Auckland council - thought it was free to call?

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snnet

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#290117 21-Oct-2021 20:24

Hi,

Just went to look thru my Mum's bill to see if one of the newer Spark plans would be better for her and noticed a charge for the 09 301 0101 Auckland Council number which I remember was advertised as being free for all who are under the Auckland council, regardless of Spark's boundaries - does anyone know if this has changed, or is it an error on Spark's part?

Not talking big dollars for my Mum's bill but wonder if it's happening to others where it shouldn't be? Imagine being on hold for 30 minutes? this was a 4 minute call and got her about $1 on the bill (a cellphone plan isn't really an option for her because of bad reception)

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#2798953 21-Oct-2021 20:27

where is your mum?

"The call is toll-free for residential landlines within Auckland Council boundaries (toll-free calls are not allowed by all service providers)."

Linux

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#2799005 21-Oct-2021 20:27

@snnet Where was she calling from? 0800 and 0508 are free calling numbers

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#2799009 21-Oct-2021 20:30

Example if she is calling from Pukekohe 09 area then it would be a toll call to Auckland city (rip off I know) This was on Fair Go last week

snnet

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#2799010 21-Oct-2021 20:31

Hibiscus Coast -- I know the normal tollfrees are the 0800's and 0508's, I just remember when the "super city" was formed it was announced that their tollfree number across the entire supercity region was 09 301 0101 (and it used to be free)

I know it's not big money, and she hasn't complained about it or anything, just found it odd. Why wouldn't they just have their 0800 numbers back like they had before the "super city"

snnet

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#2799011 21-Oct-2021 20:33

Seems a bit like scratching for cash when NEAX is all but retired and her service relies on VoIP, no doubt the council's would as well

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#2799012 21-Oct-2021 20:33

It is not a toll free number it is a standard 09 number and would of never been advertised as a toll free number

If the council did advertise it this way and you can find the Ad bring it up with them

Jase2985

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#2799013 21-Oct-2021 20:35

@Linux:

@snnet Where was she calling from? 0800 and 0508 are free calling numbers

Auckland council dont have a 0800 or 0508 number only the number posted above

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snnet

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#2799014 21-Oct-2021 20:36

Would've been years ago, when the so called super city was formed, I do remember it vividly and used to live up there and called it now and then for things like recycling bins and changing direct debit details for rate payments.... Not being honoured anymore obviously

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#2799015 21-Oct-2021 20:36

Agree it is total BS that from the HBC to Auckland CBD is a toll call it is pure greed

Jase2985

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#2799016 21-Oct-2021 20:36

it all depends on your provider see the quote above in one of my posts from the council website.

snnet

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#2799018 21-Oct-2021 20:36

Jase2985:

@Linux:

@snnet Where was she calling from? 0800 and 0508 are free calling numbers

Auckland council dont have a 0800 or 0508 number only the number posted above

The local branches of RDC did, I don't see why they couldn't just redirect those numbers

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#2799020 21-Oct-2021 20:37

snnet:

Would've been years ago, when the so called super city was formed, I do remember it vividly and used to live up there and called it now and then for things like recycling bins and changing direct debit details for rate payments.... Not being honoured anymore obviously

@snnet The A party network does the billing so it would be impossible for a 09 number to be made free if called from outside of the local / included calling area

Edit: Well not impossible but a load of manual work on A party networks

snnet

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#2799021 21-Oct-2021 20:39

Okay, no idea at all how it operated technically, all I know is I wasn't billed for the calls myself all those years ago (I made a point of checking out of curiosity)

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#2799022 21-Oct-2021 20:40

Linux:

Agree it is total BS that from the HBC to Auckland CBD is a toll call it is pure greed

Clear Communications way back when solved that problem with a product called "Big Back Yard"

zocster

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#2799066 21-Oct-2021 21:37

AFAIK HC never been a part of Auckland local calling area. This breaks it down quite good, even back in clear communications day. There is a small fee on top of your monthly with big back yard.

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