0870 Big Con

grendawkin

Have you noticed that since BT made a big issue of 0870 & 0845 numbers being part of inclusive free minutes, everyone is now switching to 0871 & 0844 which are still premium rate Numbers and not free.

Sounds like a hidden adgenda to me, all part of a plan to get us to stay with BT and still pay more.

Ypaymore

Heres the 0870 discussion thread.:D

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=196836

I doubt that BT have influence over companies changing their ngn numbers so they can continue to recieve revenue.

syko29793

grendawkin wrote: »

Have you noticed that since BT made a big issue of 0870 & 0845 numbers being part of inclusive free minutes, everyone is now switching to 0871 & 0844 which are still premium rate Numbers and not free.

Sounds like a hidden adgenda to me, all part of a plan to get us to stay with BT and still pay more.

You can still use saynoto0870 to find a cheaper alternative number. Although most companies are making it harder to avoid calling the 0871/0844 numbers ( mainly SKY who seem to switch off the 01506 numbers to contact them) Free 0870/0845 is a step in the right direction and a benefit to us as paying customers.
Its not really BT fault companies are changing numbers to get more revenue..
Who knows maybe BT and other companies may offer free 0871/0844 calls soon.
I know they are trying to make mobiles the same as landlines so mobiles can be included in calling plans (terminate the rate campaign)

DonnyDave

grendawkin wrote: »

Have you noticed that since BT made a big issue of 0870 & 0845 numbers being part of inclusive free minutes, everyone is now switching to 0871 & 0844 which are still premium rate Numbers and not free.

Sounds like a hidden adgenda to me, all part of a plan to get us to stay with BT and still pay more.

Companies are making the switch to hang on to revenue and/or the additional services paid for by callers.

But no, BT makes a relatively little amount from calls to 084x and 0871 numbers because it is only allowed to keep a little. Most goes to the telephone companies that sell/provide these numbers on behalf of the companies receiving calls.

grendawkin

Ypaymore wrote: »

Heres the 0870 discussion thread.:D

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=196836

I doubt that BT have influence over companies changing their ngn numbers so they can continue to recieve revenue.

So why does BT provide these companies with the means to continue ripping us off? (0871/0844 alternative premium rate numbers)

DonnyDave

grendawkin wrote: »

So why does BT provide these companies with the means to continue ripping us off? (0871/0844 alternative premium rate numbers)

0871/0844 and indeed any number can be provided by any telephone provider and it doesn't have to be BT. Just because you make your calls with BT does not mean that all the numbers you call are operated by BT.

You can call an Orange mobile, Vodafone mobile or Virgin Media landline, all from a BT landline but they are not operated by BT. Same goes for any other type of number.

negg

I have changed from 0870 to 0844. The reason is cost.

The 0870, 0845 and new 03 numbers are too expensive for our little business to be able to afford now. 0844 and 0871 were available for free.

Heinz

negg wrote: »

I have changed from 0870 to 0844. The reason is cost.

The 0870, 0845 and new 03 numbers are too expensive for our little business to be able to afford now. 0844 and 0871 were available for free.

And at no cost to you, they will alienate potential customers.

DonnyDave

negg wrote: »

I have changed from 0870 to 0844. The reason is cost.

The 0870, 0845 and new 03 numbers are too expensive for our little business to be able to afford now. 0844 and 0871 were available for free.

So why not publish your proper 01/02 number instead?

All you are doing is pushing the costs onto your customers. I for one will avoid doing business with your company due to the charge you impose when I call it.

bunking_off

DonnyDave wrote: »

But no, BT makes a relatively little amount from calls to 084x and 0871 numbers because it is only allowed to keep a little. Most goes to the telephone companies that sell/provide these numbers on behalf of the companies receiving calls.

Think you need to rephrase that. The amount that the originating operator retains is regulated (although it's still a healthy rate of return), with the majority of the money going to the terminating operator. BT are a big player in the 084x/087x termination market as well, so in many cases BT make an awful lot of money because they're both originator and terminator.

As for BT's altruism in putting 0870 within call packages, the regulation to end revenue share on 0870 has been on the cards for years, and users have been migrating to 0844 and 0871. Most 08 number providers have had programmes to allow their customers to (a) stay where they are, (b) move to 0844/871 or (c) move to 03. As such, by the time BT made 0870 inclusive, call volumes had dropped off a cliff so it was an extremely good PR gesture with limited financial impact (note my term "limited", it did cost them, but not as much as you might think, especially as they're allowed to vary the amount they pay terminating operators to reflect any retail discounts they provide).

Back to the OP, as I say the move to 0844/0871 hasn't been since BT changed their retail packages; it's since the change to regulation has been under discussion. Companies have been fleeing to 0844/871. Given that ultimately we all end up paying the cost of them changing their number (via higher product prices), my belief is that in absence of banning use of revenue share numbers (*), it would have been far better all round just to do something about making it clear to callers what the charge is.

(*) and Ofcom have no legal power to do this. E.g. banking is a competitive market...don't like that your bank uses 0871 numbers? Find another bank... Recognise that won't be popular, but it is the legal situation.

DonnyDave

bunking_off wrote: »

Think you need to rephrase that. The amount that the originating operator retains is regulated (although it's still a healthy rate of return), with the majority of the money going to the terminating operator. BT are a big player in the 084x/087x termination market as well, so in many cases BT make an awful lot of money because they're both originator and terminator.

I avoid using what may appear to be technical terms where possible for obvious reasons. The point made by the OP was in relation to BT as an originator (call retailer) and thus my comment is correct in that context.