STOP Calling Your Bank on an Expensive 0845 Number!

skintpaul

Santander is now 'freefone' - 0800 9 123 123.

Top from staff at local branch - when answered, press * # repeatedly, may bypass the long automated menu..

Double_V

So all these years people were ripped off.
Why the authorities didn't take any action then. Why now ?

Not that I am complaining, but just curious.
Companies made their money. No ?

Ian011

It has taken a very long time for those outside the telecoms industry to realise that 0845 numbers are no longer charged as a 'local rate' call. In fact, it ceased to be true in 2004 (but it hasn't stopped many of the suppliers of non-geographic numbers still making the 'local rate' claim as they attempt to sell these numbers to businesses).

The 'basic rate' phone number provisions detailed in the Consumer Rights Directive are now spilling over into the regulation for other sectors aided by the clarity of call costs in place since July 2015 where users of 084, 087 and 09 numbers have to declare their portion of the call cost, now known as the Service Charge.

Prior to 1 July 2015, BT's retail call costs for calls to 084, 087 and 09 numbers were regulated by Ofcom such that BT made no margin on call origination. That regulation 'the NTS Retail Condition' was introduced at the point of market de-regulation, prior to which BT had been the sole supplier of landlines. With BT no longer in a monopoly position that regulation had to end. As all 084, 087 and 09 call pricing revolved around BT's regulated rates, an entirely new system had to be created. Ofcom took the opportunity to go for maximum price transparency, splitting the cost into two parts each separately declared.

Those who have spent the last decade or more denying they receive a financial benefit from their use of an 084, 087 or 09 number are now required to declare that they do and state how much it is, everywhere their number is advertised. The realisation has dawned that the use of these numbers means that callers are subsidising the additional call handling and call routing costs inherent in the use of a non-geographic number. The revenue comes from the additional Service Charge paid by the caller. No such subsidy is obtained when the organisation swaps to an 03 number and the caller pays the same as whatever they pay for calls to 01 and 02 numbers.

teddysmum

skintpaul wrote: »

Santander is now 'freefone' - 0800 9 123 123.

Does this include telephone banking ?

stephenliverpool1

jhe wrote: »

I have been using http://www.saynoto0870.com/ to get alternative numbers for many years now

Yep so have I. I have never used an 0845 number for any bank, Sky, TalkTalk, etc. It has always been a Freephone 0800 number, which I have got from saynoto0870. Good to see that the OFCOM have stepped in and about time.


Be careful that your call plan covers you for ringing 03 numbers; otherwise you will be charged so then you should use the freephone number.


HTHs.

stephenliverpool1

teddysmum wrote: »

Does this include telephone banking ?

For Santander I use 0800-174635 and yes it does include telephone banking.

McKneff

Coop Bank and Coop Credit card Freephone number.


Coop bank c/card 0800 0850950 or 0800 1234555

Ian011

From 26 October 2015, financial services companies including banks and insurance companies can no longer use 084, 087 or 09 numbers for existing customers to contact them on. The regulations were published by the FCA on 23 July 2015 and mirror the BIS regulations that came into force for retailers, traders and passenger transport companies on 13 June 2014.

While 084, 087 and 09 numbers can continue to be used for new customers, new Ofcom regulations in force since 1 July 2015 require the Service Charge to be declared everywhere the number is advertised. For the small number of organisations still using these numbers for this purpose, this is a large incentive to stop doing so.

cmcgeeney

Bank of Ireland 0345 7365 555