o2 Customer service droid told me that they are looking at maybe changing this as so many people are canceling their contracts (myself included)

I got a free PS3 with my last contract and im 4 months into my 18 month contract. Plus the 0845 will now cost 20p a min (how is that local rate?)

I suggest everyone cancels their contract as matter of principle. Its a huge rip off charging a premium for these numbers which are often the only ones easily obtainable for many companies, and the calls on which you are likely to be kept on hold for the longest.

Let O2 beg you to remain with them, and don't accept until they've offered a substantially lower tariff, a new phone, and no excessive contract lock in.

... charging for "freephone" calls. It's pure daft!

Advertising Standards Authority or Ofcom, anyone?

I have to say I've never understood why mobile phone companies charge for 0800 (and 0808) calls. These are supposed to be free to the caller, with the cost paid by whoever owns or leases them. What is the justification for charging for them?

I did not know I would be charged until my first bill. Since then, I have looked on company web sites and changed the numbers in my mobile to the "calling from abroad" alternatives.

Only National Rail Enquiries checks to see if the call is actually from abroad, when they detect that it is not, you get a message to call the 0845 number and the call terminates.

Everyone else is fine but there is an important issue here, the 0845 and similar schemes generate significant revenue (hence O2's recent move), they are not simply there for the consumer's benefit. As a result, I they should be regarded as "premium rate" numbers and suitably regulated.

My T-Mobile contract charges extra for 0845 / 0800 etc numbers.

Does it actually cost the operator more to connect to these numbers? I don't think so. In which case, it's indefensible and I wonder why OFCOM (or whoever it is these days) hasn't addressed the situation.

It's particularly annoying because it turns out many of the calls I make are to these numbers (banks, businesses, etc etc). Many businesses don't even publish 'normal' phone numbers any more (and can't supply you with one if you ask) which would allow by-passing of this rip-off.

The jucstifaction for this in the early days was that although the called party pays, they effectively only pay for the cost of a landline call not a mobile call.

In the days when all mobile calls were charged for it was JUST possible to accept this arguement. E.g if (say) Vodafone connected a call to a BT landline they only got the equivalent of a landline call rate for the call from the called party (bia the BT interconnect agreement), not their full mobile rate (which was of course MUCH higher and is now.... well only much higher:-)). But given that today calls to geographic numbers are often bundled in with call packages there is no real justification as calls to an 0800 number cost no more to terminate (or in fact might less) than an 01 or 02 number. The only justifcation now is: "because we can".

I've long felt "free" numbers being universally free is an area the regulator should have looked at years ago.

so that they get money even if you're dialling a calling card service.

(But charging more than a local call for dialling 0845, and removing it from bundled minute allowances, is simply a rip-off. Vodafone pitched it as "now you have more minutes for your other calls." Ha, ha.)

If i cancle my contract do I get to keep my phone!??

This sounds like too good a deal to miss.

Anyone who has done it have any more info.

Chris

use www.saynoto0870.com to look up the geographic number

I while ago I discovered a handy dandy website:

http://www.saynoto0870.com

You can search by company or number to find geographical numbers for non-geographics.

I'm on O2 with 200 free minutes and 100 free texts and I know I probably overpay because I don't use much more than 1/2 my allowance, but I always know what I'm paying each month since I don't go over it. I don't think I've been charged for a single phone call or text since I got my contract over two years ago.

Plus, companies like Tesco now have all their numbers as 0845 whether its your local store or not. But seriously, what's the difference between a geographic number and a non-geographic number for a cellular service operator?

..this seems an obvious step for them to take. They warned the MEP's who got so angry over their roaming charges that they would have to make up the lost revenue.

Seems they have been worn down - asked to cancel my contract, no attempt to keep me (usually they try for a good 5 minutes) just handed over the address to send my termination notice to.

