07624* is billed by Three and T-Mobile as an international text?

If this is accurate, it’s just ridiculous. Got it in via the anonymous form.

Here’s what I understand has been going on.

The 07624 UK number range is operated by Manx Telecom — the Isle of Man telecoms company.

For some reason, T-Mobile customers and Three customers are being charged international rates to send text messages to that block of numbers. How do I know this? Well, the anonymous commentary — there is a heck of a lot — indicates subscribers to those networks have been complaining and asking for clarification.

The number range is in use all over the place — as a quick Google search shows. Even the BBC News 24’s operates 07624 800 100 (bottom of the page on tha tlink).

Surely it’s a bit naughty for these operators to classify a number range that you, I and anyone else would recognise as thoroughly ‘British’ as an international rate text?

Can anyone shed any light on this? Are the end-users with the proof of this on their bills just a tiny exception? A temporary billing error?