Samaritans in Spain and the 902 number

EVERY now and then someone complains that Samaritans in Spain are making money from callers who use the service.

This is based on the fact that all 902 numbers are premium rate numbers. This could not be further from the truth; in fact, it costs SiS money to run this service.

The problem arises from Telefonica lumping premium RATE and premium SERVICE into the one 902 range.

Whether the number is premium rate or premium service depends on the fourth number. 902 followed by 1, 2, 3 or 4 are premium rates, from which the receiving company benefits financially.

The 902 numbers followed by 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 are to provide a premium service, from which the receiver gains no financial benefit.

For example, the charity Samaritans in Spain uses the number 902 88 35 35, the fourth digit is 8, meaning the number is not connected to any local telephone exchange and allows the Samaritans to have phones in several locations attached to the 902 88 35 35 number.

This means that whenever someone calls their number, whether they are calling from Madrid, Barcelona, Marbella or the Balearics, they are connected to the next available listener.

 All Samaritans in Spain calls to 902 88 numbers are charged at national call rates. From landlines the connection charge is €0.08 plus €0.04/min: Mon-Fri 20:00-08:00, weekends and public holidays, and €0.07/min: Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00.

Calls from mobiles are CONSIDERABLY more. Mobile providers set their own rates ranging from 0.20 cents per minute, to over 0.80 cents per minute, plus a connection charge from 0.12 to 0.20 cents.

Samaritans in Spain have no control over these charges, nor do they benefit from them.

Further information about Samaritans in Spain can be found on www.samaritansinspain.com or Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Samaritans-in-Spain/342312575891259

The Samaritans’ service in Spain is provided by Costa Blanca Samaritans, a not-for-profit organisation registered with Generalitat Valenciana: CV-01-042952-A and NIF: G54341466.