Our evidence of call charges has been brought up-to-date. It’s been over three months since we last looked, and there have been a few developments.

Orange Pay as you Go 0845 calls have gone up from 12 pence per minute to 40 pence per minute, and this brings them into line with 0844 calls. Orange Pay Monthly customers now pay 35 pence per minute for 0844 and 0845 calls — both these used to be a fraction over 12 pence per minute.

All Virgin Mobile customers now pay 41 pence per minute to ring 0844 and 0845 numbers. This is the highest rate of all the mobile operators.

The call set-up fees charged by four landline providers have risen by around half a penny. The penalty rate — that’s the rate for calls made outside of a plan — on a number of providers’ packages has gone up around half a penny per minute.

A consultation by Ofcom on changes to the rules that govern price rises during fixed-term contracts has just closed. fairtelecoms has responded as part of the Consumer Forum for Communications (CFC).

At the moment, providers can increase charges and don’t have to let customers leave, without penalty, where increases aren’t of “material detriment”. The definition of this term varies by provider which results in inconsistency across the market.

Our view is that consumers should be free to leave contracts without having to pay a penalty when a provider increases the charge for the core part of a package. Where equipment, such as a mobile handset, was supplied as part of the deal, a provider should be free to charge for it for the remaining portion of the term.

NHS (Surrey and) Sussex has made a statement on GPs using premium rate 084 numbers in breach of their NHS contracts. This has been broadcast by BBC Sussex and Surrey and published by the West Sussex County Times. The fair telecoms campaign has responded.

A transcript covering the key points is available by clicking the "Info" button on the radio player, or the image to the left.