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]

To get official O2 perspective you would need to contact them via http://www.o2.co.uk/contactus

Is Tugo an option ?

[MI5]

O2's explanation (and I think all the other networks too) was the cost they were charged by Manx Telecom for handling the calls.....

[MI5]

Official O2 response in this thread from when discussed previously http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly-and-Pay-Go/calls-to-channel-islands/m-p/558854#M55434

[Anonymous]

Thanks MI5. I have contacted Manx Telecom about this so will post what their response is on the matter. If it is indeed down to them, then I think some pressure needs to be applied as it is bound to be detrimental to Manx businesses if it's more expensive to call the IOM than the UK.

[Anonymous]

If you could get it changed it would be great but I doubt it to be honest O2 have really hit us all by increasing charges to anything outside of bundle mms 40p for instance in this day and
age and yet sending one while in Europe is 25p work that one out!

[MI5]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Thanks MI5. I have contacted Manx Telecom about this so will post what their response is on the matter. If it is indeed down to them, then I think some pressure needs to be applied as it is bound to be detrimental to Manx businesses if it's more expensive to call the IOM than the UK.

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It'll be interesting to see what they say........

[Anonymous]

It sure will do let us know

[Anonymous]

From Manx Telecom:

Dear Adam

I note you are approaching your service provider O2 which is the only advice I can give you.

Unfortunately, UK service providers don't recognise us as being part of the British Isles and view the Isle of Man in terms of roaming as International. Their international roaming charges will therefore apply but you would have to discuss this with O2.

Kind regards

Jayne

So, O2 blame Manx Telecom for higher routing costs from the UK.  Manx Telecom blame O2 and other providers for their incorrect assumption that the IOM is an international call.  So still no clearer as to what the ACTUAL facts are as to why calls from a +44 number in the UK to a +44 number on the IOM cost more than +44 calls to the UK.

I have put O2's position to Manx Telecom and asked them to clarify that isnt the case.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the update.

I've a bad feeling this isn't going to resolve as you want it to. 😞

Let us know what reply you get from O2 please.