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NAME AND SHAME! OFCOM and others
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MSE_Martin
Posts: 8,272 Money Saving Expert
in Phones & TV
Despicable anti-consumer 0845 and 0870 numbers have reached a new height. Telecoms regulator Ofcom's consumer complaint line now uses one. These numbers are effectively premium rates, much more expensive than normal calls, and not included in free-minute packages.
Ofcom isn’t alone. The BBC (sadly including some programmes I appear on - I've lobbied I promise), the Inland Revenue and the DVLAalso use them.
Worse still some commercial companies actually make profits when we call to complain. I'm considering starting a petition about this. Meanwhile, I'd like to know your thoughts.
Also read Say no to 0870.
Ofcom isn’t alone. The BBC (sadly including some programmes I appear on - I've lobbied I promise), the Inland Revenue and the DVLAalso use them.
Worse still some commercial companies actually make profits when we call to complain. I'm considering starting a petition about this. Meanwhile, I'd like to know your thoughts.
Also read Say no to 0870.
Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
Don't miss out on urgent MoneySaving, get my weekly e-mail at www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips.
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Comments
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I thought 0845 was a local cost callEven if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.0
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flyer wrote:I thought 0845 was a local cost call
BT style 0845 as "lo-call" rate. A clever ploy to get you to believe that you are paying no more than the local rate.
However, there are a myriad of service providers who allow you to make a national and/or even an international type call for less than BT, and others, charge for a local call.0 -
So 0845 is a local rate?Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.0
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I agree these higher rate numbers stink especially when you cannot avoid using them, like i had to today :mad::T :A :T :A:T :A :T :A :T :A0
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flyer wrote:So 0845 is a local rate?
0845 is a low-call rate which changes depending on the time of day but is never included when a supplier tells you that your local calls will be free.0 -
Count me in! The problem I believe is that not many people are actually aware of how much these calls cost in relation to geographical national calls. If people were aware that a non-geographical so-called "national" number (087x) are upto 10ppm compared to geographical national numbers which cost about 3p daytime max and that the company that has an 087x number actually profits from these calls as well, I'm sure there would be a public outcry. Ofcom have already said they can be classed as national calls even in their latest review of the non geographical market.MSE_Martin wrote:....I'm considering starting a petition about this. Meanwhile, I'd like to know your thoughts
I agree it won't be long before all companies use these numbers especially 087x so I've actually started to write down the geographical numbers of those companies I'm likely to ring so that in the future I'll still have their geographical when they change over (and they will) to 0845/0870. That is, of course, assuming they don't change their geo number at the same time!?
Even Watchdog which is meant to be on our side and support us and lobby for changes to be made to the law in our benefit, actually has an 0870 number! (I suspect this is one of those programmes Martin referred to when he says he's lobbied against it)0 -
bbb_uk wrote:Count me in! The problem I believe is that not many people are actually aware of how much these calls cost in relation to geographical national calls. If people were aware that a non-geographical so-called "national" number (087x) are upto 10ppm compared to geographical national numbers which cost about 3p daytime max and that the company that has an 087x number actually profits from these calls as well, I'm sure there would be a public outcry. Ofcom have already said they can be classed as national calls even in their latest review of the non geographical market.
I agree it won't be long before all companies use these numbers especially 087x so I've actually started to write down the geographical numbers of those companies I'm likely to ring so that in the future I'll still have their geographical when they change over (and they will) to 0845/0870. That is, of course, assuming they don't change their geo number at the same time!?
Even Watchdog which is meant to be on our side and support us and lobby for changes to be made to the law in our benefit, actually has an 0870 number! (I suspect this is one of those programmes Martin referred to when he says he's lobbied against it)
Generally speaking, a company will not change its geographical number when it acquires a number starting 08XX. These 08 numbers are always attached to regular geographical numbers. In fact I don;t know of any instance where these numbers are not attached to ordinary geographical numbers. Therefore, there is always an alternative geographical number available.0 -
Go for it Martin
I would sign you petition. I am sick and tired of the ever increasing amount of companies that are now doing this.
No longer a user, goodbye folks. PLEASE delete my account. Thank you0 -
I know 08xx calls are attached to a geographical. I was speaking from my own experience because I know of a company that changed its geographical number when it got an 0870 number. The reason being is to stop existing customers calling the geographical number.Steve_xx wrote:Generally speaking, a company will not change its geographical number when it acquires a number starting 08XX. These 08 numbers are always attached to regular geographical numbers. In fact I don;t know of any instance where these numbers are not attached to ordinary geographical numbers. Therefore, there is always an alternative geographical number available.
In fact there was (not now) a recorded message when you rung their geographical number informing me of the number change and asking us to ring the 0870 number instead. Therefore, I assumed at the time of getting an 0870 number they purposely got a new geographical number (disconnecting their older geographical number) and the 0870 would then be transferred to this new geographical number. If they don't tell anyone their new geographical number then we have no choice but to ring the 0845/0870.
That's just how devious companies can be when they want. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of other companies did something devious like that if they thought about it.0
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