The SayNoTo0870 Article Discussion Area

acezing

It is technically possible to have the same facility ,time of day routing, combined with a hunt group on a normal geographic number. Although it would be more expensive,as the supplier would not be getting a share of call revenue from the ngn number.

bbb_uk

tomrob wrote:

I mentioned in my previous post we didn't appreciate it was disadvantaging callers.

A couple of years ago the price of calls to 0870 was the same as 'national' geographical call. This changed and now BT have done away with 'local' or 'national' rates and they are all just one rate and since BT did this 084x/087x numbers are now more expensive than geographical calls.

084x/087x calls aren't generally included in inclusive minutes and can cost upto 40p/min from some mobile networks.

We are now actively looking at the market to see what other solutions are now available. Our current provider seems to now offer a similar deal using an 0845 number but I gather from this thread that this isn't ideal either (particularly for those calling from mobiles).

Ideally a geographical but I understand the costs for the equipment to do this could be really high. There is the 0845 route you mentioned which is not perfect but cheaper than 0870.

A new 03x range will be available from Feb/March this year (I think) and this will offer the exact same advantages as 084x/087x numbers except they will be charged the same rate as a geographical call and included in any inclusive minutes - this even applies to calls from mobiles, etc.

Remember though that revenue sharing (whether you get any or not) will end in Jan/Feb 2008 which means you will have to pay more towards the cost of diverting the calls, etc because your telephone provider will not get any revenue so therefore will pass on their charges to you by way of an increase or monthly fee for incoming calls.

If 03x range is cheap enough in a few months after it's launched then you may be best holding off until then and see if the 03x range better suited as it will offer same facilities but is not charged extra for like existing 084/087 numbers now.

I've always said that there are some companies that use these numbers purely for the services it provides and not to make money. This is generally so on 0845 numbers. However, in most cases the use of these numbers is to generate revenue without joe public being aware of the true cost of the call and that in most cases the company called is receiving revenue from it - a STEALTH premium rate number.

tomrob

bbb_UK,

Many thanks, I have passed on your comments to our man who's dealing with the service provider.

Tom

Victors_Bruvver

Congratulations tomrob.
That's what customer service is all about. From your original posting, BA are all for that in the USA and offer a TOLLFREE number to their customers there. Perhaps they do not feel the need to provide that sort of service to their home market and hope we wil just accept it even though they are the National carrier.

It is a long time since this debate on NGNs started and it is about time now that Ofcom sorted it once and for all. If they still want to talk about it and consult with their buddies in the industry why, in the meantime, don't they issue a directive that it would be fair to the public if all advertising/correspondence that includes a NGN has alongside it a red or amber "wealth warning" to give an indication on cost of a call, as they do in France?

hbk2006

Does anyone know of any other websites that provide alternatives to 0870 numbers as SayNoTo0870.com doesnt seem to be working.

theloft

hbk2006 wrote:

Does anyone know of any other websites that provide alternatives to 0870 numbers as SayNoTo0870.com doesnt seem to be working.

There must be something wrong with your browser, it works fine for me!! Have you enabled cookies ??
I HAVE MADE THE POINT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT IN THE USA WHERE THE CONSUMER IS KING - ANY COMPANY WORTH IT'S NAME PROVIDES A TOLL-FREE NUMBER, THEY WOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS IF THE DID NOT! Over here in the UK the money grabbing companies, even banks and conglomerates making vast profits, only provide 0870 numbers to us gullible customers. They hide behind the fact that 0870 allows them to direct calls better, etc. That's why when we call them we are faced with 1. at least a minute telling us what to do. 2. another minute going through the options. 3. another minute going through more options 4. then we are told that "all of our staff are currently busy" or "due to the high volume of calls being received" etc. twaddle!!
Why do we put up with it, if enough of us protested each time we are forced to make this type of call, they might eventually get the message !!

saver_sam

I hope I'm not duplicating here (and that its ok to post this as its not my original idea) but when looking online today, I found through another petition on the PMs website that there is one for saynoto0870. I don't know if it will work but one can only but try to get them stopped or publishing a geographical number

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/saynoto0870/

wantmemoney

Has anybody noticed this on the Icstis web site.

This is what we know about the number you entered (08712089405).

ICSTIS does not regulate this type of number. However we can tell you the following.

* This is a probably an erroneous number and is marked as: Not Designated

It appears it's stopped giving any information for all 0871 and 0870 numbers.
On 16-12-2006 Icstis web site gave this

This is what we know about the number you entered (08712089405).

ICSTIS does not regulate this type of number. However we can tell you the following.

* This is classified as a Special Services higher rate: up to and including 10p for BT customers (non-internet) number.
* It is provided by TELSTRA EUROPE LIMITED.
* And costs 10ppm [in pence or pounds where 'pm' means 'per minute' and 'pc' means 'per call'].

utilitybroker

Icstis clearly state they dont provide this info.

"icstis can help you with the following types of numbers:

premium rate numbers prefixed 09 that are 11 digits in length
directory enquiry services prefixed with 118 that are 6 digits in length
mobile phone text shortcodes that are 4 or 5 digits in length
numbers prefixed 070 that 'offer' premium rate-style services
0800 REVERSE services. Enter 08007383773 if you wish to complain about this service
international numbers prefixed with 00 that provide a product or service*
* please note that ICSTIS in unable to provide information on these services, however we do share the number details with phone companies so that, if necessary, they can take action to bar access

All other prefixes such as 087, 084 and regular local numbers (01 and 02) do not fall within our remit and cannot be checked on our website. We recommend that you contact your phone company in the first instance for further advice. "

They will shortly take over responsibilty for 0871 and i assume 0871 info will return to site.

wantmemoney

Icstis clearly state they dont provide this info.

"icstis can help you with the following types of numbers:

Why are you telling people what icstis already "clearly state".

They will shortly take over responsibilty for 0871 and i assume 0871 info will return to site.

so soon the crooks in the icstis regulated UK premium rate industry will have these numbers along side the 09 numbers to target the public with every con scam and fraud they can think of.