Pay Monthly Call Charges to Isle of Man Phone Numbers

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

I'm an ex IOM resident, currently living in Scotland, but with family and friends still living on the island.

I have a mobile contract with O2, who until relatively recently, used to include calls to the IOM in their included free minutes. This is a similar story across a lot of the UK mobile companies, although I think O2 were the last to do this.

I wanted to know if this recent change is down to the UK providers changing how they work or down to the Manx networks Manx Telecom/Sure Mobilechargin more to O2?

It doesn't make any sense to me, as the island's phone numbers all use the UK international dialling code +44, so are as far as phone calls go they are not international. I'm calling from a +44 number to a +44 number, so why it costs more than calling a +44 number in the UK escapes me!

I have asked Manx Telecom to see what their explanation is, but I wanted to get O2's perspective on the matter too.

Thanks,

Adam.

[Anonymous]

Ok Manx Telecom have clarified further...

Calls to our network are routed via BT and Vodafone links and we have no influence regarding any costs incurred to UK service providers for the routing of calls to the Island. It’s not a Manx Telecom issue and I can only re-direct you back to O2 for a more in depth explanation.

So I guess I'll have to try contacting BT and Vodafone to see if they can give me a logical reason for the increased costs.

[Anonymous]

Please do.

The info your providing in this thread will also become invaluable for anyone in a similar situation.

[jonsie]

I can see this being a long process and ultimately no resolution that will be to your satisfaction. I do sympathise and wish you good luck.

[Anonymous]

I just want to have a logical reason as to why a call from a +44 number to a +44 number is being treated as international, when in fact they are both using the same international dialling code, so are not international!

If someone can explain why, then I'll be happy and get on with my life But at the moment the costs have gone up but no-one seems to know why!

[Anonymous]

Seems a reasonable question which deserves a reasonable answer.

[MI5]

I guess in the same way as you can call any other "premium" uk number and be charged more than a "standard" uk number.
IOM numbers are unique and are therefore identifiable from a tariff perspective.