Small overcharging problem with 18866...

A question about : Small overcharging problem with 18866...

Just found out that if you ring somebody with BT 1571 answering service and they're on the 'phone, you get charged on 18866 but not if you ring via BT.

(Now that has to be the tightest complaint I've ever made. It's only 1p for god's sake!!!)

Best answers:

• God that's shocking - now that's what I call rip off Britain - where's the number for Watchdog
• Don't even think you are correct, sweep9!
  If you connect to a 1571 (or any other) answering service, then you do get charged for the call.
  If you rang from a BT line direct, you would be charged BT's minimum charge (4.94p).
  If you rang using 18866, you would just be charged the usual 1p.
• I am very confused- dialing 1571 from my BT line has always been free. I only pay the subscription for it (I am on the non-free version which lets you have your own personalised message) Why are you saying you pay for it? And what does this have to do with 18866? You didn't dial 18866 before dialing 1571 did you? Why would you do that when it is free?
• OK then... why does my orange mobile phone say call length 00:00:00 and no charge appear on the bill after I hang up when BT 1571 answers the call???
• PS...
  If anybody is in two minds over 18866 or 1899... don't be!
  Just do it! (Apologies to nike). SIGN UP!!!
  I've calculated I've saved Ј7 in the 16 days I've been signed up!!
• Hi sweep 9.
  Your complaint was that you got charged 1p using 18866 but nothing using BT when the call was answered by 1571 voicemail - which I posted was incorrect info.
  You now say you are doing this via Orange mobile???
  How do you use 18866 for only 1p on an Orange phone?
• You misunderstood...
  I didn't use 18866 via orange to call the number in question. I just used standard orange.
• sweep9 wrote:
  Quote:
• I've now checked up and you do not get charged via a BT line if the BT 1571 sevice answers. You only get charged if you don't hang up before it starts recording.
  This is the same if you call via orange or vodaphone on their normal contracts.
  On 18866, it charges you as the announcement starts as it classes that as the start of the call.
• sweep9 continued the argument with:
  Quote:
• if its any consolation i found this out the hard way (must have cost me 25p in total :
  i was trying to reach my gran in scotland and kept getting her answerphone, after the 5th or 6th attempt i started to get a bit worried as she is never on the phone for that long, so i kept dialling. unbeknown to me they were having storms up there and the phones were not working so all my calls were going straight to her answerphone. when i checked my bill online i couldnt understand why id been charged for 25 almost consecutiive calls to her number
  the problem her end now will be that me and my son are always on the net, and so if she calls me she will get my answerphone (i think) ad will also get charged min rate
  still....knowledge is power and i know now ;D