Shouldn't an 0800 call be free from a landline?

[ajalexander99]

Just phoned up orange as an existing customer touchtone option 4, then 2. A recorded message then informs you "when this call is connected, a one off fee of 70p will be charged. Can they do this? I thought 0800 from a landline meant free!

[buzby]

You don't say what you were using to call Orange.... mobile or landline? The number for Orange CS is an 07973 code, charged at mobile rates, however if you have an 0800 alternative, then that call IS free, there is no way Orange (or indeed any other network) can reverse bill you for calling it.

The flipside is dialling 0800 from a MOBILE is rarely free - ALL the UK mobile networks charge, with an announcement at the beginning (called a pre-connection message) or you are asked to dial the number again with a '*' before the 0800 to confirm you know it will be charged. There IS an exception, many Orange Contract customers get FREE calls to 0800 that do not reduce their inclusive call time or are charged in any other way - but it depends on your tariff. For the bulk of mobile users, if you want to call 0800 (or 0500) free, use a landline.

[Bookworm]

Shouldn't an 0800 call be free from a landline?

You don't say what you were using to call Orange.... mobile or landline?

I rather thought the clue was in the title!

[demon_x_slash]

boom boom...

[livelylad]

From Ofcom site.
Consumers are often confused about the cost of calling numbers beginning with '08' so Ofcom has decided to make things simpler by introducing three clear and distinct categories for 08 calls:

• 080: Freephone (including 0800 and 0808 numbers);
• 084: Up to 5p per minute form BT lines; and
• 087: Up to 10p per minute from BT lines.

[buzby]

As a point of clarification - Orange CS is not on a published 0800 number - only Sales, therefore the observation is reasonable that the OP may have mistaken the terminology, however, my comprehensive reply explained all scenarios when an 0800 number is dialled and billed.

[ajalexander99]

As per the thread title, I was calling from a LANDLINE.

phone number is 0800 079 2000

try it.

[buzby]

I did. Have you tried dialling it and succeded? It doesn't work - you get the warning message of being charged 70p three times and then the call ends. Clearly they hope to discourage PAYG customers calling from landlines. Another tip is to call from a payphone - the results are the same. (A payphone call confirms no charging takes place).

[demon_x_slash]

And ain't that just an indication of what they think of us PAYGs - cash cows. I haven't got the money to hold on a mobile for fifteen minutes for a 'customer representative'! That's why I have a PAYG!

Eejits.

[buzby]

Well - it IS a no frills service, and the call from a PAYG phone to CS is charged at the normal rate, clearly they're discouraging those that see 0800 as a cheap way to call for free.... but stating that there is a charge is blatantly dishonest, and worthy of making a complaint to the regulator to stop them telling porkies!