03 numbers to call Sky

Sky have switched their customer service telephone numbers to 03, from the previous more expensive 084 numbers. Looks like the EU Directive in action: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23590778

Good timing for O2/BE migrants not opting to take Sky Talk (CS numbers are zero-billed for Sky Talk customers, but 03 numbers are included in inclusive call packages for all phone providers).

Edited by Oliver341 (Fri 20-Jun-14 10:02:47)

From 13th June 2014 it became illegal to use 0845, 0870 and other non-geographical numbers for lines that deal with customer services.

In reply to a post by simon194:

From 13th June 2014 it became illegal to use 0845, 0870 and other non-geographical numbers for lines that deal with customer services.

Yup, there's a link to a BBC article about this in the OP.

In reply to a post by simon194:

it became illegal to use 0845, 0870 ...

Not 0845, I think, as they are cheaper than geographic nos. from a BT landline and can even be free at some times.

And 0870 are the same as geographic nos. from a BT landline.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Fri 20-Jun-14 17:30:42)

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

Not 0845, I think, as they are cheaper than geographic nos. from a BT landline and can even be free at some times.

And 0870 are the same as geographic nos. from a BT landline.

Looks like only 01/02/03 is permitted. Unlike 03, 0845 and 0870 aren't guaranteed by legislation to be bundled with "inclusive minutes" across all telephone providers.

In reference to www.fairtelecoms.org.uk/:

In the UK, the resulting Consumer Contract Regulations mean companies must offer 01, 02 or 03 numbers for customer enquiries, renewals, cancellations, refunds and complaints. We are monitoring compliance.

0800, 0808 and mobile numbers allowed too:

In reference to www.fairtelecoms.org.uk/consumer-rights-directive.html:

In summary, the guidance says that these number types are allowed:

Geographic rate numbers, which means any number which starts 01, 02 or 03.

A number which is free to call from all fixed and mobile telephone services, which will be 0800 or 0808 when the changes Ofcom has in the pipeline are applied in June 2015.

A mobile telephone number, which is prefixed 07 (except the 070 and 076 sub-prefixes)

This is most welcomed news. I rang Mastercare today on their 0844 number to get a recorded message to call their 03 number instead.

Whether the debt recovery companies are required to ditch their 0844 numbers is another matter. IMHO 03 numbers are non geographical but charged at the same rate as 01/02 numbers but I am sure someone will come along quite soon if I have got that wrong.

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

IMHO 03 numbers are non geographical but charged at the same rate as 01/02 numbers but I am sure someone will come along quite soon if I have got that wrong.

Correct. And they also have to be included in any inclusive minutes of call packages.

Companies often used the excuse of wanting non-geographic numbers when using 0845 etc numbers, when it was at least in part about revenue generation. 03 removed the excuse.

Although revenue sharing was scrapped on 0870, it still remains on 0845 and of course on the more costly NGNs (0844, 0871, etc). Telcos including 0845 calls in their inclusive minutes have to foot the revenue sharing costs themselves.