The SayNoTo0870 Article Discussion Area

Former_MSE_Archna

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The SayNoTo0870 Article

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andrew.sheldon

We always phone 0870 numbers on our mobiles - they are included in the inclusive calls on most O2 monthly plans (and orange OVP O2 plans), so we get a mobile deal (with full cashback) each year just to use for this purpose. This works for 0845 numbers too, but not 0871.

Andrew

bbb_uk

o2 are one of the very few (if any) that actually still include 0845/0870. The problem now is that some companies may migrate to either 0844 (likely cost they will choose will be either 4ppm or 5ppm all the time) or 0871 due to the loss of revenue that will happen in the next two years on 0870 numbers.

As briefly mentioned by Martin in his article, Virgin Holidays, have recently introduced an 0871 for their sales line for holidays to Bush Gardens, Tamper Bay and even advertise it as a 'national rate' number - discussed on Sayno here.

Another one is that Cahoot have changed their customer services number from an 0870 to an 0844 costing 4ppm all the time. Although slightly cheaper in the daytime, during the evening & weekend Cahoot will earn more money - discussed on Sayno here.

daves_2

We use an 0870 at work ... the problem is that when you are a small business 0845 will not do as you incurr charges. I am all in favour of dumping the revenue side of things, to be honest this is miniscule on 0870, most profits go to BT. But you have 0870 or your have 0845/0800 both of which cost you ingress charges. Yes you can find some providers who will give you an 0845 number with no ingress calls, but there are limits with that as they are taking a hit on the egress charges.

If BT stopped fiddling with the local area codes and costing businesses a fortune to redo their stationary/signwriting then you may see less of these numbers being used .. at least in the small business sector.

Heinz

daves wrote:

But you have 0870 or your have 0845/0800 both of which cost you ingress charges.

I don't understand that. What's wrong with ordinary 0161 xxx XXXX or 020 xxxx XXXX numbers? There are no ingress charges for those.

Customers know the cost of calls (3p/minute peak and 5.5p for up to an hour off peak - or less if you use a prefix-dial provider or have a calls package other than BT's standard) and some, like me, appreciate not being ripped off by disguised premium rate 084/087 numbers. As a result, they are happy to deal with such companies again instead of doing everything possible to avoid doing so.

BTW, Oftel (now Ofcom) are to blame for the STD code changes, not BT.

John_A_2

I have used SayNoTo0870.com for years and in business had built up a substantial database of phone numbers before 0845 and 0870 numbers were invented. I have, where possible, added these to the SayNoTo0870 database.

My questions are.
1. To get one of these numbers the client must have an ordinary phone number which would fall within a free calls package. Is the number provider at liberty to block the ordinary number from appearing in a directory enquiries search?
2. Recently I wanted to contact Alliance & Leicester Business Banking. I phoned an alternative number found on SayNoTo0870.com but the department refused to speak to me insisting I had to ring their 0870 number. Is this becoming common place?

Heinz

John_A wrote:

Recently I wanted to contact Alliance & Leicester Business Banking. I phoned an alternative number found on SayNoTo0870.com but the department refused to speak to me insisting I had to ring their 0870 number. Is this becoming common place?

Welcome to the MSE forums John A.

With A&L, I'm afraid that is a familiar story (more fool them, they obviously don't realise the damage they are causing to their business).

However, I had success the other Saturday - see HERE (I forgot to mention in that post that I did use the 141 prefix on that call).

Tart_2

My doctors surgery decided they needed a new IVR (automated answering service, choose 1 for, 2 for etc) so they purchased the new system and decided to pay for it with the rebate from an 0870 number. Considering it was taking around 20 minutes to actually get through on the original STD number anyway, I was outraged at the increased cost to patients, having sold these numbers in the past I was aware of the increased call costs. I therefore wrote a letter to the local newspaper explaining about the increased call costs, and the alternatives, ie local rate numbers which manage the calls the same, but are cheaper to call. Whilst not wishing to take credit for the change, it did kick the ball rolling and eventually the surgery changed to a local rate number. Just goes to show that you can make some companies/organisations change these numbers if pressure is applied.

Desertmole

How can I find out exactly what I am being charged when I dial an 0870 number? Last year one of our customers changed their system so that everyone in the business has a direct-dial 0870 number. They are simply a distributor in the automotive industry, and I can't imagine that like some "help lines" at banks and Internet service providers, they regard this as a money-generating tool.

If I could find out what they were charging, I could choose to get an alternate number to call them on.

Heinz

Tart wrote:

My doctors surgery decided they needed a new IVR (automated answering service, choose 1 for, 2 for etc) so they purchased the new system and decided to pay for it with the rebate from an 0870 number. Considering it was taking around 20 minutes to actually get through on the original STD number anyway, I was outraged at the increased cost to patients, having sold these numbers in the past I was aware of the increased call costs. I therefore wrote a letter to the local newspaper explaining about the increased call costs, and the alternatives, ie local rate numbers which manage the calls the same, but are cheaper to call. Whilst not wishing to take credit for the change, it did kick the ball rolling and eventually the surgery changed to a local rate number. Just goes to show that you can make some companies/organisations change these numbers if pressure is applied.

I suspect you've been duped again. Under pressure, the NHS forced GPs to change from 0870 numbers but didn't go the whole hog and accepted just a change to 0844 numbers - which are NOT 'local rate'. The replacement 0844 numbers that GPs chose (or, more accurately, that NEG, which installed the systems 'free of charge' chose) are charged at 4p or 5p per minute (so that NEG's cut of the call costs patients are having to pay was not reduced too much). Isn't it nice when government works so closely with the private sector?

Desertmole wrote:

How can I find out exactly what I am being charged when I dial an 0870 number?

From a BT residential landline on BT Together Option 1, it costs 7.51p/minute 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 3.75p/minute 6pm to 6am Monday to Friday and 1.5p/minute at weekends to call all but a few 0870 numbers (see Page 3 HERE).

Those prices compare with 3p/minute 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 5.5p for up to an hour evenings and weekends to an 01 or 02 number.

mrken30

Why not get your own back, I have signed up for my personal 0870 number couple of years ago now, its useful as if I move house I can keep the same number. More than that when I give it to these 0870 companies they complain its not in the correct format , they complain , but accept it when I ask them for a non 0870 number. Also I think because its not accepted into a lot of databases , stops a lot of unwanted phone calls.