Noticed this monthly rolling  sim only deal being pushed in the Media.

£10 a month ,2500 inclusive minutes which includes 084/087 calls ,unlimited texts ,and 1 mb data.

http://store.virginmedia.com/virgin-media-mobile/sim-only/pay-monthly-sim.html?buspart=uk_ps_b_mobile_google_purchase_B-BRAND-SIM-VIP%25B-BRAND-SIM-VIP%25unlimitedN33505.1282461422613093731im%25virginAMsySZZ7_NuvaWBg9LlIjV5UgRyuobile&CMP=DFA:1882230:115985978:289014471:0

Thanks for this.

I've just arranged to switch to this tariff on my next bill date (which is just less than a month away unfortunately).

The VM guy did say it included 0845/0870 without me even asking.

I guess I can do a quick test once swapped over.

bbb_uk wrote on Jul 9^th, 2015 at 7:29pm:

Thanks for this. I've just arranged to switch to this tariff on my next bill date (which is just less than a month away unfortunately). The VM guy did say it included 0845/0870 without me even asking. I guess I can do a quick test once swapped over.

It clearly says it includes  084/087 numbers not just 0845/0870. Worth checking before you call 0844 / 0871.

bigjohn wrote on Jul 9^th, 2015 at 7:37pm:

It clearly says it includes  084/087 numbers not just 0845/0870. Worth checking before you call 0844 / 0871.

I may do an actual test call to 0845 and 0844 so I know for sure :)

Very tempting,

as an existing customer it looks like i can get a £5 deal or £8... pity they don't yet have 4G coverage for consumers.

Just made a test call to an 0871 number for 50seconds and can confirm that I didn't get charged :)

The VM guy did say it included 0845/0870 without me even asking.
I guess I can do a quick test once swapped over.

I just had a text chat (via their website) and the Agent confirmed all 084/087 numbers are included, from £10 and over!

VERY tempting just to avoid having to pay additional costs for those calls...  8-)

Deals like this, which seek to hide the true arrangement of the called party benefitting from Service Charge revenue, only encourage businesses to retain these numbers. Declaration of Service Charge shows the arrangement for what it really is. Only those who call premium numbers should pay the Service Charge.

Businesses using these numbers try to claim that calls to their premium rate numbers are free when called from certain call plans. They seem unaware that a contribution towards the Service Charge is then paid by all callers on that network irrespective of whether they call these numbers or not.

As phone networks have to recover the revenue, they do so by increasing the cost of line rental, inclusive call plans and out of plan calls. In general, consumers lose.

Ian01,

I am trying to see things from your point of view.  I am sure that you mean the general public could assume that calls to 084/087 number are free... however it say's they include them.

I understand that in an ideal world all calls to 08 numbers would be inclusive or free, however in an ideal world on 080 numbers would exist and the remaining numbers would ALL be 01/02/03 however that isn't the case.

There are few legitimate reasons to have a non-geographic number that is charged at a non-geographic rate.  When it becomes almost impossible to find a geographic alternative then those wishing to save costs would use this kind of sim deal.

I am not inclined to go too far off topic on this matter.