Mobile Call Charges 0300 Numbers: Short Code Text Charges

I had to phone a 0300 number today, and, of course I suffered the trepidation of whether, or, not the call was going to cost me money.  My initial thought was that I believed 0300 numbers to be classed as “freephone”, and, therefore would not cost me anything if I called from my normal landline.  Luckily I checked up on this, because I learnt that in fact 0300 are chargeable as a standard rate call.  Due to the fact I only have free evening and weekend calls on my landline call package, the next thought turned to my mobile phone.

I knew I was able to call numbers with the prefix “01”, and, “02” within my mobile inclusive minutes, however, I was unsure about “03”.  My contract is with T-mobile, and, so I set about trying to find out what numbers were able to be called within my inclusive minutes.  I don’t know if it is just me being rubbish, but it took me an age to find the relevant information on their website, eventually retrieving it within the terms and conditions.  It states for plans from the 30^th October, 2013, the following applies:-

“Your inclusive minutes and texts are to other customers of UK mobile networks, to check your voicemail and to call landlines starting with 01, 02 and 03 (excluding the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).”

So the good news is that calls to 0300 numbers are included in my call allowance with T-mobile.  I have included the link to the web page where it states this here.  It’s odd because even when I phoned the number, I still had a reservation in the back of my mind that I would be charged for the call, however, I can report my inclusive minute allowance has reduced, and, no charges have appeared, so hooray it’s true!

Just as an aside I also spotted the following that apply to “070”, “08”, “090”, and “118” numbers:-

“Calls to numbers starting with 070, 08 (including 0870), 09 and 118 are not included in your inclusive allowance. Calls to 070 numbers cost up to 75p/min. 08 numbers cost up to 40p/min and 09 numbers cost up to £3/min. See www.t-mobile.co.uk/help&support/priceplans for further information.”  Incidentally I typed in the web address from this paragraph into my browser, and, it is no longer active!  It seems even T-mobile has had enough of revising their own terms and conditions, so what hope have we in trying to figure them out?

It has always been a bug bear of mine that 0800 numbers are not free from mobile phones, as I believe it is very misleading for people.  I have never called an 0800 number, but do mobile phone providers warn you that will be charged for the call in advance of connecting you?  I have read on various forums about dialling other numbers before 0800, or, using an app that makes the call free from a mobile, and, while this is all well and good, it does not solve the root of the problem.  The regulator Ofcom should draw up a clear set of guidelines, and, charges that apply to all telephone operators, so we know exactly what the costs will be.

Turning to text messages, I was stung the other day by the Natwest Bank when activating a debit card.  You had to send certain information to a short code text number (this is usually one with 5 digits).  It said on the literature that texts would be charged at the standard network rate, however, as I have unlimited texts on my contract, I somewhat naively assumed it would be included in these.  I was wrong of course; I was charged 10p for the privilege (the standard network rate).  I think they should have stated that the charge would be outside your inclusive text allowance for clarity.  The short code text numbers are premium rate.  If you require more information about these, they are regulated by “phonepayplus”.  A link to the website is provided here.  It appears that the provider of the short code text number determines the cost, so be very careful, and, find out in advance the exact cost of the message.