Which is

02 Disconnections

POBOX 242

Houghton-Regis

LU5 5WA

Include Name, mobile number and your signature

Oh, they said that i had to give 30 days notice, but i think as they have broken the contract already, so thats null and void (but that is only my opinion )

The argument from the mobile networks is that if they offered 0800 as truely free people would use 0800 calling cards, then the networks would have everyone on the lowest tariffs and they'd lose huge amounts of revenue (which they'll tell you is bad because it means they couldn't possibly invest anymore).

Uh huh....

...for two contracts. One of which upgraded in April and the other early August. On the latter there was 17 months left on it! The Blackberry will be kept.

I told them:

That bundled minutes for 08xx numbers was given to me as an adavantage of staying with O2 by the retention department at CPW when I rang to cancel earlier in the year.

I intended to use 08xx to call international service providers to get cheaper rates - brother just moved abroad.

However, they wouldn't cancel unless they found use of these numbers in the last few months, which we had.

-Dan

Thanks for the heads up.

Got an extra 100 minutes per month for £5 less.

Ah, who remembers the good old days of one-2-one before they became T-mobile?

Ok, granted that they had a huge lack of transmitters, so you usually had to stand outside to make/receive a call, but their pricing was fair!

0800 numbers were FREE (and I used to use one of those calling card services to make calls to the USA for 3p per minute on my mobile back then.

Weekend calls were FREE

and I think my contract price was something like £12.50 per month

If you ring an 0845/0870 number, you are effecctively paying whoever you are calling.

0845 and 0870 numbers mean revenue actually ends up in Tesco/Whoever's pockets. If the calls were included in the bundled allowances, the Operator would be paying a portion of their guaranteed revenues (£30 per month for example) to a third party, effectively losing money due to the higher interconnect costs of these services.

It does make sense why they are doing this, but it also means I am cancelling my contracts immediately, because I can!!!!

The UK Mobile telcos have always been a rip off

Calls to/from mobiles should be Same Price or Cheaper than Landline calls

and premium rate calls illegal

We are still paying for greedy governments auctions of 3G licences

But then there was once a time calls to 0800 numbers would not even connect !!

I've been put onto SIM-only contract with 200 minutes and 400 texts for £15 a month with the option to cancel with 30-days notice at any time. I'll see how it goes and if my calls creep up then I'll cancel and move.

O2 looks like a bunch of thieves; from what I see, their package is a complete rip off with all tariffs costing 20p/min when out of bundle. That is *4* times my current contract cost which is 5p/min. OK, I get fewer bundled minutes but when I do go over I can choose.

O2 really is the worst choice for Apple.

I just wonder if Apple will be signing a short contract with O2 as I really can't imagine that many people *wanting* to switch to O2.

Mind you, I do suppose all the phone companies are the same.

OK, so don't charge EXTRA for 0845 and 0870, just charge them as if they were a normal landline number and the calls come off your usual minute allowance.

That way 0800 calling cards wouldn't be so economical...

It's like charging EXTRA for VOIP and IM traffic on mobile Internet !

Join Draytel (or similar). They provide VOIP calls, but also alow you to use it as a "calling card". You can then call a geographic number, punch your pin in, dial the 0800 number, and it's included in your minutes. 0870 is the most expensive 08 number to call, and that's 7.9p/min on peak, which is still loads cheaper than the mobile networks are charging.

I'm sure there are other similar ones out there, but I use Draytel for VoIP, so I also use them to stop the mobile networks ripping me off.

OK, so don't charge EXTRA for 0845 and 0870, just charge them as if they were a normal landline number and the calls come off your usual minute allowance.

That way 0800 calling cards wouldn't be so economical...

It's like charging EXTRA for VOIP and IM traffic on mobile Internet !

all the other networks do it....so its just become the norm.

Most people will cancel their contract, get another new phone, flog it on ebay and sign up again on the same contract as theres no point going to another operator solely because they charge for 0800 numbers....because they do as well!!

O2 were losing out on a lot revenue that the other networks were making on charging for it, so as a business what would you do? Make a few extra million or continue to not charge for it, I know what I'd do!!

