I also called France today and was charged 3p / minute. Despite having heard the message, it was not until I read your post I realised the discrepancy. I too will email them.
Thanks for pointing it out.

Keeping you up to date on this. I note that today the message is back to 1p/minute but I have had no response as yet to my email nor has my account been credited with the excess charges.

I have today received a response from 1899 concerning the calls made to France on the 17th of Feb. This is it

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for your email.

The tariff message played before each call is always correct. It is possible that the tariff
message differs from the charges on our website or other publications due to special offers.
In these cases, the free tariff message is always the correct tariff.

Please check the calls to France on 17 February 2005 were charged at 3p/min and now it has
been changed to 1p/min again.

We hope this has answered your question.

So please beware, listen to the tariff message because that is what you will be charged.. never mind what the website says!! I presume this is also true of 18866 since they are , I believe, run by the same organisation

That was not my experience. I even 'phoned 1899 got the recorded thingy one of the options was to get a rate, I had dial up the number I wanted to call and the automated message said it was 1p/minute, yet I kept getting the 3p tariff message all day.I think someone goofed there and they haven't the guts to admit. I know we are only talking about an overcharge of less than 50 p but it is a question of principle.. It is very disappointing that they should react in this way.