John Lewis and 0844 numbers

poppasmurf_bewdley

vm2pensioner wrote: »

John Lewis Partnership - the ones with the reputation for customer friendliness - have switched to 0844 numbers to contact the stores. How mean!

I'm one customer they have now lost.

vm2pensioner

A reply from a JL customer care case manager about the change to 0844 numbers affirms "This change has been a well considered business decision, we have researched this thoroughly and ran a trial on a number of stores before deciding to implement this change". So that's all right then!

Ypaymore

Interesting thread developing on this subject on say no to 0870 forum. See here: http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1378325470

OldGreyFox

Which has a new campaign on the subject http://www.which.co.uk/campaigns/premium-rate-phone-numbers/know-the-issue/

Mail is running with an article about it http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2413432/Firms-deter-complaints-using-costly-0845-numbers-Customers-ban-lines.html

2010

vm2pensioner wrote: »

A reply from a JL customer care case manager about the change to 0844 numbers affirms "This change has been a well considered business decision,

Well considered for JLP who get a cut of the call price.
I have noticed with these types of numbers that you always seem to end up in a queue for some strange reason.

Wouldn`t be them making the call time longer to get more money would it?

Tippytoes

I had cause to phone them regarding a recently purchased item that was faulty. The "do you want to speak to a human being" option came at the end of lengthy pre-amble. So, the coffers were already filling before I even got through.

I complained about the change to 0844 and was told that this was a decision made by those "at the top". Although invited to escalate my complaint, it was implied that it would make no difference.

Result? Faulty item returned for a full refund. Taken my business elsewhere.

OldGreyFox

Looks like they may have got the message !

"John Lewis has confirmed it will drop 084 numbers in favour of "geographical numbers" that charge normal landline prices."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/household-bills/10514587/Premium-rate-phone-lines-ban-for-retailers-and-travel-operators.html

2010

Let`s hope they do it NOW and not when it is forced on them in June 14.

atticgirl2003

I was told yesterday this number was free to call.

0844 811 0811

I have not used the number as I'm sure it is not a freephone number?

poppasmurf_bewdley

atticgirl2003 wrote: »

I was told yesterday this number was free to call.

0844 811 0811

I have not used the number as I'm sure it is not a freephone number?

It's certainly not free to call.