Consumer pressure required to get companies to switch to 03

sb5917

Many companies use the excuse that they want to have national non geographic presence for their customers which is why they use 0845,0844,0870 numbers. The problem with these numbers are that they cost the consumer alot and they are rarely included as part of your inclusive minutes on mobile phone or home packages. Last year however number starting 03 were launched in the UK which are non geographic but also by law have to be included as part of your inclusive minutes. This is a great solution but companies have been really slow to switch to these numbers probably because they make less profit.

The only way we can get this to happen is to raise it up the agenda for consumer champions like Martin and if we all start asking companies why they don't use 03.

more info type '03 numbers' into Google and click the OfCom link

Buzby

Since 0870 numbers are now within the bundles offered for inclusive calls - switching to 03 is now no longer 'the solution' it once was.

What you forget, is that firms are free to decide to use any services they wish - and the potential customer is empowered to either accept, reject or ignore firms that do so. You can always write, and know the cost in advance - so the REAL issue is with your telecoms supplier. If THEY charge you a fee, this includes THIER fees for connecting the call.

Taking it to extremes - are you planning to outlaw the use of 0800 numbers too, and have them moved o 03...?

The customer will decide - and that is the way it should remain.

Photo_Stylus

All well and good when its a company you decide if you want to use them or not, What about when its your doctors surgery.

Going through my father in laws bills whilst he is in hospital, The BT bill shows lots of 0845 numbers, When i checked the number its the local doctors surgery. His wife needs regular blood tests and when the test results return she needs to make an appointment to alter her medication. These soon add several pounds to their bill which doesnt cover free daytime calls to these numbers.
I dread to think how much it has cost them over the years.

Heinz

Photo_Stylus wrote: »

All well and good when its a company you decide if you want to use them or not, What about when its your doctors surgery.

Going through my father in laws bills whilst he is in hospital, The BT bill shows lots of 0845 numbers, When i checked the number its the local doctors surgery. His wife needs regular blood tests and when the test results return she needs to make an appointment to alter her medication. These soon add several pounds to their bill which doesnt cover free daytime calls to these numbers.
I dread to think how much it has cost them over the years.

And the GP, now being paid a vastly above-average salary, quietly mutters to him/herself, "Thanks very much sucker" every time you call and he/she takes a cut of what you're paying for the call.

moonrakerz

Heinz wrote: »

And the GP, now being paid a vastly above-average salary, quietly mutters to him/herself, "Thanks very much sucker" every time you call and he/she takes a cut of what you're paying for the call.

You obviously missed this letter in yesterday's "Telegraph":

"As a GP whose take-home income has fallen steadily over the past few years, I would actually welcome a freeze in my take-home pay."

Heinz

moonrakerz wrote: »

You obviously missed this letter in yesterday's "Telegraph":

"As a GP whose take-home income has fallen steadily over the past few years, I would actually welcome a freeze in my take-home pay."

No, I didn't miss that. In fact, I spent 20 minutes cleaning up after I coughed my coffee over the breakfast table when I read it (I'd not mind a pay freeze if I was being paid close to or above £100k p.a.).

Le73Uq86Uv

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derrick

Buzby wrote: »

Since 0870 numbers are now within the bundles offered for inclusive calls - switching to 03 is now no longer 'the solution' it once was.

If THEY charge you a fee, this includes [STRIKE]THIER [/STRIKE] THEIR fees for connecting the call.

.

Not all companies do this, (take a look for example at Virgins charges 9.79ppm at all times, same as their 0845 numbers), BT, (which I assume you work for), do this, but put up the line rental for ALL their customers to compensate for the inclusive calls, and as such made an extra vast profit from the increased line rental revenue! i.e. potential cost to BT for the inclusive 0870/0845 numbers £6 million, extra revenue from the £1. per month line rental increase, (14 million customers), £168 million! I will let you do the maths!

JohalaReewi

Buzby wrote: »

Since 0870 numbers are now within the bundles offered for inclusive calls - switching to 03 is now no longer 'the solution' it once was.

Depends on your call provider / package. If you don't get 0870 calls in your package, they still cost 8p a minute (more from mobiles). Also, there are usually time limits on inclusive calls so a long call on an 0870 number can still end up chargable.

negg

Simple why businesses don't use 03 numbers. There is no benefit to the business having them.

sb5917

So Buzby has totally missed the point.

It is not true to say 0870 are included as they are not in most packages. The point with 03 numbers are that telecoms companies are obliged by law to include them as part of their inclusive minutes and treat them in exactly the same way as 01 or 02 numbers.

You are right companies can choose whoever they like to provide the phone service and 0845/0844/0870 can all be revenue generating for the company. My point is that with the right consumer pressure we could shame these companies into using 03 which would be cheaper for us consumers.

The benefit of a business having an 03 number is that they can provide a non geographical service without ripping off their customers and without the expense of providing an 0800 number.