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In a move costing BT tens of millions, the company has decided to give customers what they want by including 0870 and 0845 numbers in call packages.*
An Anytime customer will now get their calls to these numbers for free – as well as all their calls to UK landlines and great rates on mobile calls – for just £4.85 a month, which works out at less than the cost of a second class stamp a day.
A customer who is on the Evening and Weekend package will get their 0870 and 0845 calls for free, as well as their UK landline calls, after 6pm every day and all weekend.
No UK phone company has ever included these call types in their packages before, because 0845 and 0870 numbers generate large revenues for the banks, utility firms and other organisations that use them.
However, customers resented the high charges for 0870 and 0845 numbers, especially as the organisations using them were seen to be making a profit from them. Campaigners even set up a web site to let customers know other numbers to call the same companies, called saynoto0870.
The Government recently announced a review of doctors and NHS departments using 084 numbers, because customers complained they should not be charged more to call for medical help.
also of interest NHS consultation on using 084* numbers - The use of 084 telephone numbers in the NHS : Department of Health - Consultations
The table below shows how much you can save on a 10-minute call made on a Saturday morning:
BT Virgin Media Talk Talk Tiscali Sky Post Office 0845 Numbers FREE 75p 26p 45p 67p 10p 0870 Numbers FREE £1.04 65p 85p £1.07 20p
Prices correct at time of going to print. Comparison based on pence-per-minute rates and set-up fees charged after 8am at the weekend (correct December 2008). Competitor monthly line rental costs from £11 (Virgin Media), £10.50 (TalkTalk), £10.99 (Tiscali), £10 (Sky) and £10.72 (Post Office). Content of packages vary and prices quoted exclude calling circle discounts, where applicable.
BT Line rental £10.27 a month - Unlimited calls to UK landlines all weekend (so free 0845 and 0870 at weekend)
Free Evening and Weekend is rental of £10.27 a month - on `12 month tied basis
Unlimited landline calls at any time, plus call rates to mobiles for only 7.34p/min† is £4.34 + £10.37 a month.
In a move costing BT tens of millions, the company has decided to give customers what they want by including 0870 and 0845 numbers in call packages.*
An Anytime customer will now get their calls to these numbers for free – as well as all their calls to UK landlines and great rates on mobile calls – for just £4.85 a month, which works out at less than the cost of a second class stamp a day.
A customer who is on the Evening and Weekend package will get their 0870 and 0845 calls for free, as well as their UK landline calls, after 6pm every day and all weekend.
No UK phone company has ever included these call types in their packages before, because 0845 and 0870 numbers generate large revenues for the banks, utility firms and other organisations that use them.
However, customers resented the high charges for 0870 and 0845 numbers, especially as the organisations using them were seen to be making a profit from them. Campaigners even set up a web site to let customers know other numbers to call the same companies, called saynoto0870.
The Government recently announced a review of doctors and NHS departments using 084 numbers, because customers complained they should not be charged more to call for medical help.
also of interest NHS consultation on using 084* numbers - The use of 084 telephone numbers in the NHS : Department of Health - Consultations
The table below shows how much you can save on a 10-minute call made on a Saturday morning:
BT Virgin Media Talk Talk Tiscali Sky Post Office 0845 Numbers FREE 75p 26p 45p 67p 10p 0870 Numbers FREE £1.04 65p 85p £1.07 20p
Prices correct at time of going to print. Comparison based on pence-per-minute rates and set-up fees charged after 8am at the weekend (correct December 2008). Competitor monthly line rental costs from £11 (Virgin Media), £10.50 (TalkTalk), £10.99 (Tiscali), £10 (Sky) and £10.72 (Post Office). Content of packages vary and prices quoted exclude calling circle discounts, where applicable.
BT Line rental £10.27 a month - Unlimited calls to UK landlines all weekend (so free 0845 and 0870 at weekend)
Free Evening and Weekend is rental of £10.27 a month - on `12 month tied basis
Unlimited landline calls at any time, plus call rates to mobiles for only 7.34p/min† is £4.34 + £10.37 a month.
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