I just called O2 and they tell me they are only allowing customers who make more than 10% of their calls to the affected numbers

I purchased my phone (on o2) through the carphone warehouse, you still think I can cancel my contract early? And keep the phone?

Yes, you get to keep the phone (and in my case the PS3) and dont pay any outstanding months on the contract. Lets all give o2 what they deserve a BIG headache and less full pockets.

You can also just email instead of posting you need to include your mobile number and a scan of your signature. Email address is: disconnections242@o2.co.uk

re "I wonder why OFCOM (or whoever it is these days) hasn't addressed the situation" above

Because the idle gits are based in London doing lunch with the poachers, who have effing great expense accounts. If the gamekeepers were based in Skelmersdale, we might see a bit more work being done.

Funny I've been with O2 for over 3 years I changed my call plan in May to increase minutes .

I had never recieved the said text till Monday of this week ...hmm wonder if I can wiggle out of the contract ;)

0845 numbers do not generate companies money as far as I am aware. I have one for my company it cost me £30 and I don’t make a penny out of it and wasn’t aware of anyone offering 0845's as a form of revenue stream.

We purchased it simply because it was guaranteed low cost call for anyone in the UK to call us (we have customers all over the UK).

Okay I guess if I’m honest we thought it would help the company look a bit bigger that we really are & when we move to bigger offices next year we can simply alter the location our 0845 redirects to without having to run the gamble on BT actually porting the correct number over to the new offices. Will look into seeing what we can blag off O2 to not move though. Changing everyone’s numbers or going through the hassle of porting to a different provider is such a pain in the rear end, I guess that’s what O2 are hoping everyone will think, when we changed from orange to O2 we spent 5 days with calls to our mobiles going into a black hole and that cost us way too much.

They cant only do it for people who make more than 10% of their calls to the numbers as in the contract there is a clause stating that if they charge more for inclusive minutes you can end your contract with no penalty.

So don't take that rubbish look up the contract its clause 8.4 (c)

(c) you are a Consumer Customer and we increase charges for calls, messages or

data that form part of your inclusive allowance or your Line Rental Charges or

change this Agreement to your significant disadvantage in accordance with

paragraph 9.2 of the General Terms, provided you give us a minimum of 30 days’

written notice (and provided you notify us within one month of our telling you

about the changes). This does not apply where the increase or change relates solely

to Additional Services in which case you may cancel, or stop using, that Additional

Service.

http://www.o2.co.uk/assets/O2HybridNav/Static-files/PDFs/newcontract.pdf

http://www.saynoto0870.com

I've tried 20 of our 0845's not one was recongnised. An 0800 we have was the wrong number. So I wouldn't rely on that to much. We often change our bearer numbers, so no suprise.

... Crap, They used to be so good!

Personally I think rather than moan about these mobile operators charging for 0800 numbers we should all complain to OFCOM, a freephone number is exactly that, FREE. I am sure if BT started charging a premium charge for a 0800 or 0808 number OFCOM would jump on them as much as blink.

OFCOM are as useful as a chocolate fire guard, they always sit on their arses and do sod all and its us customers who end up paying the price...

Petition Any1?

Lets bombard OFCOM with complaints, give them some work to do.

*** OFCOM COMPLAINS ***

Riverside House

2a Southwark Bridge Road

London

SE1 9HA

Tel: 020 7981 3040

Mon - Fri, 09:00 - 17:30

Do not do as advised below, sending your signatures to a private individual isnt wise (duh!)

Anyone can register for one of those o2 webmail accounts, internal staff and offical email addresses end o2.com.

----------

Keep the phone

By Jim Cosser

Posted Wednesday 5th September 2007 13:24 GMT

Yes, you get to keep the phone (and in my case the PS3) and dont pay any outstanding months on the contract. Lets all give o2 what they deserve a BIG headache and less full pockets.

You can also just email instead of posting you need to include your mobile number and a scan of your signature. Email address is: disconnections242@o2.co.uk

I've long used saynoto0870 for finding the 'normal' number which these expensive numbers hide behind.

