- 1800 Reverse
1800 Reverse is an
Australia n reverse charge call service. The service also operates in theUnited Kingdom , using the number 0800 REVERSE (advertised as "0800ЯEVERSE"). In the United Kingdom, the number can be called for free on somemobile network s, although if the person being contacted via this service would be charged a considerable amount for accepting such a call.1800 Reverse has been advertised on television with
Holly Valance and advertisements are on most phone boxes around Australia. The calls that can be made with 1800 reverse are from anywhere in Australia from phone boxes, mobile phones and home phone to any home phone in Australia. A new service has been launched by 1800 Reverse allowing reverse charged calls to Australia from other countries, named 8000 Reverse.Complaints
People receiving a call through 0800 Reverse are charged at least 3.50
GBP for accepting the call, plus a minimum three-minute call charge (i.e. a minimum of 8.00 GBP per call), but the commercial did not show these charges. The Advertising Standards Authority said the cost was likely to influence a viewer's decision to use the service and a recipient's decision whether to accept a call. They also said that their tests of 0800 Reverse revealed that the automated operator did not mention these charges.The service was also the subject of a Watchdog investigation due to its high charges, and failure to inform users of its cost [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/reports/services/services_20070418_2.shtml Watchdog investigates the reverse-charge telephone service] ] .
Holly Valance advertisement
On
25 January 2006 , theAdvertising Standards Authority banned the TV advert starring pop starHolly Valance in the United Kingdom for misleading consumers about the costs of calls. [" [http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F3CC87DF-2F2A-4754-9C40-2EC23F0EC54C/0/Broadcastreport25Jan06.pdf ASA broadcast report] " (PDF).]Alternatives
The UK version, "0800 reverse" charges a 3.50
GBP "connection charge" and 1.00GBP per minute in call charges [ [http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/current/Inland_Operator_boo/2106_d0e1.htm 0800 Reverse - Reverse Charge Calls] ] .An alternative (in the UK at least) is to dial 100 (i.e. the operator) from any payphone, and ask to make a reverse charge call [ [http://bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cci/bt_adp.php?p_faqid=9596&cat_lvl1=345&cat_lvl2=350&cat_lvl3=362&p_cv=3.362&p_cats=345,350,362&com.bea.event.type=linkclick&oLName=link.searchresults&oLDesc=KB_989 How do I make a reverse charge call?] ] .
Usage
To use the service in Australia, the number 1800, followed by REVERSE, which in numbers makes 1800 7383773, must be dialed from a
telephone This service can be used on a mobile but not a landline. It cannot be used to call freephone or mobile numbers, and cannot call the user's number.
References
External links
* [http://www.1800reverse.com.au 1800 Reverse] - Official WWW site, Australia
* [http://www.0800reverse.co.uk/ 0800 Reverse] - Official WWW site, UK
* [http://bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cci/bt_adp.php?p_faqid=9596&cat_lvl1=345&cat_lvl2=350&cat_lvl3=362&p_cv=3.362&p_cats=345,350,362&com.bea.event.type=linkclick&oLName=link.searchresults&oLDesc=KB_989 How do I make a reverse charge call?] - "much" cheaper alternative provided by the network operator
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