Industry premium rate helpline numbers banned
Airlines and other travel operators will be banned from using premium rate numbers for customer helplines from next year.
Carriers including Air France, Aer Lingus, Ryanair, National Express and Eurolines have been charging customers up to 41p a minute for calls from mobiles.
However, from next June, these calls will be charged at the same rate as dialing a standard-rate number following the introduction of a new EU consumer rights directive.
The ban on charging premium rates for consumer helplines, which usually begin 084 or 087 will affect most businesses, consumer affairs minister Jo Swinson announced yesterday.
But banks, finance companies and government departments will be exempt
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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