I was charged £5.68 for two calls to 08713841117 from my mobile at 3pm on Christmas eve.
Anyone know who this number belongs to?
Virgin mobile will not tell me and no google info. I would have thought I would remember on that date and time.

spys wrote on Jan 8^th, 2021 at 11:17am:

I was charged £5.68 for two calls to 08713841117 from my mobile at 3pm on Christmas eve. Anyone know who this number belongs to? Virgin mobile will not tell me and no google info. I would have thought I would remember on that date and time.

Good Afternoon spys

Welcome to SayNoTo0870.com

I use ASDA Mobile as a cheap PAYG service, the call cost me 4p and they answered as.... EuropCar

You may want to look here for their contact numbers.

There are alternatives listed on our Database

CJT-80 wrote on Jan 8^th, 2021 at 12:18pm:

… the call cost me 4p

One assumes that you called the "legal" 0371 version of the number, thereby avoiding the premium charge.

Continued use of the 0871 number (regardless of what is now advertised) is a breach of the Consumer Contracts Regulations. Any caller is entitled to a refund of their costs in the event of a breach.

Sadly, use of the 0871 number for initial enquiries is still permitted, given that (as in this case) the call charges are properly stated.

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Jan 8^th, 2021 at 12:47pm:

CJT-80 wrote on Jan 8th, 2021 at 12:18pm: … the call cost me 4p One assumes that you called the "legal" 0371 version of the number, thereby avoiding the premium charge. Continued use of the 0871 number (regardless of what is now advertised) is a breach of the Consumer Contracts Regulations. Any caller is entitled to a refund of their costs in the event of a breach. Sadly, use of the 0871 number for initial enquiries is still permitted, given that (as in this case) the call charges are properly stated.

Good Evening,

I dialled the 0871 number, it rang and a person answered saying it was EuropCar at which point (not wanting to waste any more money) I hung up. I had my number withheld.  It may have cost me 8p. I can't remember if the balance was £4.98 or £4.94 but it's now £4.90.

From the OP's point of view it would depend if it's a pre or post sale enquiry.

If the call to the 0871 number cost only 8p, then it is fortunate that no 1-minute minimum rule applied to the Access Charge.


CJT-80 wrote on Jan 8^th, 2021 at 5:36pm:

From the OP's point of view it would depend if it's a pre or post sale enquiry.

In terms of the law, a post sales call to the 0871 number would be illegal (i.e. deserving of a refund).
In practical terms, it is likely that calls to both versions of the number are routed in the same way. It is unlikely (and would be commercial nonsense) for a pre-sales enquiry or order to be refused if the 0371 number was dialled.

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Jan 10^th, 2021 at 10:44am:

In terms of the law, a post sales call to the 0871 number would be illegal (i.e. deserving of a refund). In practical terms, it is likely that calls to both versions of the number are routed in the same way. It is unlikely (and would be commercial nonsense) for a pre-sales enquiry or order to be refused if the 0371 number was dialled.

Indeed, and it could be argued by the OP that he called the only number he could find, and therefore should be entitled to a refund as it was a customer service enquiry.

Going forward maybe it's time companies like EuropCar stopped using 0871 numbers for the sake of "gaining" some small benefit.