Skype - beware 13 & 1300 charges

[albatross710]

Just to make everyone aware Skype has a special premuim rate call category which appears on your account as "Shared Cost". It covers calls to 13 xx xx and 1300 xx_ xx_ numbers. It is charged at 32 cents per minute instead of a flat 6.5c.

Of course we all know that all other carriers in Australia charge a flat fee 25 cents for calls to these numbers. Extra from mobiles.

Therefore if you sit on hold at 13 number to Qantas/Virgin Blue, AAMi etc etc on a Skype call you will quickly drain your credit. Use their companys' "overseas' number ie +61 2 xx_x xx_x which will be charged at the usual price.

I posted a note into the Skype forum. General agreement from Australian users that it is a rip off.

I contacted the Telecommunications Ombudsman but unfortunately Skype falls outside of their scope.

Next stop is the ACCC.

In general we have switched all of our outbound home calls to our wireless Skype handset. Our monthly bill is now 33% of previouis Telstra cost...but we do make sure we use out landline for 13 & 1300 numbers. Would only have to sit on hold to Westpac and the savings would be gone.

 

[SFSC]

Use their companys' "overseas' number ie +61 2 xx_x xx_x which will be charged at the usual price.

I often dredge through the T&C issued by various companies to obtain their "calling from overseas" number to use via VOIP rather than use a 1300 number through Telstra.

If it's not a breach of any AFF usage guides (moderators?), I'll start a thread in this subforum listing some of these numbers I have used in the hope that others will post the ones I don't know.

 

[simongr]

Thanks for this - I often use Skype to call QF - guess that will change...

 

[albatross710]

simongr can you dare to have a look at your call history on the Skype website just to check that this is indeed the case.

if there is an inconsistency that will help me in my efforts with them.

let me know here how they are billing those QF and other 13 calls

(if you get a chance of course)

 

[simongr]

I iwll check later - need to get this laptop swapped to my old one so I can actually access skpye (slight wine incident).

Cheers

S

 

[aus_flyer]

I just tried calling Qantas on +61131313 and it said 8.2c/minute

 

[simongr]

I wasn't able to access my call history on the Skype website

 

[v8Statesman]

Hope this helps,

This is from NOV last year when I had to call my Mobile phone carrier while I was overseas.

Nov 10 09:29 +61133320 Australia-Shared Cost Call €0,050 06:25 €0,389
Nov 10 09:25 +61133320 Australia-Shared Cost Call €0,050 02:01 €0,189

 

[albatross710]

hmmm..cheaper for calls in pounds but still timed! This is mine from last weekend:

Feb 23 20:50 +611300xx_xx_ Australia-Shared Cost Call $ 0.323 01:28 $ 0.705

i. We know they definately use timed rates for 13 calls
ii. Rates vary depending on your selected home country (perhaps?)

 

[v8Statesman]

hmmm..cheaper for calls in pounds but still timed! This is mine from last weekend:

Feb 23 20:50 +611300xx_xx_ Australia-Shared Cost Call $ 0.323 01:28 $ 0.705

i. We know they definately use timed rates for 13 calls
ii. Rates vary depending on your selected home country (perhaps?)

Wow, That is a massive difference between the Euro and the Aussie. I don't understand that. The only reason I use Euro's, is when I signed up that was the native skype currency, and the AUD was not available.

 

[Commuter]

I have got the feeling that the call costs to those numbers went up since eBay bought Skype? I don't recall it having been that expensive to call the untimed numbers like 1300 and 13 numbers in Australia a while ago but now it seems to be guzzling up the credit.

 

[serfty]

OT: To call the USA (I'm booking a RTW), I have been using a $10 "Hello, Europe Card".

It lasts for 3 months from first use and you get at least 20 hours with it.

I have yet to have an issue. (e.g. Congestion)

This morning a 26 minute call to the AA RTW desk cost 49¢ of available credit.

 

[Commuter]

The Skype call I made to a 13 number today cost me EUR 0.05 per minute. That's pretty expensive considering that it's normally capped at 25c.