Talktalk agrees to scrap 101 call charges paid by 6m customers
SIX MILLION more people are to be spared phone charges to report crimes to police, after Talktalk yesterday became the latest telecoms firm to announce it would scrap the charge on calling 101.
After a similar move by Vodafone, 13million extra phone users will now be able to make free calls to the nonemergency 101 line, amid growing outrage that victims have to pay to report crimes.
The Daily Telegraph revealed yesterday that Vodafone was to axe the 15p flat-rate charge for 101 calls for its seven million pay-as-you-go customers from the end of this month. Lycamobile also disclosed that its 2.5million customers did not have to pay the charge.
The moves pile pressure on other big operators, including EE, O2, Three and Virgin Media.
Talktalk said: “We recognise the importance of the 101 service so are pleased to announce our intention to support The Telegraph’s campaign to remove the charges for these calls.”
O2 said: “We continually review the services we offer to our customers.”
Virgin Media said: “We will carefully consider any guidance that comes from the Home Office’s review.” EE said it had “no plans” to drop the charge, while Three said: “We will be discussing 101 calls with the Government.”
The Home Office was yesterday accused of exploiting crime victims after it quietly ditched from its main Police. uk website the direct numbers of all 43 forces that victims can use to report crimes. Instead users are directed to 101.
Lines using 01, 02 and 03 numbers are generally cheaper than 101 numbers because most people are on inclusive packages with unlimited calls.
David Hickson, of the Fair Telecoms campaign, said it was not only “unquestionably bad” for crime victims but would have a “serious” effect on those with pay-as-you-go contracts.
David Green, the director of think tank Civitas, said: “Non-emergency calls are being exploited to extract more cash from us. The announcement that the 15p charge may be cancelled is overdue.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “The 101 non-emergency number is staffed 24-hours a day unlike local police force numbers, which may be subject to change. That is why, following a consultation with police forces last year, 101 replaced individual force numbers on Police.uk. However, Police.uk provides links to a list of individual force websites where further contact information can be found.”
But analysis by The Telegraph suggested half the forces did not have alternative numbers on their websites.
13m The number of phone users who will be able to make free calls to 101 after Talktalk joined Vodafone in scrapping charges