When Lo-Call ain't Cheap

1890 Phone Numbers pride themselves as 'Lo-Call' numbers, but this is not always the case.  'Lo-call' refers to the ability to call an 1890 number from a mobile phone for the cost of calling from a landline.  However, not only are 1890 phone numbers not included in a mobile phone monthly plan, but additional charges often incur.

Take O2 for example. Their website notes a monthly bill-pay subscriber would be charged 35c per minute for an 1890 call.  Oftentimes 1890 numbers are used by companies and bodies who may require the caller to wait on hold or being transferred several times.  This would be very costly to the caller.

Furthermore, many government agencies use 1890 numbers.  We looked at 21 government departments and agencies who listed 1890 numbers on their websites.  Of those 21, only 6 noted that calls to the number may result in different rates depending on the service provider. Bodies like the MABs, the National Consumer Agency or the Dáil all offer an 1890 number, but do not advise that  these calls may well be more expensive than the landline alternative.

It is unfair that a 15 minute call to a body like the National Consumer Agency, MABS or your local TD would result in a €5 bill.  Particularly as the the caller may be totally unaware! 

We  are asking that  all government agencies clearly note 1890 phone calls may result in additional fees for mobile phone consumers and that agencies also offer an alternative land-line number, which would be cheaper to a caller. We have contacted a number of them, and for example, the Oireachtas has now updated their website in this regard.

We are also in the process of contacting the main mobile phone networks in this regard, asking them to make sure Lo-Call numbers result in genuine Lo-Call charges.


For more information on the 1890 numbers, as well as geographic alternatives to 1890 numbers, check out ValueIreland.com's SayNoto1890 website.

Survey:

* indicates that when the survey was carried out, the website had a note beside the Lo-Call number saying something like: Note that the rates charged for the use of 1890 (LoCall) numbers may vary among different service providers