(PENDING)Phonesafe, Beware!!!!!

[mmm-five]

Gareth79 said:

Looking at an advert with Phonesafe, the deceptive thing is the link text is "Pricing info" which doesn't really tell the user that the call charges will be more than they might expect. It's so vague it could even be seen as a link to pricing information about that car model. "Call costs" or "Call charges" would be FAR more helpful.

As I've pointed out in the past, and it still hasn't been changed...

Firstly, the phone safe number is a 'personal number' or 'premium rate' number that just happens to start with the same 2 digits that most mobile phone numbers do, so is easy to overlook.

Despite the PSA Code of Practice, 14th Edition, Section 2.2.7 regarding Premium Rate Services (PRS) stating...

PSA said:

In the course of any promotion of a PRS, written or spoken or in any medium, the cost must be included before any purchase is made and must be prominent, clearly legible, visible and proximate to the premium rate number.

...the pricing info is placed behind a friendly looking logo...which admittedly did get updated as it didn't even have the 'pricing info' words/link underneath and you had to realise that you had to click the logo to get the pricing info.

It does not say that you can hide this information behind a link or a friendly-looking logo.

Once you do click the 'pricing info' link, there's more The 'pricing info' also clearly states/promises that "Buyers who contact a seller through PhoneSafe will be charged only a small amount more than direct calls.".

The standard weekday & evening calls rate for land lines is upto 13p a minute, so "a small amount more" in these cases is about 100%-200% more!

It also doesn't clearly state - again ignoring the code of conduct - that there may also be connection/access charges added to your call cost.

Of course, none of this takes into account those who have land & mobile contracts that include free minutes, and are expecting a £0 bill for chatting to a seller for 30 mins.

Edited by mmm-five on Saturday 22 April 10:39

[pincher]

It's very grubby behaviour by HM/PH and leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

[VGTICE]

pincher said:

It's very grubby behaviour oh the part of PH.

Hey no naming and shaming, ok? We're all highly ethical on here.

[Dan_1981]

25 pages of complaining without a result..... why doesn't someone actually contact the watchdog?

[ChocolateFrog]

Dan_1981 said:

25 pages of complaining without a result..... why doesn't someone actually contact the watchdog?

Not to mention 8 years.

[FWIW]

Dan_1981 said:

25 pages of complaining without a result..... why doesn't someone actually contact the watchdog?

They don't appear to be interested...

[RossP]

I want to buy a car.

There are a couple on PH that I am interested in.

I am aware of the extortionate charges of 'PhoneSafe' because of this thread.

It is FIFTY FIVE PENCE a minute to call from my mobile!!!! That is not a 'small amount more' as I get unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles in my package. It is a BLOODY RIPOFF!!!

Sellers should be made aware that they are potentially losing buyers as a result of this total scam.

I like PH but this is an absolute disgrace.

[Cyder]

And back to the top again.

Come on Haymarket, why not just either tell us to ps off it makes you a lot of money and you don't care about the end user instead of pretending you're looking into it?

It's really very simple to close the issue one way or the other.

[Ahbefive]

I bought a car off someone on PH, made sure I emailed him and got a prooer number.

[pincher]

Has this been fixed yet?

How's the replacement coming on?

[Unexpected Item In Bagging Area]

Four months ago KatieM said:

...

3) When this thread was active a while ago, we checked to ensure that how we display the information is compliant, and it is. I do agree that we can do more to display some of the call rates from other providers within the phonesafe page. I will look into getting it updated.
...

Has this been done yet?

[thebraketester]

They said they were sorting it back in Feb. Cut them some slack. ;-)

[pinchmeimdreamin]

thebraketester said:

They said they were sorting it back in 2009. Cut them some slack. ;-)

Fixed that for you

[Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area]

Don't worry Katie, you take your time.

[johnwilliams77]

KatieM said:

The replacement solution has been identified, it is the same one from last year. We've had to go back and forth with the supplier to try and get them to meet our requirements. As I mentioned previously, none of the other suppliers we went to could give us the service we needed. Tie that in with our lack of resource and inevitably projects are pushed back. I'm sorry it's not here already, but a functioning and stable website had to take precedence.

Thanks for the update.
Look forward to these promising changes!

[Vaud]

Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area said:

Don't worry Katie, you take your time.

You are mistaking them for a company that cares. I'm sure the individuals are frustrated and do care, but the company does not care.

[FWIW]

Vaud said:

You are mistaking them for a company that cares. I'm sure the individuals are frustrated and do care, but the company does not care.

You'll be banned for such talk...

[Vaud]

FWIW said:

You'll be banned for such talk...

I'm not having a pop at any individuals. All those that I have engaged with have been very helpful and positive. I'm having a pop at Haymarket.

[FWIW]

Vaud said:

I'm not having a pop at any individuals. All those that I have engaged with have been very helpful and positive. I'm having a pop at Haymarket.

:lol:

[Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area]

Bump, in case anyone in PH Towers feels like doing their job. It's been over seven years now