Hi,
My friend has NTL access at his parents home and is interested in T-UK phone access. I've recommended it to him but aren't sure if it is available on NTL. He's not registered at this site ( no internet access ).
Advice ? please

Yip Roberrt, he just needs to dial 0844 555 0131 and then follow the instructions.

Thanks, again,. Xmas cards are looming Tobias ??

It comes up on the Ntl bill as a premium rating number,0844 555 0131. It does cost 5p/min though!

Yes. It seems that you get a surcharge by your phone provider unless you have a BT line. I was dialing a 5p per min number in work, and our phone provider was putting 3p on top - not that I really cared
Another thing I have found on a 2p per minute number is that if I dial it prom a BT line or mobile I get through - but when I dial through our third party provider in work I most often get "Due to capacity problems ...."

There is certainly no surcharge on NTL or Telewest John for calling 084 or 087 numbers. It's just for whatever reason NTL and Telewest call all numbers begging 084, 087 and 09 as 'premium' numbers - when clearly only 09 numbers actually 'premium rate' numbers

If an operator charges a higher rate for calling an 084/7 or 09 number - MOVE AWAY!

I was talking to a telecoms guy a couple of months ago about a national access number, and he was telling me its a game of catchup. There have already been moves to allow phone companies to charge more for 0845 numbers - so they were currently recommending 0844.

It's more to do with a report that Ofcom are about to publish regarding 087 numbers (087 are termed 'National Rate Numbers") which may (or may not!) mean that these numbers will be charged at the same rates as 01 and 02 numbers.

It is anticipated that 084 numbers will escape any new provisions that may come in to play.

At the moment it is a case of wait and see - although, it is understood that 'whatever' it is that Ofcom has decided to do will be introduced in September 2006.

Hey Tobias - you're a real mine of information ! What is it you do again ?

sorry to interrupt..but i thought that 0870 were going to be regarded as premium with voice announcements before to warn bill payers of the charges although 0871 maybe treated as different, sorry but i belong to the saynoto0870 fraternity

quote:

Originally posted by the gardener:
sorry to interrupt..but i thought that 0870 were going to be regarded as premium with voice announcements before to warn bill payers of the charges...

That is just one of the proposals Ofcom are looking at, no one really knows what the outcome will be but it is widely believed that Ofcom will recommend that 0870 calls will be charged at the same rate as 01 or 02 numbers. Then the courts are likely to get involved.

When 0870 numbers were first introduced, it used to cost the same at a standard 01 or 02 number. Since then (in the last 2/3 years) BT decided to compete and reduced its standard call rates - but because of the way 0870 works, they remained the same. Not a problem there, 087 numbers are 'supposed' to be charged at the "National Rate" which is defined as between 5p and 10p per minute. The problem began in earnest when the mobile companies started to rip off their customers by charging up to 50p per minute to call an 087 number! Some networks include 0870 in their 'inclusive' minutes - others take the ****!

BT, Cable and some of the other major networks charge for 087 at the correct rate - it is the mobile and other smaller networks and resellers who have been ripping their customers off and who have effectively forced Ofcom to act.

For BT customers, and indeed non-BT customers, wanting a cheaper way to phone 0870 numbers, sign up to the www.18185.co.uk service .... calls to 0870 are a max of 4p per minute.

Added bonus .... using that same service calls to Thailand are 1p per minute ... if the have a BT line, or 2p per minute if you don't.