is mostly unused but it appears that this does not apply to conference calls. I think that O2 customers were previously able to prefix the conference all number with a 9 and this allowed use of the monthly allowance, but this facility is "out of service". Why is this? Are O2 expoilting the current situation? Can anyone advise me on the correct procedures and how to keep my costs down. 

[MI5]

@Iain15 

Costs here https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Apple/Merge-Calls/td-p/1107202/page/2

[Iain15]

Thanks for your response. It looks like it is 15p per minute. I think that O2 should be looking at this during the current crisis as many peoples bills are going to be huge. Doubt that they will as it is going to make them a lot of money. I feel that I am being ripped off and I will be taking this into account at contract renewal. Do you know why the number 987373 is currently out of service? I used it previously and incurred no additional charges.

[MI5]

No idea, sorry.

[pgn]

Why not use WhatsApp or Google Chat/Conferencing or similar? 

That 987373 number you mention seems to relate to this service, now an app, @Iain15. 

https://www.powwownow.co.uk/conference-call/calling-from-a-mobile

[gmarkj]

I would ask why you are using a personal phone for work? If they are not providing a phone for you then maybe ask them to cover the cost...
Most conference calls I dial into either use an 0800 number or an 020 number, both of which are free to call or included in my allowance.

[Iain15]

I am self employed so the phone and associated costs are mine. My clients are using the 87373 number so I have no choice in this. The point I was making is the previously O2 customers could prefix this number with a 9 but this number is now out of service. The PowWowNow app also advises O2 customers to prefix the number with a 9 but you get the same message, There is no explanation for this, hence my suspicions.

At one of the recent daily government briefings a Minister said that mobile phone operators should not be profiteering during the current crisis. At a time when we are all being asked to make sacrifices,wouldn't it be nice for O2 to been seen to be making a contribution by including these calls in the monthly allowance.