Why Is The Government Charging 55P A Minute To Benefit Claimants?

[Truthteller88]

This issue was raised in Prime Ministers Questions today.
Is this a scandal in the making?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-jeremy-corbyn-government-helpline-welfare-claimants-charge-per-minute-help-theresa-a7994601.html

[Buenchico]

The charge is only 55p per minute if (very unusually) you've got a mobile tariff that charges that price for calls to normal landline numbers. (I'm not actually aware of any mobile phone service which charges that much. The highest price I've seen is 30p per minute for some PAYG services, and that only applies where the user isn't purchasing 'bundles', as most PAYG users now do anyway).

The helpline service uses an 0345 number, which Ofcom rules state phone service providers must charge at the same rate as 01 or 02 numbers. So if callers are using a mobile phone with 'included minutes' for such numbers, they'll get the calls free of charge. Similarly, if they're using a package from BT (or any other landline provider) with free daytime calls to landlines, they won't pay anything.

[gingejbee]

No....not a scandal in the making.
"UP TO 55p"....and, I suspect most people pay very little with included minutes in a typical telecoms package...

[Islay]

As has been said it is mobile calls to the helplines that cost if you use a landline then it is charged at local rates

[ToraToraTora]

they only get charged that when they use their £795 Iphone 6 !

[gulliver1]

Because the Conservative Party is the Party that wants to help the working class , what is 55p a minute to a CON.

[webbo3]

gulliver1

\\Because the Conservative Party is the Party that wants to help the working class , what is 55p a minute to a CON.//

have you read ANY of the previous answers.


Dave.

[fiction-factory]

Gulliver, are you deliberately ignoring the points made above?

[gulliver1]

19.58 You are talking a load of Flowers and Frolics.

[sunny-dave]

Jesus wept - there are either some spectacularly dim people in politics (and on here), or some people will just use any excuse for a fight.

Chris has already said it, but it needs to be said again ... repeat after me until it actually sinks in :

0345 numbers :

**are exactly the same as any 01 or 02 number **

It only costs 55p if it would also cost the person 55p for **any** chargeable call - that's not a scandal - it's just what the person pays for phone calls.

[ladybirder]

ff yes he is, as usual.

[emeritus]

She is ladybirder

[Spicerack]

Liz Truss handled this very badly on the DP.
Even, especially, if it's a rare occurrence, she should have agreed it was wrong and promised to 'look into it'/pass on her concerns to the appropriate department.
Another woman over promoted in the name of diversity, imo.

[fiction-factory]

Even though most won't pay 55p a minute I'm not sure why it is considered appropriate to charge such a rate to anyone with queries about welfare.
For gulliver/ladybirder this has gone on for some time- even under Labour (probably the wrong brand of Labour for you). I was annoyed in 2009 when I was claiming JSA that I had to pay premium rates for some calls

[fiction-factory]

^sorry ladybirder - shouldn't have name-checked you there!

[ladybirder]

ff I was just wondering what that was about. Apology accepted.
emeritus, sorry, I did know that but forgot:-(

[gulliver1]

F/F 20.36 I also accept your apology ,thank you.

[Truthteller88]

Apparently some clarification needed here....
First: Most benefit claimants do NOT have good credit which means they are stuck on high-tariff, Pay-as-you-go plans, which is where the 55p comes from.
Very few can afford BT landlines.
The article quoted that a CALL-BACK service is available to those who can't stay on the line. But it takes at least 5 minutes to go thru all the menu options and recorded messages, costing the caller a minimum of £2.75 a call before they can exercise that option.

Finally, and most importantly, WHY CHARGE THE POOREST, MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY FOR PHONE CALLS TO A DEPARTMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HELP THEM?

I notice no one has even tried to answer that yet. Not even the Prime Minister.

[Buenchico]

>>> Most benefit claimants do NOT have good credit which means they are stuck on high-tariff, Pay-as-you-go plans, which is where the 55p comes from.

As I wrote above, I'm unaware of any mobile phone providers who actually charge 55p per minute. Even Vodafone only charges 30p per minute for PAYG users who don't buy 'bundles but a just fiver per month gets a bundle which effectively brings the price down to 5p per minute (with loads of texts and data thrown in as well).

Asda Mobile charges just 8p per minute (which is slightly cheaper than a BT landline) to PAYG users without 'bundles' but spending just a fiver per month on a 'bundle' takes the price per minute down to 4p (again with texts and data thrown in as well).

So the cost of using a mobile to call an 0345 number is often LESS than from a BT landline.

[naomi24]

Poor little Gulliver. She doesn't read answers - or questions.

[saintpeter48]

I agree with the comment from spicerack, Liz Truss handled the question very badly on Daily Politics Show, Andrew Neil had her tied up in knots where she just wouldn't answer the question, she should've just said that she would raise the concern with the relevant minister and that would've been the end of it, she looked way out of her depth and unsympathetic to the poor of society!