The time out rule

(02-08-2014 22:26 )admiral decker Wrote:  

(02-08-2014 22:17 )The Silent Majority Wrote:  So, what happens with the cheap rate calls?
Does that mean you would get about 50mins on Bsblue at 60p/min, or do you still get cut off at 20mins?

You should always get cut off when the bill reaches £25.54 + VAT, in order to to comply with PPP regulations, regardless of how many minutes that works out to.

That's interesting, I thought it was 20min cut-off whatever.
It's easier to see how they make money from the cheap rate calls. As well as more callers, chances are they will stay on for longer as well.

Do different networks also levy additional & different connection charges on premium rate numbers ?

I'm guessing like most things it's designed to be as confusing as possible on purpose so the customer never quite knows how much time they should be getting for what they're paying.

(02-08-2014 22:53 )The Silent Majority Wrote:  That's interesting, I thought it was 20min cut-off whatever.

Here's the applicable regulation.

(02-08-2014 20:47 )snookered147 Wrote:  My own view is that when a caller chooses the option to speak to the on screen babe the time out rule should only be applied to talk time and not time waiting to speak to them.

This is how it works on Xpanded, you get cut off after 15 minutes of talk time with the girl you're calling regardless of how long you've been waiting for. Presumably you'd be cut off sooner if you reach the £25.54 + VAT cutoff, whatever that would work out at on 60p per minute.

(02-08-2014 23:04 )M-L-L Wrote:  Do different networks also levy additional & different connection charges on premium rate numbers ?

Any connection charge would have to be taken into account in calculating when exactly a call needs to time out. If a network, for example, was charging £2 a minute plus a £2 connection charge, that call would need to be terminated after 14 minutes, not 15 minutes.

Basically, the channels are rip off bastards and will do what they can to get as much money as they can. Everyone should just stop phoning the bloodsucking shower of shite.

(02-08-2014 23:04 )M-L-L Wrote:  I'm guessing like most things it's designed to be as confusing as possible on purpose so the customer never quite knows how much time they should be getting for what they're paying.

The channels don't have much scope for making things confusing, because premium rate phone lines are so heavily regulated.

(03-08-2014 13:14 )BarrieBF Wrote:  The channels don't have much scope for making things confusing, because premium rate phone lines are so heavily regulated.

Absolutely right, the industry regulator is so demanding that there's virtually nothing that operators of premium rate phone lines are allowed to do that would confuse the consumer.

..well they can always rely on hasty / drunk / short-sighted people who can't/don't bother to read the small print and terms and conditions

(03-08-2014 12:46 )admiral decker Wrote:  

(02-08-2014 23:04 )M-L-L Wrote:  Do different networks also levy additional & different connection charges on premium rate numbers ?

Any connection charge would have to be taken into account in calculating when exactly a call needs to time out. If a network, for example, was charging £2 a minute plus a £2 connection charge, that call would need to be terminated after 14 minutes, not 15 minutes.

The connection charge doesn't limit the allowed time on the phone as it is charged via a reverse billed sms after the call is terminated. If you use a PAYG phone and run out of credit the connection fee will automatically be payed when the phone is topped up.