VS remove 0870 numbers for FC

Ahead of the OFCOM change, VS seem to have got rid of their 0870 number and introduced 0844 numbers, which seem to cost 5ppm (the BT price list always confuses me!)

Flying Club red - 08444 122 414
Flying Club silver - 08444 123 121

I still don't see why the US should get a freephone number for all though. It's cheaper for me to call the US number than call the UK one. [?]

[mitchja]

I also have never understood why the US get's free numbers for all tiers of Flying Club [:?]

The 0870 number changes come in from Jan 2008, OFCOM have decided to reduce the cost of all 0870 numbers to the same as calling a national UK number. Also upto now, the 0870 number operator (in this case VS) receive a share of the income the 0870 number generates. This is also stopping from Jan 2008.

So what's the difference between an 0845 and an 0844 number (in terms of cost) as I also have no idea what 0870, 0845 and 0844 numbers actually cost me [:?]

Regards

[preiffer]

I thought 0844 was just the same in terms of charging as 0845, only they'd ran out of 0845 numbers.

Originally posted by mitchja
So what's the difference between an 0845 and an 0844 number (in terms of cost) [:?]

good question. It depends on the next few digits making it very hard to work out. 0844 412 numbers appear to be charged at 4.2pppm (ex vat), but 0844 numbers can vary.

From OFCOM:

- 0844 calls, which cost up to 5p a minute, or 5p a call, for BT customer
- 0845 calls, charged at BT's standard local retail price for BT customers (assuming no other package deals or discounts apply)
- 0870 calls, charged at BT's standard national retail price for BT customers (again, assuming no other deals apply)

This means that, if you're dialling 0845 or 0870, you know the price as each number has its own fixed cost. However, there is a range of prices for calls to 0844 and 0871 numbers, up to a maximum of 5p and 10p a minute, or 5p and 10p a call.

[preiffer]

Ooooh - even more confusing [?]

The US system seems a LOT easier (including even 1-877's etc).

A bigger problem is calling these 08xx numbers from mobiles. Calling on O2 you have to pay around 35p per minute, it does NOT come from the monthly call allowance. [:(!]

[mcmbenjamin]

Most people in the US pay the same to call locally or long distance. My home telephone includes called to anywhere in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, the UK, most of Europe and other places; all for $35.00 a month.

I will never understand why people still let BT get away with murder.

[Scrooge]

As Ben says, in the US it is simple, if a company tries to use a number that will cost people to call them they will get no calls, simple really, otherwise known over here as business suicide.

Use the http://www.saynoto0870.com site, input the 0870/0845 number and chances are, it'll come up with the 'regular' number....

just phone the Virgin Atlantic switchboard in Crawley and ask to be put through to flying club. As this is a geographical number chances are most people are on a package that allows free or subsidised calls, and you don't get put through to India [y]