Liz Lynne welcomes BT move to end premium rate phone charges.

4.07.00pm GMT Fri 9th Jan 2009

LibDem Euro MP Liz Lynne has today welcomed BTs decision to scrap call charges for premium rate phone numbers beginning 0870 and 0845.

The West Midlands MEP, who is Vice President of the European Parliament Employment and Social Affairs Committee, has campaigned against the unfair charges, which see many banks, building societies and other utilities make money from people who call their service lines.

0870 and 0845 numbers were originally set up to allow companies to share call costs with their customers. However, as competition has pushed down basic telephone rates the numbers now regularly cost far more than a normal telephone call.

Liz has campaigned for changes since receiving complaints from constituents about unfair charges in 2006. She has asked the European Commission to look into the matter and also complained to OFCOM about the use of the numbers to generate excess profits.

Today's decision by BT will see the company become the first UK telephone company to make the numbers free of charge.

Speaking today Liz said she hoped their decision would spur other companies into action:

"I am very pleased that BT has decided to stop charging customers to use these numbers. For years people have been ripped off every time they dial 0870 or 0845, often completely unaware that the call will cost them far more than an average phone call

"Ofcom has standardised the prices customers pay, but this is still no excuse for charging customers extra for a service that can easily be run through the normal phone number system.

"I very much hope that others will follow BT's example and abandon charging for these lines altogether."

ENDS

Notes:

The full text of Liz's Parliamentary Question can be found at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2006-2259+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN