Changes to service number charging

[#1]

Hi all

Change is afoot!

From 1st July, the cost of calling service numbers will be much simpler to understand. This is part of a regulatory initiative called "UK Calling", championing clear call rates for everyone.

Why is this happening?

At the moment, making calls to service numbers – ones starting 084, 087, 09 or 118 - is simple, but knowing how much it’s going to cost you isn’t. Research has found that users are sometimes left confused with prices and understanding where their money is ending up. The UK Calling initiative aims to simplify things and give more confidence to the consumer.

How it will work?

From the 1st July, any call to a service number starting with 084, 087, 09 or 118 will be broken down into two parts:

1. An access charge - This charge goes to your phone company (in your case giffgaff). Our access charge is 15p per minute (with a minimum 1 minute charge) and is the same for all the number ranges mentioned above. (At time of writing, compared to all the major networks, we believe you’ll be getting the lowest access charge currently available).

2. A service charge - This is the rest of the call charge, which is set by the company you are calling (e.g. directory enquiries (118), TV shows, etc.)

The cost for any call can be found by adding these two parts together.

So for example, a company you want to call may have a service charge of 40p per minute. In this case you would see something like: “Calls cost 40p per minute plus your phone company's access charge.” Therefore the total call cost will be 55p per minute (40p + giffgaff’s 15p per minute).

The rules are changing for all networks. We’ve been keeping an eye on the market and, at time of writing (2nd June 2015), we’re pleased that our Access Charge, compared to all the major networks, is currently the lowest price available in the market (based on research from MoneySavingExpert.com, link at the end).

What numbers are affected?

Any service number beginning 084, 087, 09 or 118.

Except calls to 118402 (O2 directory), which will still be charged at £1 per minute.

0800 and 0808 remain free on giffgaff

When is this happening?

1^st July

On that date, our UK rates page and Knowledge Base articles will be updated to reflect this change.

You may receive an email about this if you have recently called one of the numbers. For more information, the UK Calling website below has all the juicy details.

http://www.ukcalling.info/

Check out what others are doing at:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/phones/2015/05/calls-to-084-087-09-and-118-to-be-clearer-but-p...

Thanks

Gary

[#2]

Cool cheers Gary, the simpler it gets the better.

And if giffgaff is the cheapest then great

[#3]

Very good.

[#4]

Nice to know thx

[#5]

See also Simplifica​tion of price list from 1 July 2015.

It is also important to note that, in general, these numbers are no longer used by retailers, traders, passenger transport companies, government departments, public services, NHS services or banks. These users have mostly changed to 03 numbers. Others will follow.

[#6]

Thats great!

[#7]

Well done giffgaff for giving us the lowest access price, thanks. 

[#8]

So I used to know that 0845 numbers were 12p per minute. So now these are minimum of 15p. But what if the company you are calling don't tell you what the extra charge is? Is there always an extra charge? A lot of companies use 0845 with very long menus obviously to offset the cost of their call centres, so now I have an unknown cost from them... Even my doctor surgery changed to 0845! Does not seem like a step forward to me.

[#9]

Indeed, a minimum of 25% increase (the current 12p to 15p) plus whatever the called service charges on top, whether or not they tell you about it, is nothing for people to be celebrating!

[#10]

This really doesn't feel clearer to me. So all numbers starting with 084,087 And 09 can now charge whatever they like?