Say No to 0870!

DonnyDave

stuscgb wrote:

I was contacting a friend at the halls of residence of the London School of Ecconomics, they gave me an 0870 number to chat to my friend. ....

Does anybody know of their geographic number for the halls of residence. ...

You may like to have a look at the LSE thread on Say no to 0870!

Although most of these systems don't actually have a geographical alternative, there are some that do and we have managed to find them.

Victors_Bruvver

You may like to read the latest postings on SAYNOTO0870.COM;

As you will see note; a Professor of Economics pointing out in a letter to the FT that BA made a quick 50p when he called to try and make a reservation and then a few days later (8 October) the FT ran a piece on 0870 numbers.

Lets hope someone, somewhere will take further note and not allow this ripoff to continue any longer!

You may have to copy and paste this relevant link to SAYNOTO0870.COM;

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1128688992

Lisa_H

I have just used the geographic number 01132541566 for Alliance & Leicester customer services. I was asked if I was calling from the UK or abroad and when I answered the UK I was told I would have to call back using their non geographic number as "we only deal with customers who are abroad"!! I have used the other number many times without problems - I think it was just a way of getting me to call back to enable them to make money out of me... I think she could tell I wasnt using the 08 number. I cant believe she made me call back!!!

Baby_A

I noticed that Watchdog were using 0870 until last week, maybe someone commented as now they are using 0208!!!

I have a few times sent the geographic nembers on saynoto0870, but they have never posted them.

FJSRiDER

Lisa_H wrote:

I cant believe she made me call back!!!

I can't believe you did.

If someone did that to me I would simply stop using them. They would be loosing a customer and I would be finding a better behaved bank.

April2

Lisa_H wrote:

I cant believe she made me call back!!!

She didn't make you.

Why didn't you just say you were abroad BTW?

Lisa_H

FJSRiDER and April2 - In answer to your questions: I cant stop using Alliance & Leicester as I switched my bank acount to them only last month!! And I know she didnt MAKE me, just a figure of speach, however if I wanted my query answered I didnt have much choice. I didnt say I was abroad because I didnt think for one minute she was asking me for that reason and was then going to ask me to call back using the 08 number! I didnt put that post on here for solutions, I just wanted to highlight it to show the lengths some companies will go to with their customers to ensure they make money with these non geographic numbers!

theloft

Well Lisa, you now know that commercial organisations in this country and government departments are all on the 0870 bandwagon. So you won't be caught out in future! I always say YES, if they ask if I'm phoning from abroad, but as someone has pointed out they are now even using 0870 for callers from outisde the country. Yesterday I had a query on my Income Tax Return (late again) and tried to phone the branch of the Inland Revenue dealing with my Tax, using 18866 and the number quoted on "say no to 0870" website. I found that this was somebody's direct line and when I requested to be put through to the correct department, she put me through to the employer's section. The guy there explained that they no longer have a switchboard, the branch no longer dealt with PAYE enquiries and I would have to ring the 0845 number quoted on my Tax Return. So this resulted in 2 calls, waste of 10 minutes time, and who knows what the 0845 call cost. I protested about this, but have you heard of "water off a duck's back"!

sadd_lers

The 0870 number issue is becoming better known. But most do not know that some providers will offer you an 0870 number if you want one at no cost and pass on the profit (I assume keeping some for themselves). Use this number for all commercial calls especially those asking you to phone them on an 0870 number. It won't change their mind, but at least, you can recover some of the cost - with great satisfaction. :rotfl:

coolsteel

Have you ever noticed that when radio or tv qoute 0870 numbers they always say it as 0870*, then a pause, then the rest of the number, trying to mask the fact that it is an 0870 number, as if we the public well us here anyway fall for that! Why dont they pause after the 0870, we all know why dont we.
Coolsteel :cool: