Strictly a rip-off: Mobile operators hit customers with 80% price hike after premium-rate call charges are made 'clearer'

  • Three hikes charge for 084, 087, 09 or 118 numbers from 25p to 45p per minute
  • Follows similar move by O2 and Vodafone in August
  • Strictly Come Dancing vote line will be 60p per minute instead of 40p
  • Hikes follow watchdog attempt to make premium rate call charges 'more transparent'

Phone users are being charged nearly twice as much by their mobile operator to call premium numbers after watchdog measures that were meant to make costs fairer for customers.

Three has just followed O2 and Vodafone by hiking the so-called 'access charge' for numbers starting 084, 087, 09 or 118, from 25p to 45p - an increase of 80 per cent. 

This is the per-minute cost charged by the customer's mobile operator. But customers will also pay the charge levied by the organisation they are calling. 

USwitch.com said that the spate of increases means that fans of popular TV talent shows, like Strictly Come Dancing, will end up paying far more to vote.

Premium star: Viewers are invited to phone in and vote on high-cost numbers for celebrities like Peter Andre, who is currently starring on Strictly Come Dancing with professional Janette Manrara.

Premium star: Viewers are invited to phone in and vote on high-cost numbers for celebrities like Peter Andre, who is currently starring on Strictly Come Dancing with professional Janette Manrara.

If a Three customer calls the Strictly Come Dancing vote line from November 3, the call could now be 60p per minute, instead of 40p previously, uSwitch said.

The hikes follow an attempt by telecoms watchdog Ofcom to make it easier for consumers to know how much it would cost to call a non-geographic or premium rate number.

In July, the cost of calling such numbers was split into two parts - an access charge and a service charge.

The access charge goes to a consumer's mobile phone company, charged as pence per minute. This should be made clear on bills and when someone takes out a contract.

MOBILE OPERATOR CHARGES PER MINUTE FOR PREMIUM NUMBERS

Three: 45p - up 80% from 25p (since July)

O2: 45p - up 80% from 25p

Vodafone: 45p - up 96% from 23p

EE: 44p - no change

Virgin Media: 36p - no change

BT Mobile: 30p - no change

giffgaff: 25p - up 66% from 15p

Tesco Mobile: 25p - no change

TalkTalk: 25p - up 25% from 20p

USwitch.com

Meanwhile, the service charge makes up the rest of the call charge. The organisation that the consumer is calling decides this, and must state it clearly on all adverts inviting people to phone in.

USwitch said Three's move follows similar hikes from O2 and Vodafone in August, also taking the access charge to 45p.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said: 'Only this week, Three announced it is increasing its access charge costs from 25p to 45p. That's before you add on a service charge for the number you want to call, which can be anything up to 13p per minute for numbers starting with 087, for example.

'Ofcom's new system relies on people being vigilant and keeping an eagle eye on what they will be charged before they pick up the phone. The charges are meant to be more transparent than before, but with significant price hikes since the new system was introduced, consumers need to be savvy to make sure they are not left out of pocket.'

Mr Doku said that it is worth consumers looking closely at what numbers their mobile operator includes within their tariff.

He said: 'Some providers, such as Virgin Mobile, include calls to 084 and 087 numbers within a number of its Pay Monthly packages, which means you will not be charged its 36p access charge for calling those numbers.'

A Three spokesman said the new access charge was being introduced following a review of its pricing.

Presenter Katie Derham is one of the favourites to win this year’s series of Strictly - and mobile operators will be rubbing their hand at voting call charge revenues.

Presenter Katie Derham is one of the favourites to win this year’s series of Strictly - and mobile operators will be rubbing their hand at voting call charge revenues.

He said: 'There are now many alternatives to calling expensive numbers. Of the 100 most dialled 084 or 087 numbers on Three's network, 67 have free or lower cost alternative numbers customers can call.

'We are committed to ensuring the cost of calling 084 and 087 numbers is clear for our customers and that we support customers in finding alternatives to using these numbers.'

A spokeswoman for Ofcom said the changes introduced on July 1 have made call charges clearer, with callers being able to see what they are paying and where their money is going.

She continued: 'But some prices have changed, and so we encourage people to shop around for a tariff that's right for them.

'Phone providers are now offering a range of pricing options for these numbers, including per-minute access charges as low as 1p per minute.

'Ofcom actively encourages organisations to use 03 numbers, which we set up to cost no more than a normal 01 or 02 number. They must also be included in a customer's inclusive minutes and discount schemes in the same way.'  

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