No to 0870 numbers

[buzby]

Advertising is supposed to show the cost, but if they don't and you complain to OFCOM, they tell the number provider to ask their client to make sure they do! It's a dreadful state of affairs.

[buzby]

Actually, they are. OFCOM have overall responsibility for all communications, ICSTIS, an industry-funded body deals with disputes and regulation of content, NOT the charges for number blocks or the criteria for which the numbers are used.

[buzby]

To be fair to Megabus, they don't process cards themselves, they use WorldPay,owned by the RBS. They offer a local rate support service for customers with difficulties, and is on their website. Complaining to Megabus would be pointless, as they only process your sale when WorldPay gives you both a reference code.

 

I had a similar problem that went through WorldPay and my card was rejected despite it being fine for everything else (and my card was an RBS one) it turned out to be an error caused by no Maestro Issue number. At the time I should have entered 0 in this box instead of leaving it blank. They fixed it to allow either after my complaint.

[buzby]

The whole premium rate industry is a revenue sharing criminal disgrace. The regulators Ofcom and Icstis should be horse whipped.

 

WHEN the idea was first discussed in a 'consultation paper' by OFTEL, I objected saying that removing control of telephone charging from the customer to any old third party would case problems. They responses on two counts, saying that; (1) It was being done elsewhere and if it was not allowed they could be accused of being anti-competitive. (2) That as only licenced telcos could offer Premium Rate numbers, they would act responsibly and ensure fair play.

 

All this ignored the fact that third-party resellers would become involved and along with this and reverse-charge mobile SMS, the matter has just spiralled out of control.

[buzby]

OFCOM has decreed the industry should be self-regulating as far as possible, and firms get to do what they want to do unless there is a public outcry. Unfortunately, with reverse-charge SMS, the outcry hasn;t been loud enough, and it is accepted that consumers gullible enough to give unrestricted access to their finances by using DD, won't care a jot if bills can be run up without them having control of their charges.

[buzby]

Actually - tariffs are regularly modified, and you do not have to be with them for the minimum term before it changes. All we are talking about it the moving of a '07' code from an inclusive bundle (as a mobile) to a revenue avoidance [problem]. It's not an 'International' number - simply an enterprising third party who is hoping to make a business model using an 'old' mobile code.

 

Indeed, Orange of a history of completely blocking access to 0800 numbers that are free to dial on some contracts, simply because they are used to access an unnoficial low-cost routing scheme. Faced with blocking access or charging - I go for the latter option every time.

 

However as a way of getting out of your contract with ease, I just don't see it as being successful.