Cost of calling Slingshot 028 numbers from another provider (02888MAIL Specifically)

Forums › VoIP › Cost of calling Slingshot 028 numbers from another provider (02888MAIL Specifically)

ajobbins

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Topic # 14719 17-Jul-2007 13:51

Following on from this thread, which has gone wildly OT:

I just called Telecom to quiz them on the price of calling an 028 number as I was surprised when I got my last bill that calls to 02888MAIL were charged at Mobile rates. Obviously Telecom don't have a clue either. I recorded the call, and have a transcript below of what I was told the calls cost, and then an image from my last bill with the actual cost. See for youself.

Blue is the Telecom Operator and Red is me.

Welcome to Telecom you’re speaking with NAME DELETED how can I help you?
Hi there I just have a quick question about calling 028 numbers
Yep
In particular, I have a VoIP line with slingshot who have an 028 prefixed number for calling and checking voicemail from another providers phone
Yeah
I’m wondering if you can tell me how much it is going to cost to call that number from my Telecom landline.
And you calling an 02 which number, an 02...
8. The number specifically is 028 88 6245
6245...What’s your landline number
ACCOUNT DETAILS DELETED
OK, I’ll just have a quick look at the calling plan you are on, your on the Homeline plan. OK, Just one moment please.
Thank you.
On hold for 2 minutes and 4 seconds
Are you there?
Yep
Is that number you have been calling, is that within the wellington region?
I have no idea it’s like a, it’s a slingshot number for checking for voicemail, similar to your 083210. Same concept.
Yeah, um, your looking at paying 50 oh 49 cents per minute.
Right-e-o. So is that charged as a Mobile call, or a national call, or how is that billed?
Just a national call.
It’s a national call?
Yep, that’s correct
Alright, great. Thank you. Oh, what was your name sorry?
Thanks. NAME DELTED
OK, thanks NAME DELETED. Have a good day.

Bye

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freitasm

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Reply # 78451 17-Jul-2007 14:02

It just shows that Telecom CSR have no idea what you are talking about... Also they should have a utility that you could enter a phone number on each side of the call and get cost out, calling the same billing engine. This would be just a simple debug script but handy to have in these situations.

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sbiddle

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Reply # 78452 17-Jul-2007 14:02

I have no idea it’s like a, it’s a slingshot number for checking for voicemail, similar to your 083210. Same concept.

You seem to be asking two things here. Firstly you're wanting to know the cost of calling an 028 number and then comparing an 028 number to 083210. There is nothing in commong between the two.

Telecom obviously do have problems judging by what they're told you but as several people said in the last thread the expectation from most people would be that an 028 number is a mobile call.

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Reply # 78453 17-Jul-2007 14:05

What other situations 028 is not a special number (non-geographical)?

I have a number in the UK (0709 prefix) which is non-geographical. Calls are charged at mobile rates. It's a special prefix used by VoIP and other service providers.

I guess 028 falls into the same category. If this is the case I'd always expect to pay premium for calls to these numbers.

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ajobbins

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Reply # 78473 17-Jul-2007 15:12

sbiddle:

I have no idea it’s like a, it’s a slingshot number for checking for voicemail, similar to your 083210. Same concept.

You seem to be asking two things here. Firstly you're wanting to know the cost of calling an 028 number and then comparing an 028 number to 083210. There is nothing in commong between the two.

Telecom obviously do have problems judging by what they're told you but as several people said in the last thread the expectation from most people would be that an 028 number is a mobile call.

They are both voicemail access numbers. I don't know how you can say there is nothing in common between these two numbers. The only thing they DONT have in common is that they are different numbers.

Furthermore, I have not suggested that I expect this to be a free call, meerly that if it was chargeable at (Very expensive) mobile rates they should disclose it. I had called Slingshot prior to calling Telecom (also recorded) and their CSR didn't know how it would be charged either.

As you can see, I SPECIFICALLY asked the Telecom CSR if it would be charged as a mobile call or a national call and she said national. Don't you think if it was reasonable for people to expect to pay mobile rates to an 028 number then the CSR would have come to that conclusion too? It's not like they work for the telco or anything....

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mike

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Reply # 78474 17-Jul-2007 15:13

This is no different from calling 021 700 700 from your Telecom landline to check your Vodafone voicemail.

Why don't you setup 2talk to forward voicemail to your email or check them from their web interface?

freitasm

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Reply # 78475 17-Jul-2007 15:14

I doubt the CSR even know what a 028 number is - and probably doesn't even know 029 exists for that matter. The CSR showed some doubt when asked you "02???" to confirm.

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ajobbins

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Reply # 78482 17-Jul-2007 15:31

freitasm: I doubt the CSR even know what a 028 number is - and probably doesn't even know 029 exists for that matter. The CSR showed some doubt when asked you "02???" to confirm.

Exactly. And other posters are saying that it is reasonable to assume 028 is charged as a mobile number. I think the fact that neither the Telecom or Slingshot CSR came to that conclusion (And they are the ones who should know!) clearly shows that that assumption is incorrect.

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ajobbins

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Reply # 78487 17-Jul-2007 15:44

For reference, here is a transcript of my call to Slingshot. As you can tell, the CSR really has no idea how the call is going to be charged for by other providers. My point being I don't believe it is reasonable for the average consumer to assume that mobile rates will apply to a call just because its prefix begins with 02.

Welcome to slingshot you are speaking with NAME DELETED, how can I help?
Hi there, I just have a question about checking iTalk voicemail from another providers phone, like for example, a Telecom line. Um, now the number you have got on your website is 02888MAIL, um, is that a tollfree call or is there a charge involved in calling that number?
...Pause...Um, I don’t actually know, ummmm, do you mind holding while I just find that out?
No, that’s fine. Thank you.
Cos yeah, I don’t know that. I’ll just check that.
On hold for 4 minutes , 49 seconds.
OK thanks for holding.
No worries
Ah yes there is a charge except it’s charged at depending on which provider you are with.
Right-e-o
Or, rather that provider you call from.
Yup
So, and then you would need to find that out through them.
Oh Ok, so do you
(couple of seconds of us both speaking at once)
Sorry...
Yeah nah we can’t charge for a call coming into our service
Yup
Ah, what it is it’s basically like yeah so if you call from your Telecom phone to your Vodafone mobile, you know it’s going to cost you the same because Telecom’s rates will be whatever their rates are where as with Slingshot it would be slightly different and so on.
So it will be different from calling a mobile.. rate?
Yeah, it will be different but there still will be a charge but it will be charged depending on which provider you call from.
Oh ok.
So if you call from...
But it won’t be mobile rates? It’ll be like...
We’ll I don’t know, it depends on what they um what the other provider have set their prices at.
Right-e-o
So if you call from Telecom it could be, I don’t know like 30 cents or whatever whereas you call from Telstra’s home phone and it could be 40 cents, I mean i’m just giving you prices out of the head, nothing to quote me on but yeah.
Yup, it’s just that I was wondering, because the number started with 028 it’s kinda similar to like 027 or 021 so it....is it like a mobile call? Am I going to be charged a mobile phone rate or...?
Um I wouldn’t know. You have to, that’s why i’m saying you to actually speak to they um provider.
Right-e-o.
So like if you were to call form like, yeah if you give Telecom a call and say hey if I ring this number, what sort of rates will I get or what sort of charges will I get.
No worries.
Alrighty?
OK Thank You.
No worries mate, cya.
Bye.

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