The SayNoTo0870 Article Discussion Area

derrick

bryantp wrote: »

I used to use 1280 prefix to route 2 calls per month through BT in order to get 'free' caller id and call minder. However, last month these calls were billed by OneTel (Talk Talk), my CPS provider, and not BT. When I called BT I was told that I had been part of a mass migration from CPS to Wholesale and that the 1280 prefix would no longer be effective.

I have not been informed of this change by OneTel/TT even when I checked with them. They deny that anything has changed.

Been going on for a while now, see this thread; -
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1072413



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Orkney_Hiker

Why are 0844 numbers excluded from this new series of rules?

Heinz

Orkney_Hiker wrote: »

Why are 0844 numbers excluded from this new series of rules?

Because the cost of calling them (it depends on the 5th, 6th and 7th digits) can (from a BT landline) be 0.5p, 1p, 2p, 3p, 4p or 5p per minute.

1carminestocky

Is there now more need for a 'saynoto0871', I wonder?

robbo66_2

My wife unfortunately runs a freemans catalogue, and every time she receives a statement there is a mistake on it! Now, to sort out these mistakes she `has` to phone an 0871 number. I used the `say no to 0870` website & found about 3 alternative numbers, but when my wife phoned these numbers, the person answering totally refused to connect her with the appropriate department, and was told she `had` to phone the 0871 number.
She did try the number, but after being on hold for about 15 minutes, she gave up! The point is, I shouldnt be paying a company for its own mistakes,and it seems to me that to earn revenue from these numbers, it could be suggested that staff make mistakes intentionally to force people to use these numbers!Am I paranoid or what!!
This situation is totally unethical, and unacceptable, I have tried e-mailing the company, but i`m not holding my breath! I will just leave things as they are, & when payment is due & not received I am sure they will contact me very quickly!....Maybe I should get an 0871 number??

derrick

robbo66 wrote: »

My wife unfortunately runs a freemans catalogue, and every time she receives a statement there is a mistake on it! Now, to sort out these mistakes she `has` to phone an 0871 number. I used the `say no to 0870` website & found about 3 alternative numbers, but when my wife phoned these numbers, the person answering totally refused to connect her with the appropriate department, and was told she `had` to phone the 0871 number.
She did try the number, but after being on hold for about 15 minutes, she gave up! The point is, I shouldnt be paying a company for its own mistakes,and it seems to me that to earn revenue from these numbers, it could be suggested that staff make mistakes intentionally to force people to use these numbers!Am I paranoid or what!!
This situation is totally unethical, and unacceptable, I have tried e-mailing the company, but i`m not holding my breath! I will just leave things as they are, & when payment is due & not received I am sure they will contact me very quickly!....Maybe I should get an 0871 number??

You could get one, but these numbers are now regulated by Payphoneplus and will cost you money as you will not generate enough revenue share from it to outweigh the cost,(although you could get an 0844 number at no cost to you).

Have you tried asking in the Geographical Requests board on the saynoto0870 site giving as much information as you can?

theloft

derrick wrote: »

Sorry to rain on your parade, and I hate being seen as if I am supporting BT, (which I don't), but you can get them INCLUSIVE, (not free), on all packages if you pay £4.95 per month for the" Unlimited Anytime Plan";

Surely we are all missing the point that since OFTEL clamped down on 0870 and 0845 numbers advising that the cost must be shown by companies using these, they are all switching to 0844 numbers which are not included in most inclusive packages. As most of them charge you 5p per minute and you go through 4 or 5 different menus and nearly all of them charge you the top rate of 5 p per minute, before being put on hold or advised that "we are currently experiencing a high volume of calls" or "all of our consultants are busy with customers" or "your call is valuable to us, please continue to hold and you will be tranferred as soon as possible" etc. etc. I made an urgent call to a financila insitution and it took 17 minutes altogether. That cost me 85p. Absolute rip-off, as I can call the USA for half an hour for less than that.
Why haven't we got a "say no to 0844" protest going ?

theloft

I notice that the UK callchecker does not have 0844 check available !
Why is this? Is it because nobody gives a lower rate than 5p per minute ?

DonnyDave

theloft wrote: »

I notice that the UK callchecker does not have 0844 check available !
Why is this? Is it because nobody gives a lower rate than 5p per minute ?

I would assume so. For the same reason it doesn't list 0871 and 09x numbers.

Heinz

theloft wrote: »

I notice that the UK callchecker does not have 0844 check available !
Why is this? Is it because nobody gives a lower rate than 5p per minute ?

I think you misunderstand how 0844 numbers are used.

Yes, there are cheaper rates than 5p for 0844 numbers and many of those are used for cheap services.

BT publishes its rates for calling 'specialised' numbers (see HERE). As can be seen, the rates for 0844 numbers vary between ½p per minute and 5p per minute depending on the 5th, 6th and 7th digits (other line providers charge above these rates so I'll stick with BT in this post).

Yes, some firms, organisations and GPs' surgeries use highest price (5p per minute) 0844 numbers so they can 'revenue share' (i.e take a cut of what their customer/patient has to pay for the call).

Other firms use 0844 numbers as 'gateways' to allow callers to access cheap routes to make international calls. The MSE International Callchecker lists may of these.

For example, HERE (scroll down when the new page appears) you will see 0844 200 xxxx numbers used as ½p per minute gateways to call Canada.