MSE News: Did you know 0844 numbers can cost double 0845 ones? Don't get fleeced by p

savvy06

Thank goodness I have a land line.....I use an override provider 18185 and have free w/e and evening calls; I always use "say no to 0870".
The only calls I pay anything more than a few pence for are to government departments, can never find a geographic number! Tax office, Jobcentreplus and so on - and they always keep me waiting . :mad:

Earthworm

I don't get why more companies aren't being pressured to adopt 0300 numbers. They just come out of inclusive mins, count as landline and differentiate themselves from standard 01/02 numbers. I'd personally recommend any small business/new business to look at getting 03 instead of 0800. The main reasons for a business to get an 0800 number is because it is catchy, free to ring and looks more professional than a mobile. With mobile use on the rise an alternative needs to takeover. It isn't as if networks are going to be quick to give 0800 calls free.

vm2pensioner

Perhaps MSE ought to publish a shame list of businesses that use 0844 and 0871 numbers.

amandadurney

It annoys me when im trying to get hmrc 3 times this week's each time for 20 mins each and I had to hang up. Even tried emailing but still heard nothing. It would be different if I owed them money. Has anyone got any suggestions please.

jhp

amandadurney wrote: »

It annoys me when im trying to get hmrc 3 times this week's each time for 20 mins each and I had to hang up. Even tried emailing but still heard nothing. It would be different if I owed them money. Has anyone got any suggestions please.

If you have inclusive minutes 03 numbers are treated the same as 01/02 numbers and are included in your inclusive minutes.:D

Motornoter

If you have a BT landline with inclusive calls, there's an app called BT SmartTalk you can download. It lets you use, via BT Wifi hotspots or your mobile provider's 3G wireless, your BT home bill to channel the calls. This means that anything that's free on BT can be free from your mobile (0800, 0808, 0845, 0870) while the other calls will be charged at BT rates rather than mobile rates. Mobiles have to be registered on the app while at the home address of the BT landline as the process involves a call from BT via the landline with a four digit code. The BT account holder can manage the app online and bar call types for different mobiles used by family members.

pmduk

It's hypocritical, but unsurprising, that the Government hasn't announced plans to put it's own house in order first. Jobcentre plus still insist on claimants using an 0845 number.

Incidentally the weq4u service isn't just for iOS devices , there's an android app, and an 03 number for callers to use f they don't have a smartphone.

soldierboy001

savvy06 wrote: »

Thank goodness I have a land line.....I use an override provider 18185 and have free w/e and evening calls; I always use "say no to 0870".
The only calls I pay anything more than a few pence for are to government departments, can never find a geographic number! Tax office, Jobcentreplus and so on - and they always keep me waiting . :mad:

All the government letters I get have a when calling from abroad number on them which means you drop the 0044 number and add the 0 to the beginning of the remaining didgets and lo and behold a geographical number.
Now this may be because I live abroad I don't know.

Senior_Paper_Monitor

Responsible companies offer 03/033 numbers (standard geographic rate and included in all contract minutes for landline, mobile and public phones) - we do, but perhaps 20% of the callers question us on whether it is a premium line (despite a pop up information panel next to the number on our websites), so presumably a %age also turn away because they assume it is premium.

A government promotion of the benefits of these numbers would lead to improved awareness and thereby pressure on providers to utilise them.

vbbot

I could not believe that during the stress of guiding my son through 'clearing' for university, the only way to contact UCAS was via an 0871 number - they even block the landline number given to overseas callers if you try to call from a UK number.