For the annoying companies that check where you are calling from (to force you to redial) like the aforementioned National Rail Enquirires, simply configure your phone to withhold your number.

Job done!

Low level charities use these numbers to actually pay for the service it provides. In the case of one charity I am aware of, it pays for the enquiry line to operate without cost (or profit) to the charity itself.

Smaller charities with low income need these numbers to survive.

Jim (above) is right - THEY have broken the contract, WE have done nothing wrong! Therefore it is our legal right to cancel it, surely? This 10% 08xx calls thing is just a ruse to stop people from cancelling!

Just been on the phone to Carphone Warehouse in contract cancellations. They are playing hardball. According to Stacey, I cannot cancel my contract as the terms have not been changed to my "significant disadvantage".

The relavent clause reads:

8.5 You may end this agreement at any time by writing to CPW at the above address to give notice if:

....

8.5.3 we increase any of the Charges for the elements of the Service you are using or change this Agreement to your significant disadvantage, provided you give us a minimum of 30 days written notice (and provided you notify us within one month of our telling you about the changes). In this situation clause 8.4 will not apply.

So, according to their own contract, they say I can cancel if charges are increased OR the agreement is changed to my significant disadvantage. Needless to say, this will be going down in writing to CPW.

...doesn't Ofcom take complaints from industry only (i.e. no end-customer complaints)? If so, I guess it makes life extremely cushy for them.

Oliver.

...doesn't Ofcom take complaints from industry only (i.e. no end-customer complaints)? If so, I guess it makes life extremely cushy for them.

Oliver.

@ Rip-Off

By Rich

"Does it actually cost the operator more to connect to these numbers? I don't think so."

Generally most modern UK mobile operators pay ‘per hop’ to connect across PSTN. Obviously routing will try and terminate out of the mobile network and onto the PSTN at the closest available switch to the B number. So if a PSTN routed number can only be passed onto the network at x point which result’s in more internal routing, or more hops across the PSTN for the mobile operator than a local number would then perhaps justification is there.

@ I already overpay

By John

"But seriously, what's the difference between a geographic number and a non-geographic number for a cellular service operator?"

Mobile service operators don’t have one big pipe into PSTN network’s and the rest of the telecommunication world, so there is lot’s of differences. Especially if the operator pays ‘per hop’ as some call’s could be passed and established onto a geographic number a lot easier than other say none geographic numbers who’s routing defines they must enter via a specific location which is higher cost link (or more hops across the PSTN). Basically both parties are involved in these interconnectivity solutions and agreements and I’m sure cost and profit are a weighty argument when deciding how to deploy; of course how they then decide to price structure for the call after working minimal cost to themselves is a different matter (ref: Gareth Davies).

@ 0845 numbers

By Kev K

As above the owner of the number can essentially decide how it routes and how it’s charged. It just depends on who ‘hosts’ and how they achieve routing really, as long it complies to Ofcom reg’s businesses are free to choose (correct me if I’m wrong, I’m not 100% on this one.)

They have changed the terms of their contract and must abide by the get out clause 8.4(c) as mentioned above. They cannot make the clause conditional on your usage because that is not in the terms of that clause. It is quite clear, they must accept your cancellation purely and simply because they have made this substantial change.

Write/Email your cancellation - don't bother speaking with their CSRs who are not familiar with contract legalities anyway. They are probably acting on local [misguided] advice of their supervisor/manger. Ignore them, insist on the cancel, don't argue (its pointless) just write in and cancel.

If they write back and refuse - then the courts would sort it out and I'm sure you'll find no end of no-win-no-fee solicitors who'd act on your behalf (costs awarded by the courts so its a win all round, except for O2 <shame!>).

O2 have lost the plot entirely. Apple will probably rue the day they signed up with that network for the iPhone.

I believe this is genuine although I suppose it could be spoofed, I received a text from o2 telling me this was an option and an automated reply from o2 customer services afterwards.

But I supposed (snail)mailing is safer.

This is being discussed over here:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92459&page=45

Am not here to advertise HUKD but people affected by this change would benefit a great deal by checking the above website.

