In Hong Kong, a variety of access codes (e.g. 001, 00X, 00XY, where X and Y stand for numerals) for International Direct Dialling (IDD) services are offered by different operators. As many consumers are aware that IDD service with "001" as the access code may incur higher rates, they have subscribed to the cheaper IDD service.
Currently, most of the operators providing IDD service offer both "001" and other IDD access codes. However, most of the operators do not deactivate IDD "001" service (while keeping the IDD services with other access codes) for their customers. Under such circumstance, disputes may arise in the event of unintentional triggering of the more expensive IDD service with the "001" access code. In these cases, customers intend to make IDD calls via their preferred (and registered) IDD service access codes because of lower charges. But the "001" access code is triggered unintentionally, resulting in charges higher than that expected.
Therefore, if you want to make an IDD call, you should key in the preferred access code followed by the telephone number of the called party, or retrieve a stored telephone number of the called party with the preferred access code in the "phonebook" of your telephone / mobile handset. If you want to avoid using IDD "001" service, please do not make quick dialing by retrieving the telephone numbers directly from the "Call History Record" or "Display of Incoming Calls" of your telephone / mobile handset. This is because the country codes in these records are usually prefixed with "+", which represents "001". You should change "+" into your preferred access code (depending on whether your IDD service provider also provides IDD "001" service and services with other access codes, and whether IDD "001" service could be deactivated automatically).
The following diagram illustrates how IDD calls are charged -
Remark: Not applicable to some service providers which do not offer IDD "001" service and those providers which do deactivate IDD "001" service (while keeping the IDD services with other access codes) for customers.
If in doubt, you should clarify the keying procedures with your service provider before using IDD services. You may also refer to the user information (such as leaflets, manuals on the use of services and web sites of the service providers) from time to time, so as to obtain the up-to-date information.
Office of the Communications Authority
21 March 2019