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Why we MUST use saynoto0870 !!!
trevor_john
Posts: 848 Forumite
Just read this on the news page on yahoo.As we all know 0870 numbers cot a lot...but how much ?
If you are NOT aware you can go to https://www.saynoto0870.co.uk and finf the geographical (and cheaper ) or the freephone number you require.This is a copy of the report in brief :
Which? asked around 1,000 people how much they thought they would be charged for dialling so-called revenue-sharing phone codes with prefixes like 0870 or 0845.
Most answered incorrectly or did not know the costs involved in calling 0870 -- one of the most expensive numbers.
Organisations that use 0845, 0844 and the higher-charging 0870 and 0871 numbers can share revenues from calls with phone service providers -- resulting in hugely inflated costs.
A 10-minute daytime call from a BT landline to a geographic number (starting with 01 or 02) could cost as little as 3 pence, but the same call could cost about 80 pence to an 0870 number.
Consumers spend more than 300 million pounds a year dialling 0871 numbers, according to premium-rate regulator Icstis.
Customers sometimes have to call a revenue-sharing number even to complain about a problem of a company's own making. And some banks, including Alliance and Leicester and Lloyds TSB, use 0870 lines to give advice to people with debt problems.
The Department for Work and Pensions, meanwhile, made 268,000 pounds last year from 0845 hotlines to advise those on low incomes about benefit and winter fuel payments.
Researchers also found that many companies are boosting profits by leaving customers waiting for calls to be answered.
It called help-lines run by eight broadband companies, five energy firms and five government agencies and found energy companies -- which use 0845 numbers -- had the longest waiting times, at an average 3-1/2 minutes.
Utility firm npower was the worst culprit, keeping researchers waiting an average of seven minutes -- a call that would cost 24 pence from a BT landline, but up to 1.05 pounds on a mobile phone.
Neil Fowler, editor of Which?, said: "Revenue-sharing is a stealth tax of the worst kind.
"Tales of customers hanging on for ages
If you are NOT aware you can go to https://www.saynoto0870.co.uk and finf the geographical (and cheaper ) or the freephone number you require.This is a copy of the report in brief :
Which? asked around 1,000 people how much they thought they would be charged for dialling so-called revenue-sharing phone codes with prefixes like 0870 or 0845.
Most answered incorrectly or did not know the costs involved in calling 0870 -- one of the most expensive numbers.
Organisations that use 0845, 0844 and the higher-charging 0870 and 0871 numbers can share revenues from calls with phone service providers -- resulting in hugely inflated costs.
A 10-minute daytime call from a BT landline to a geographic number (starting with 01 or 02) could cost as little as 3 pence, but the same call could cost about 80 pence to an 0870 number.
Consumers spend more than 300 million pounds a year dialling 0871 numbers, according to premium-rate regulator Icstis.
Customers sometimes have to call a revenue-sharing number even to complain about a problem of a company's own making. And some banks, including Alliance and Leicester and Lloyds TSB, use 0870 lines to give advice to people with debt problems.
The Department for Work and Pensions, meanwhile, made 268,000 pounds last year from 0845 hotlines to advise those on low incomes about benefit and winter fuel payments.
Researchers also found that many companies are boosting profits by leaving customers waiting for calls to be answered.
It called help-lines run by eight broadband companies, five energy firms and five government agencies and found energy companies -- which use 0845 numbers -- had the longest waiting times, at an average 3-1/2 minutes.
Utility firm npower was the worst culprit, keeping researchers waiting an average of seven minutes -- a call that would cost 24 pence from a BT landline, but up to 1.05 pounds on a mobile phone.
Neil Fowler, editor of Which?, said: "Revenue-sharing is a stealth tax of the worst kind.
"Tales of customers hanging on for ages
Onwards and Upwards 
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Comments
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Hi,
I couldn't agree more with every word you have said. I always, always check saynoto0870 when the dreaded non geo numbers raise their ugly heads and almost 100% of the time the geo number is there. Two stories which spring to mind are a recent call to Ryanair using the geo number, the lady informed me she doesn't usually answer the phone and to ring the 090 number (at 50p oer minute no chance) and I almost opened an account with Brimingham Midshires until I discovered they use an 0871 number for customer services. Don't patronise these business and someday, hopefully sooner rather than later, they may get the message. Regards Sally0 -
I think that the majority of MSE's use this now anyway.
I NEVER call a number without trying out Saynoto first.
Its a fantastic site and I wonder just how much ive saved by using it.0 -
Just out of interest is there an alternative (paper directory?) for people that don't have computers?0
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sallysaver wrote: »and I almost opened an account with Brimingham Midshires until I discovered they use an 0871 number for customer services.
Birmingham Midshires Freephone:- 0800 0329127Don`t steal - the Government doesn`t like the competition0 -
Butlers1982 wrote: »I think that the majority of MSE's use this now anyway.
I NEVER call a number without trying out Saynoto first.
Its a fantastic site and I wonder just how much ive saved by using it.
Existing M.S.E members WILL know this but there are loads of newbies who may not know.Onwards and Upwards0 -
trevor_john wrote: »Existing M.S.E members WILL know this but there are loads of newbies who may not know.
True. But isn't that what the search button is for???
I think I will look up an old thread and re-post it................................ "Success is not to be measured by the position someone has reached in life, but the obstacles he has overcome while trying to succeed." Booker T. Washington
The Official "Why does everyone have 'Official member of....club'?" which tend to be stupid/irrelevant Society. Member No 1 (I am aware of the irony btw)0 -
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0808 calls are free.
You can check the cost of any call from the BT Price List on bt.com (if you are a BT customer of course).0 -
i had been using saynoto0870 even before i came to know about martin's myghty site. its good to have geo no. cos i dont have a landline and would be charged to even dial a freefone.0
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