Also, the Simplicity deal is potentially a tie-in to the remainder of the contract < I know what am talking about folks. I assumed it was a 30 day contract as well but that does not seem to be the case.

In a few years when Nokia and friends are competing with OpenMoko based handsets, the phone operators will have to beg us to use their networks instead of free WiFi ones.

The monopoly ends here:

www.openmoko.org

More importantly to me is that Orange are putting up their minimum PAYG charge by 50% from10p to 15p

Other charges are going up as well

See http://www1.orange.co.uk/termschange/

Their not going to do anything until people start complaining to Oftel, how can they act on a complaint if they havn't received one? I got out of my O2 contract years ago, and its all well and good complaining here but it isn't going to change anything until you pick up a pen and a pad and start complaining to the people that count.

If enough people complain they have to act on it!

lunch has nothing to do with it, they will continue to screw people over until people stop complaining to thin air and do something about it.

ntl now know as Virgin media would often gain millions of pounds of free money from its customers by adding an extra £1 on people bills, if you complained to them you'd get the money refunded as its an "admin error" - if you didnt complain they were millions of pounds better off.

Guess I will be moving to orange as soon as I cancel my 02 contract!

Found this site which might be useful

http://www.free-international-calls-on-mobiles.com

I was on an 18month contract starting March 07. I phoned CPW o2 customer services (0870 111 7200 - free from an o2 phone) and told them that due to them changing the T&C's of the contract I wanted to cancel. I was told I couldn't, because they can change the T&C's when they want. I told them, "Yes, and as part of those same T&C's I have a legal right to cancel my contract", got put on hold for a few minutes and then got told, "Yes, sorry my mistake - we'll send you a termination letter".

Stick it to the man!

Who's giving away a Wii with a new contract at the moment?!

I'm currently looking for a contract phone and signing up with anyone just scares me silly. Most of them have already stretched the minimum contracts to 18 months and the call charges outside of allowances are identical to pay as you go so what's the benefit? I don't think any industry is populated with more crooks than the mobile phone companies. Charges are being hiked up endlessly and what you get for your money constantly declines. May be they need to start ending the massive subsidies on handsets, stop ridiculous giveaways like PS3s which are worth more than the annual value of the contract and stop the cash-back bullshit and just start reducing prices. I wouldn't mind but even the "free" handsets they giveaway are just marginally better than most PAYGs anyway, getting locked into a 18 month contract for a 100 quid handset hardly seems like a good deal to me. A good recession would sort the men from the boys, they're getting far too used to the free flow of easy money where £35 a month contracts are supposedly "good" value. I don't know anyone with any kind of mobile phone who doesn't feel endlessly ripped off.

I just phoned o2 on 202 from my o2 mobile, selected option 2, then option 2 again and said I wasn't at all happy with them charging for these calls and they straight away offered me £40 credited to my account. My line rental is usually only £21 so I accepted.

Read this article yesterday, finished work and phoned the 02 customer service. Told them I had 2 contracts affected by this and was going to cancel them both unless they made me an offer I couldn't refuse. The guy said I was about the 30th customer he had spoken to regarding this that day. I am now paying £20 a month instead of £45 and they gave me an extra 300 anytime minutes and 200 extra texts. Not bad for 20 minutes work!

Moral of the story : If you don't ask, you don't get.

The T-Mobile MDA Vario IIIs impending release means I have a very sound alterior motive (other than my principles) to escape from my o2 contract. Phone companies are all crooks, it's well known and strangely well accepted so I feel no remorse over taking advantage of this opportunity.

I sent a cancellation email to o2 support (not the email listed in these comments) before calling them. The call resulted in my contract being reduced from £40 to £15 due to my relatively minimal usage... not bad at all. However, the email resulted in immediate calculation with no further questions asked. The latter is obviously preferable as I'll start my T-Mobile contract at the end of October and even £15 extra a month would make my other half frown.

