118118 Charges on my phone bill??

[Obelix]

Well done for getting it fixed

 

Still remaining, is the issue of 118 calls costing over a fiver, plus the their disingenuous practice of connecting customers without telling them that the call to the actual number they're wanting will also be at a grossly inflated rate.

 

Given the amount of times they've been fined for being deceptive about their charges-

 

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=118118%20fines

 

I've devised a catchy and easy-to-remember rhyme, so people can keep the very high charge in mind when thinking of using 118118

 

"118 118

Don't forget,

it's a rip-off mate"

 

 

They do tell you that the calls if connected will be at an increased rate though.

[onewheeldave]

Dave, campaign to get the law changed over max call charges etc. You'll have more success than trying to get a company to have morality.

 

Campaigns= brutal hard work demanding committment, a very tough skin, and, the ability to inspire, and then, work with, a team of others.

 

I'm autisitic, so, 'non possum' on that one

 

However, if stuff like-

 

"118 118

Don't forget,

it's a rip-off mate"

 

could be bandied around, not only would it genuinely remind people why they shouldn't ring 118, but (and I do agree with you that companies of that kind will not be taking up morality) it'll be an embarrassment for the company- might even get people thinking about some of the other legalized rip-offs that we just take for granted these days (such as companies charging clients extra if they don't pay by direct debit).

 

---------- Post added 11-01-2016 at 18:41 ----------

 

They do tell you that the calls if connected will be at an increased rate though.

 

Yeah....

 

I'm looking for integrity though, actual honesty- the old stuff, you must remember it??

 

Given that your pensioner is going to be assuming that the call will be around 5p/min, whereas it's actually £5/min- passing it off as 'increased rate', while, strictly and logically speaking, is accurate; is clearly not anywhere near adequate when it comes to honesty and integrity.

 

How about a message saying "the call will be connected at around a £5/min rate"?

 

Then the pensioner will know to put the phone down and ring the number him/her-self.

[davyboy]

There is an article in wikipedia on the company that runs 118 118

Edited January 11, 2016 by davyboy

[onewheeldave]

Here's the opinion of Martin Lewis, of moneysavingexpert.com, on 118118-

 

The firm 118 118's adverts once gave the nation a great giggle – yet its rip-off prices are no laughing matter. Its business model is, in my view, a near moral disgrace – and I'm not even talking about the fact it has set up a payday lender.

 

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/phones/2015/02/just-been-charged-183-for-one-call-via-118-118--thats-more-than-a-sex-line