Ignored call charged?

[CathJ]

Hi,

If you get a call on your cellphone, and you hang up on it without answering (my phone has an 'ignore' button, or you can just push the red 'cancel call' button without answering), does the caller still get charged?

I would think not, but I just got my Telkom phone account yesterday, and there are a number of calls to a cellphone which I know weren't answered, but were charged for. So I'm wondering if hanging up like that actually answers the call and then hangs up. Although - the duration of the calls was from a few seconds up to 20 seconds, which seems a bit long for a 'answer-hangup' scenario.

Any thoughts?

 

[kingrob]

Hi,

If you get a call on your cellphone, and you hang up on it without answering (my phone has an 'ignore' button, or you can just push the red 'cancel call' button without answering), does the caller still get charged?

I would think not, but I just got my Telkom phone account yesterday, and there are a number of calls to a cellphone which I know weren't answered, but were charged for. So I'm wondering if hanging up like that actually answers the call and then hangs up. Although - the duration of the calls was from a few seconds up to 20 seconds, which seems a bit long for a 'answer-hangup' scenario.

Any thoughts?

Did the callers leave voice messages?

 

[bwana]

I would think not, but I just got my Telkom phone account yesterday, and there are a number of calls to a cellphone which I know weren't answered, but were charged for.

Do you recall if you were diverted to voice mail?

 

[Fudzy]

Why were you phoning someone that was hanging up on you?

 

[CathJ]

Do you recall if you were diverted to voice mail?

Nope, they hung up before it went to voicemail.

 

[CathJ]

Why were you phoning someone that was hanging up on you?

lol. Nothing sinister, I was just testing something with a friend

 

[bwana]

Nope, they hung up before it went to voicemail.

I would query those charges in that case.

 

[CathJ]

Wow. I got a reply from Telkom today - apparently the charges are correct. Their explanation is that even though the calls weren't answered, they crossed to another network and thus will be charged for.

This is pretty shocking - I'm sure most people aren't aware that you're charged for any call from a Telkom line to another network, regardless of whether or not the call is answered!

I wonder if the other networks do the same thing? If I call a MTN number from a Vodacom sim, and then hang up before it's answered, would I be charged?

 

[bwana]

Wow. I got a reply from Telkom today - apparently the charges are correct. Their explanation is that even though the calls weren't answered, they crossed to another network and thus will be charged for.

This is pretty shocking - I'm sure most people aren't aware that you're charged for any call from a Telkom line to another network, regardless of whether or not the call is answered!

I wonder if the other networks do the same thing? If I call a MTN number from a Vodacom sim, and then hang up before it's answered, would I be charged?

That's ridiculous! Is it even legal?

 

[Pilgrim]

That's ridiculous! Is it even legal?

ROFLMAO

I can see the CEO of telscum saying "I will make it legal"

 

[bwana]

ROFLMAO

I can see the CEO of telscum saying "I will make it legal"

I usually picture them wearing a Judge Dread outfit, standing in front of the mirror practising the catch phrase "I am the law"

 

[Moederloos]

Analogy:

You go to Meat Co, order a Fillet, the waitron comes back and says "sorry, no fillet today", you order the Rump, and at the end of the night, get charged for the fillet and the rump.

 

[Pilgrim]

Analogy:

You go to Meat Co, order a Fillet, the waitron comes back and says "sorry, no fillet today", you order the Rump, and at the end of the night, get charged for the fillet and the rump.

Not to mention getting charged to enter Meat Co, charged for the amount of time you were there and an extra charge because you changed your order.

After waiting 3 to 9 months for the meat to arrive.

 

[Moederloos]

After waiting 3 to 9 months for the meat to arrive.

 

[Jase]

Why were you phoning someone that was hanging up on you?

If I am in a meeting and forgot to put my phone off, I hit the cancel and it diverts to voicmail.

 

[Moederloos]

If I am in a meeting and forgot to put my phone off, I hit the cancel and it diverts to voicmail.

I push "silence" and save the caller the fee.

In fact, I never switch my phone off - simply to do my bit to prevent Telkskommel and the other demons from profiting.

 

[CathJ]

I push "silence" and save the caller the fee.

In fact, I never switch my phone off - simply to do my bit to prevent Telkskommel and the other demons from profiting.

Except that apparently you're not saving the caller the fee, if they're calling from a Telkom number - once the call crosses the network, they're charged.

 

[bwana]

I push "silence" and save the caller the fee.

In fact, I never switch my phone off - simply to do my bit to prevent Telkskommel and the other demons from profiting.

Apparently once phone go ring-ring - telkom coffers go ka-ching

 

[stoke]

Fantastic news. Thanks. Another reason to not make calls to cellphones from landlines and vica-versa. VOIP and selective routing FTW!

 

[mikef]

Apparently once phone go ring-ring - telkom coffers go ka-ching

AFAIK this is not correct - at least not for an isdn landline

My system records outgoing calls as missed when one gets an engaged tone or disconnect while it is still ringing. The moment you hear any kind of announcement (i.e. voicemail, invalid number, not available, etc.) it records an outgoing call. I do not get charged for missed calls.

Also if one is on the closer option the call charge if you disconnect immediately on hearing the announcement is negligible as you are only charged for a 1 second call.