Meteor Overcharging - illegal??

padser

This is an almost identitical post that I posted in consumer issues - I did so their to alert people but am just wondering what people here think from a legal point of view (although I have far too little time to do much other then complain to their customer service)

Voicemail on Meteor on my plan is meant to be free.

It turns out that when your phone receives a voice message if you click 'Listen to voice message' the default (and unchangeable) settings on some (both phones that I have checked so far) phones ring 087 (5) xxxxxxxx for which meteor charge.

However if you ring 171 its a free call.

Assuming there is no specific clause, and the T&C simply state that voicemail from your own phone is free I can't see how Meteor can make this distinction and charge for one simply becuase a different code was typed in.


Anyone got any thoughts (assume that there is nothing about it in the T&C as I don't have time to check and am asking for curiousity's sake really)

cast_iron

I'm not sure what phones you are checking, but any I've seen you could change the voicemail number. What phones are you on about?

Meteor advertise their voicemail number as 171, not 085-5xxxxxxx, so they are not advertising it falsely.

It seems odd that they appear to be pre-loading the 085-5xxxxxxx number as default, but I can't see how it could be considered illegal.

Tom Young

Padser, simple: Dial 171 or reconfigure the voicemail number. One would also want to be really sure that one didn't reconfigure one's voicemailbox settings which could be very easily done if say, for example one was making an amendments to the call fowarding settings.

The 171 range is a network or special services number, closed network and in compliance with the national numbering conventions as a closed network number allocated to the Mobile Network Operators.

The 08X-5-XXX-YYYZZZ number is a national call and you are billed at network tariffs for accessing a national number regardless, as you are in-fact making a call.

The Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2007. Make aspects of overcharing illegal under the new powers ComReg has. My reading of the Bill (not Act) was that effectively the powers ComReg has on the matter would be subject to normal legal processes.

User to user (non legal) advice: reconfigure mobile to dial 171.

padser

Tom, while I understand all that it doesn't really address my point.

I am on a tariff option which clearly states that my voicemail access is free.

My phone has a default setting to listen to my voicemail for which I get charged. Meteor's system clearly know that it's my mobile ringing -as they don't ask for the pin - but still charge me for something I am meant to get for free.

I am pretty sure (unless its in the T&C that i must ring 171 to get it free) that this is a breech of my tariff terms

johnnyskeleton

padser wrote:

I am on a tariff option which clearly states that my voicemail access is free.

To put the other side, I would draw a distinction between voicemail access (listening to messages etc) and a "Voicemail call" (dialling 171 or related numbers). I would suggest that the terms do not confer an absolute right to check voicemail free of charge, but rather allow the customer to make "Voicemail calls" i.e. ring the 171 number for free. In this regard the term "Voicemail calls" refers only to the actual 171 calls, and if another term were to charge per voicemail message received, or some other voicemail charge not related to the actual call, there would be no inconsistency between these two terms.

In the alternative, I would suggest that the terms might be interpreted that there is a way to access voicemail for free. It should be read that you can, if you take a certain course of action, access voicemail for free, but not that you will never be charged for checking your voicemail from the phone. The contract, I would argue, does not allow a person to access their voicemail for free in all circumstances, but rather there is an option for them to make free voicemail calls. To allow a customer to make 085 5 XXX XXXX calls for free would be, I would argue, no different than allowing them to check their voicemail from a landline or another mobile phone for free.

That said, setting the default to 085 5 XXX XXXX sounds like dodgy dealing and, if it were the case, the ODCA would probably be interested to hear about it.