While not part of X factor, the unofficial free votes system is now proven to work, yet the amount of votes is limited so you need to go quick to get them. However there's no problem trying as you only need click a web page after the votings started and you're told whether they're still on or not.

The reason for the variance in number of votes is simple; the free votes website depends on an advertiser funding each call, so it's reliant on the advertiser's budget each week.

The amount of available X-factor free votes

• Week 1: 10,000 free votes
• Week 2: 30,000 free votes
• Week 3: 0 free votes
• Week 4: 10,000 free votes (went within 30 mins of vote opening)
• Week 5: 2,000 free votes
• Week 6: 2,000 free votes

To keep up to date on the latest with the free X factor votes, get the free weekly MoneySaving e-mail. Plus as the free votes are also a good sample of the overall result itself, the sites promised to tell us who won the 'free vote poll' and we'll tell you too.

How it works

It's a series of simple steps...

• Find the specific Free2call number
  
  Go to Free2call and find the specific 03-type number for the act you're voting for. The numbers only appear during the time voting's open, so if you look at the site outside this window numbers won't be displayed.
  
  03s are a relatively new number range that don't generate revenue for the company called, and cost exactly the same as normal calls to UK landlines (that is, those starting 01 or 02).
  
  And, most importantly, if you have inclusive calls to landlines, then 03 numbers are free too if dialled at the right time.
  
  As even the basic BT line rental package includes free calls to landlines at weekends, when these votes are cast, that means many people will be calling for free.
  
  For anyone else, including those on pay as you go tariffs, voting WON'T be free but will cost the price of a local call on your package. Though this is still substantially less than the typical 35p per minute fee from a landline (or £1 on most mobiles) charged by calling direct.
  
  
• Listen to a 15-second advert
  
  Once you've dialled the number you'll listen to a 15-second advert.
  
  After that, the service will route your call to the actual X Factor number where you should hear confirmation your vote's been registered. Wait for this announcement to ensure your vote's counted.
  
  If lines are shut – indicating you're too early or too late to vote – you'll hear an engaged tone.
  
  The cost of the more expensive routed call to X Factor is paid for by Free2call with the revenue generated by its advertisers.
  

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Does it really work?

So far, when the service is available, it seems to work (see the 10,000 vote for free on X Factor MSE News story), please feedback in the discussion thread if you were, plus how you found the process. The service has received generally good feedback so far but we would like as many opinions as possible.

The RSPCA has been Free2call's only major sponsor, but the key to its survival really is whether more advertisers pick it up.

Of course, as the votes cast via Free2call are modest amounts compared to how many the official X Factor lines handle, we will still be monitoring the service to see how it copes with increased demand.

Updates on the service and when it extends to other reality TV shows will be included in the weekly e-mail.

The telecoms regulator Ofcom says the system seems to be compliant with relevant rules, though X Factor is keen to point out this isn't an official route and it has nothing to do with it.

The most important thing to remember is...

It's free if you've inclusive minutes on your home phone or mobile, so the worst that can happen is you listen to an ad but don't get to vote.

It's all about capacity

How well it works depends on how good the capacity of the phone system is, both in taking calls and then in connecting it through to the TV company voting lines.

There are three main outcomes possible when you call:

• You get through and vote.
  
  If all works well you'll listen to an advert and then hear the X Factor voting system. Unless there's deliberate trickery, which is unlikely, this means your vote has been counted.
  
  
• You get an engaged tone when you call.
  
  This means the system can't cope with the number of callers coming in at that time, so you may want to try again.
  
  
• You get connected, hear the ad, but don't get through to vote.
  
  Here you would listen to the advert but then hear blank air or an engaged tone when you should be hearing confirmation of your vote, as the system doesn't have the interconnect capacity.
  
  

What X Factor says about this

Before the service started we spoke to X Factor itself, which understandably, as the control-driven organisation it is, was keen to distance itself from this concept and knew little about it when we first contacted it.

However it did confirm it isn't allowed to block people being connected through to its phone systems. So if you're connected, the vote – which is independently audited – will count. Plus, of course, it still earns revenue if you call. It said:

"Free2call.tv is not an official voting partner for The X Factor and is therefore not authorised by talkbackThames/Syco or ITV.

We have attempted to investigate the claims made by the company, but it has so far refused to engage with us or BT, and as a result we are unable to reassure viewers that the systems used by Free2call.tv would be able to adequately process the call volumes that it anticipates.  

This may mean that votes cast using these unauthorised lines are not counted.

The X Factor's official voting lines use a highly advanced vote collation system specifically designed for the show, using BT's RIDE technology, which is audited and approved by Ofcom and PhonePayPlus and capable of handling millions of calls.

In order to ensure that their votes are properly counted, we would urge viewers to think very carefully before voting via any method that has not been subject to such high levels of scrutiny."

What Free2call said

As this is Free2call's first venture, we have no track record to judge it on, so it is a question of taking it at its word. Yet its response to the X Factor's comments were

"Free2call would like to confirm that we have made a repeated attempt to contact TalkbackThames with no response as yet. We look forward to discussing with them their legitimate concerns regarding our product.

We are operating a telephone service in conjunction with a tier 1 service provider similar to the one X Factor uses. We are confident of our service levels, know our limitations and have taken steps to ensure that the product we provide will be premium quality and family friendly."

Who to complain to if it goes wrong

It's hoped there'll be no problems and this works out to be a great free service. Though X Factor's concern is it will receive complaints if this system does not work, which could impact its reputation.

You could contact Free2call and complain to it directly, but if it's swamped with capacity it's unlikely you'll get through right at that moment, so remember to do it at a later time.

If it turns out many people are listening to adverts then not being able to vote, it could be seen as an advertising breach and may need reporting.

If you experience this, please feedback in the Free X Factor Votes discussion thread and we'll communicate the problem.

Quick Q&A

Can I call more than once?

Yes. You can vote for as many acts as you like, as many times as you like. If you multi-vote for the same act, it's more than likely you'll hear the same ad.

How does Free2call make money?

Its revenue's generated by the companies whose ads you listen to, though some of this cash goes towards paying the cost of routing the call through to X Factor. In other words, the amount you'd pay if you called its official line directly.

This means X Factor isn't missing out on any cash it would've otherwise got if you'd voted directly.

The cost to put a call through for Free2call is estimated at 30p per call which equates to an advertising cost of £30 per 1,000 calls. This is on the high end so it will be interesting to see whether it sustains the business model.

What ads will be played?

We've been assured only family-friendly ads will be used, including nothing sexual, promoting smoking or alcohol-related.

Will it work for other shows?

The web service has launched in time for X Factor's voting stages and the site hopes all reality TV shows, including Big Brother, Dancing On Ice and I'm A Celebrity, will eventually be covered.

At the moment, Strictly Come Dancing isn't included, but the site's optimistic that it'll be able to cater for later rounds in the current series.

Do any other services do the same thing?

The logic behind the idea is identical to one operator providing Free Directory Enquiries in return for listening to an advert.

Simply call a local rate number using your free mobile or landline minutes, listen to a 20 to 30-second advert and then you're asked questions about your enquiry.

Also, this type of voting model is used in the USA. There, voting for American Idol act is free and the sponsorship model is an official system. It's likely with new, more relaxed rules on product placement due in the UK that more of these free votes firms will appear.