NAME AND SHAME! OFCOM and others

waaag

For the period of time when I had to make a claim for benefit I noticed that the jobcentre plus number is an 0845. If you use their old number they simply tell you to use the 0845., because they get a revenue from this.(And then you fill in the form of which consists of all the questions you've been asked and you have to re-submit.,which takes time.) I realise that they are making a profit from needy people, who end up with no other option, and personally I think this stinks! because if the claimant does not 'participate' in the 45 min or more call to make a claim then they don't get any money, and then they are immediately stung with a council tax bill and bailiff threats, faster than greased lightning............ A good retaliation is to provide jobcentre plus with a mobile number for them to call you back again, which you must do or get no money, this call lasts about 45 mins, and is consisting of all the questions you've answered, being asked again............ they even ask if you have a bicycle or a garden.....(this could be another thread coming up!!!! - are we being asked these questions so goalposts can be changed ie if you have a bike you pay more council tax/garden you pay more council tax, or have a bike you are expected to go to any job on this)... I have a feeling about this!! Or am I just paranoid.....

dc

marcgr wrote:

Most companies charge more than BT too!!!
.

That's because BT owns the local ends of most of the ng numbers and therefore charges the other telcos for their use.
A bit like Sky charging the cable operators for showing its programmes. In the beginning they got a bulk discount, but that was removed when Sky realised they were being undercut by the discount being passed on to the customer.:(

Benuk73

I flatley refuse to ring 0870 numbers unless I absolutley need too.

pricefighter

Couple of points to make about NGN.

1. Oftel now publish there geographical no next to the 0845 one ,so they are getting the message.

2.There is not always a true geographical number that they piggy back on.Some are delivered by private circuit direct to call centre switches.Although of course the call centre would normally have a georaphical no of its own.

bbb_uk

What gets me is that I know why companies use 0870 but can't understand why companies use 0845 as they don't make any money and in most cases have to pay an additional monthly fee / line setup cost all in addition to the monthly fee for their geographical lines they use.

I know using an 0845 hides their geographical location but a quick check on their website, DQ, Yell, etc would reveal their location anyhow. In the older days when national geographical calls from BT were 7ppm (I think) then yes it would make the call cheaper for us but BT have done away with the difference between local and national geographical calls!?!

pricefighter

I think you will find that the reason a lot of companies still use it is because they still think they are offering there customers a service by providing it,and they are unaware that the distinction between local ,and national calls was abolished by Bt on the 1/7/04.

Some companies still pay BT line rental for it when you can get it free.

Some companies/organisations use it because the supplier gave them a cheap switch to answer it on.

Also you may not be aware that there is a small element of profit to be made/shared on 0845 and in the case of very high volumes of traffic.it can be quite sizeable.Hence the supplier offering subsidized ,perhaps even free switches.

Swattie

I'd certainly sign.

djohn2002uk

Me too.
Why does this message system make me post at least 10 characters when I just want to say "Me too"?

ednotdave

MSE_Martin wrote:

Despicable anti-consumer 0845 and 0870 numbers have reached a new height. Telecoms regulator Ofcom's consumer complaint line now uses one. These numbers are effectively premium rates, much more expensive than normal calls, and not included in free-minute packages.

Ofcom isn’t alone. The BBC (sadly including some programmes I appear on - I've lobbied I promise), the Inland Revenue and the DVLAalso use them.

Worse still some commercial companies actually make profits when we call to complain. I'm considering starting a petition about this. Meanwhile, I'd like to know your thoughts.

Also read Say no to 0870.

Count me in, Martin.

In my opinion, any company should have the right to use 0845/0870 numbers if they so wish, but the general public also have the right not to be forced to use these numbers (a discrimination or even human rights issue?) - I suggest that if an 0845/0870 number is used, then it must be accompanied by a normal geographical number, so that everyone has a choice.

Ed.

DonnyDave

ednotdave wrote:

Count me in, Martin.

... I suggest that if an 0845/0870 number is used, then it must be accompanied by a normal geographical number, so that everyone has a choice.

Ed.

It would be good to see both, but it's not really about choice. 0845/0870 are revenue generating/sharing numbers, which, by definition are premium rate and therefore should be labelled as such. Any company which uses (legit) 09 premium rate numbers, fair play to them. They make their money from those lines.

However, many companies are gaining financially (directly and/or indirectly) from the caller subsidising the NGN. If this wasn't the case and they cost the same as normal geographical numbers, then we wouldn't need/want the choice.

Furthermore, if there comes a requirement for companies to display both (or at least a geographical one), who's going to police this? Ofcom, ASA, ICSTIS? These bodies couldn't cope with such an extra workload. Even ICSTIS is snowed under with complaints about premium rate scams and dialer scams now, so what's it going to be like then?