0870 - screw them back

Dagobert · 16 July 2005 at 8:32PM

0845/0870 numbers are nothing but annoying.

BUT - have you ever thought about getting your own back? Get an 0870, or even better an 0871 and give it to your banks, insurance companies, accountant, or people you don't like.

There are literally dozens and dozens of providers. I looked at a couple of dozen and found ACOMM to be the best deal for a low volume user:
Set-up fee 9.99. An 0870 will recoup this after 5 1/2 hrs, an 0871 after 3 1/2 hrs.
ACOMM gives the highest revenue share: daytime 3p for 0870 and unlike all other providers I've looked at they also pay at night and weekend. There is no minimum call level either. 4.5p at any time of day for an 0871.

The funniest thing is: if you have friends or family in Germany, between the two of you you get paid for the phone-call: while virtually all German telecomms providers treat UK 08xx numbers as mobile numbers and therefore charge a fortune, apparently OneTel-Germany treats 0870 as landline numbers. They charge 2.4c (=1.6p) / min while you make 3p / min. (I'm in the process of verifying this.)

I can see this thread starting a flame-war ...

dchurch24 · 18 July 2005 at 3:15PM

'Tis done.

I have my 0871 number, but I only ever give it to firms that use 0870/1 numbers themselves. If a firm uses a geographical number, then they get MY geographical number.

Incidently, http://www.gtigroup.com/ provide these numbers with no setup fees. You get 1.5p per minute for the first 1000 calls in a month.

Dagobert · 18 July 2005 at 3:45PM

I have found a much better deal at Gateway Telecom. It's the best deal I have found for 0871 numbers for low volume users:

Rebate 4.5p / min

Website is a bit scant on information, but here are the answers to my questions:

I am interested in a 0870 or 0871 number. I understand from your website that there are no monthly charges nor connection charges?
Correct

Is there a minimum call level?
No. There is no minimum call level or spend, unlike some Companies we do not require you to commit to any minimum call levels or spend.

How and when do you pay the rebate?

We will send you an itemized call statement each detailing all calls received and the amount of rebate owing to you. Simply invoice us and upon your preference we can either pay by BACS or send you a cheque.

Do the amounts given on your website include VAT?
All figures are shown Excluding VAT

Are the rebates given at any time of day?
Rebates are peak times only on 0870 numbers and all times on 0871 numbers

How can the numbers be re-pointed to a different number if necessary?
Just call into our 24/7 freephone line and we will instantly divert the number for you.

We also provide on line call statistics that show details of missed, engaged and failed calls as well as other useful marketing data free of charge.

pricefighter · 18 July 2005 at 6:38PM

Do you not have to be a business customer with Gateway Telecom,or do they accept residential customers.

Dagobert · 18 July 2005 at 7:10PM

You have to invoice them for the rebate, right enough. And I am doing this through my business.
But I don't see why you shouldn't be able to to do that as an individual. (Of course, you'd have to tax the income.) I presume Gateway Telekom don't care who is generating their revenue.

bbb_uk · 18 July 2005 at 10:18PM

For those that have an 08x from Call08.com, I've just noticed that they now charge a monthly line rental on all their number ranges (including 0871).

I have my 0871 from them but didn't supply my bank details so I know they can't all of the sudden start charging me line rental. The best they can do is disconnect it which they haven't yet.

I can't understand why they are now charging line rental for all their number ranges as they must be one of few that are charging.

So be aware!

pricefighter · 18 July 2005 at 11:11PM

bbb_uk wrote:

I can't understand why they are now charging line rental for all their number ranges as they must be one of few that are charging.

I am with them as well ,sometimes they charge and sometimes they dont,depending what the offer is at the time.If its free rental when you sign up,it normally stays free until you cancel.

If you dont want to make a lot of money from an 0844/0870/0871 no visit
http://customers.aceinternet.co.uk/telco/ where you get them free,and have them up and ruuning straight away.You can also get NGN fax to email no,s and Voice to email no,s there.(when filling in the application form if you are not a business put personal where it asks for business name).

bunking_off · 19 July 2005 at 11:47AM

Dagobert wrote:

The funniest thing is: if you have friends or family in Germany, between the two of you you get paid for the phone-call: while virtually all German telecomms providers treat UK 08xx numbers as mobile numbers and therefore charge a fortune, apparently OneTel-Germany treats 0870 as landline numbers. They charge 2.4c (=1.6p) / min while you make 3p / min. (I'm in the process of verifying this.)

I can see this thread starting a flame-war ...

I wouldn't do this too much...

It has been known for fraudsters to put call senders on the overseas line and generate lots of calls to the 0870 numbers in this type of situation. What happens when it's picked up is covered contractually between the operators as "artificial inflation of traffic - AIT"....and in general the money is clawed back as the usual interconnect payment / payment to end user terms become null and void.

You might get away with it for low volumes / short term though.

Dagobert · 21 July 2005 at 2:28PM

OneTel Germany don't provide access to UK national rate numbers any longer.

0870 - screw them back

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