0870 Revenge!

Having read Martin’s previous articles on the 0870 rip offs, I did some searching and decided to have our own 0870 number for home. There are numerous sites out there offering free 0870 numbers, so we just picked the one we liked and registered it. All the provider wanted was a name and address, the land line number it was to be diverted to and a ‘business name’. We made up a business name and it was up and running within 15 minutes.

Now our bank, utility providers, insurance companies, in fact everyone other than our family and friends, has to use our 0870 number to call us. If I have to register anything on line that has a required field for a telephone number, in goes the 0870 number.
It was interesting that most of the companies we informed of our change of number were not happy about registering a 0870 number for us. Our bank actually complained that it would cost them money to call us! Oh dear what a shame! One utility claimed that they were not allowed to register 0870 numbers, another claimed only ‘businesses’ were allowed them. Totally wrong, but I could not be bothered to argue and said it was up to them if they did not want to use it. They did in the end.

We get 2p per minute. Not a lot, but it is a little victory against ‘big business’. It also makes me smile when I find they have sold on my details and someone is trying to sell me something. A double glazing firm paid me 40p the other day to listen to some sales pitch.