I'm a Virgin Mobile customer and I've just received a text message from Virgin informing me that they are increasing the call charges for all toll numbers (including 0870, 0871, 0844, 0845 etc.) to 40 pence per minute from 28th June 2010!

The link they sent was http://virginmobilepeople.com/tollcalls/

The page currently reads:

Quote:

Some news about your Virgin Mobile call costs We’re making some changes to a few of our call charges on 28th June 2010. National and local toll rates – that’s numbers like 0870, 0871, 0844 and 0845 click http://www.virginmobilepeople.com/numbers/ for the full list of numbers– are changing to 40p per minute.

Who do these cretins think they're fooling using phrases like, "We’re making some changes...." when what they really mean is "We’re increasing our charges...."?

So T-Mobile and now Virgin Mobile charge a straight 40 pence per minute for 08 calls. Remember that since August last year, 0870 calls haven't carried a premium or subsidy receiving parties. Thus, providers that charge more than normal geographic or 03 calls retain all of that extra revenue for themselves.

Dave wrote on Jun 8^th, 2010 at 2:31pm:

So T-Mobile and now Virgin Mobile ....

... and Orange.

This is pure profiteering (or it is just a way of keeping down the cost of ordinary geographic calls?). We can expect this kind of thing to get worse if we are to rely on competition to mitigate the effect of withdrawal of the MTR. We must expect charges that are not the focus of competitive activity to suffer. Just look at the unregulated BT rates for non-inclusive calls to see what happens when competitive activity is focussed elsewhere.

No price rise is to be celebrated. It is however helpful for campaigners to be able to simply quote 40p per minute as the standard rate for calls to 0845/4/3 numbers from mobiles, when addressing those who claim that they are no more expensive to call than a geographic number.

http://www.itpro.co.uk/623944/vodafone-targets-smbs-with-business-essentials-tariffs

Vodafone targets SMBs with Business Essentials tariffs

<<
Vodafone  is targeting small businesses and the self-employed the launch of a flexible price plan.

Vodafone's Business Essentials offering provides businesses with the ability to run up to four mobile phones on one customised contract.

All deals within the new plan come with 3,000 minutes to UK landlines. Extras include unlimited texts, unlimited Vodafone-to-Vodafone calls and the ability to have 0800, 0845 and 0870 calls taken from inclusive minutes.

The extras are priced at £5 for one, £7.50 for two or £10 for three. Those who sign up to a 24-month plan before the end of August will receive the unlimited text option for free.

[...]
>>

Just read this article PRESS ASSOCIATION 3 days ago

Ofcom and 0800 numbers

However, Ofcom said research had shown many people were confused about what non-geographic numbers were for and how much they cost, resulting in a lack of confidence and trust in the services.

As a result, consumers made fewer calls to these numbers, providers were discouraged from using them and there was less innovation that might benefit consumers. Ofcom said it intended to make a final decision on the new rules by early 2013.

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: "By making calls to 0800 numbers free from all phones, we will clear up any uncertainty about making calls, especially from mobiles, to the benefit of consumers and service providers alike."

2013 talk about dragging ones heals, but I suppose it is going in the right direction

it gives profiteering companies time to find alternative ways of recovering the lost revenue I guess.

ihate0845 wrote on Apr 12^th, 2012 at 1:57pm:

it gives profiteering companies time to find alternative ways of recovering the lost revenue I guess.

What does?  :-?

This thread is about Virgin Mobile increasing the cost of calling 0870 numbers. If lost revenue is being "recovered" here, then it can only be by a single company: Virgin Mobile.

Dave wrote on Apr 12^th, 2012 at 2:02pm:

ihate0845 wrote on Apr 12th, 2012 at 1:57pm: it gives profiteering companies time to find alternative ways of recovering the lost revenue I guess. What does?  :-? This thread is about Virgin Mobile increasing the cost of calling 0870 numbers. If lost revenue is being "recovered" here, then it can only be by a single company: Virgin Mobile.

the long period of time ofcom dwell on updating regulation.  They announce they reviewing it but then also announce its going to take them over half a year.

so during that time companies will be working on what if's such as how to recover revenue when 0800 calls arent charged on mobiles and how to recover revenue from 0845 if ofcom tighten up regulation.