It was clearly meant to happen, just a shame that T-Mobile in reality are just another crook suckering me in with promises of a shiny, shiny PDA phone.

I tried to send a letter through online form but it was too big so i sent it to the CEO of o2 - Peter Erskine to deal with. low and behold the following day I get a call from someone in his office who says they looked into my details and they see I have used the numbers before and I am entitled to cancel and will get a PAC code for me.

I also had an issue with a letter I got with my order mentioning I was getting £100 cashback for returning to o2 which i never received so i stuck that in the letter too for good measure. after faxing the representative this letter I received. I got a call back later that week with my pac code.. and he agreed to credit my account with the £100 and after I asked to go on to the Simplicity rolling contract as I have not had time to look at phone deals he agreed to sort that for me...

so I have now got out of my 18 month contract online 40 with my XDA ORBIT PHONE... and am now on an online 25 sim only rolling deal from my next billing date.. with the 100 cash back meaning Im getting a few minutes less for 15 a motnh less buit 4 months free with the credit back. so it gives me till xmas to look for a new deal.

the direct link for emails to customer services is: mycarewebform@o2mail.co.uk

or if you have had issues then you may want to go to the top like I did and contact the CEO at Peter.Erskine@o2.com

my letter I sent for your help is below if you want help / advice

Dear Sir(s)

It is with regret that I inform of my request to cancel my mobile contract with you. Your recent change in terms and conditions has become the reason for this, and under clause 10.3 of our contract terms I am fully able to break our contractual agreement. I also received a letter when I made my purchase of the new contract that I would get a £100 cash back onto my account for returning to o2. This I never received.

Unfortunately now that you will start charging for 0845 and 0870 numbers I have been put at a large disadvantage. You will find this comes under clause 11.3 of my terms. Hence I am within my right not to be charged for ending our agreement, to which I hope you honour.

It is unfortunate that I have to break our agreement, but unfortunately due to this recent change it has become necessary due to the large inconvenience that this will cause to me.

Many Thanks for providing this service to me. Please inform me if I need to do more than this to fulfil my cancellation.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr **** ***************

O2 Number: 07*** ******

O2 Username: **************

Terms and Conditions cut outs from o2 website:

http://www.o2.co.uk/termsconditions/yourairtimecontract

10.3 A Termination Notice may be given to O2 under the circumstances set out in Clause 19.2 at any time by the Customer and the Agreement terminated 30 days thereafter, if O2 increases its prices or tariffs in respect of Airtime or Equipment to the Customer's material disadvantage or substantially varies these terms to the Customer's material disadvantage other than where such increases in prices or tariffs or change to these terms arises as a consequence of a change in prices, tariffs, terms or otherwise made or requested by third party manufacturers or suppliers, or a regulatory body.

11.1 Subject to clause 11.4 below we may increase or decrease our Charges at any time (including the introduction of charges for aspects of the Service previously provided free). Where we increase the Charges for the elements of the Service you are using we will notify you before the changes become effective. Notification will be via text message or by email (if you have registered your email address with us).

11.2 We reserve the right to change our terms and conditions of Service from time to time. We will notify you of any changes to these terms by posting them on our website at www.o2.co.uk/terms . In addition to this we may also notify you by messages on our IVR top-up system, messages via the Service (such as voicemail, text or media message) by means of national advertising campaigns or by email.

11.3 If we vary any of the Charges or change the terms and conditions to your disadvantage, you may stop using the Service.

19.2 In the event that O2 changes its prices and tariffs within the O2 Price List such variations or changes will be published at http://www.O2.co.ukat least 28 days before any such changes take place and come into effect, and in the event that O2 changes the terms of this Agreement O2 will provide the Customer with 28 days notice of such change or, in either case, as much notice as is reasonably practicable where such change arises as a consequence of changes imposed by third party manufacturers or suppliers, or a regulatory body.

All of the other MNO's have been doing this for years..!

Did everybody really delude themselves into thinking o2 were the last bastion of consumer friendliness who would continue taking the hit where other MNO's were making money?

Jesus, that's a scary attitude.