Santander - misleading phone number for customers - be warned

colsten

RG2015 said:

colsten said:

JezR said:

0800 123123 is not Santander's number - 0800 9 123123 is. 
The message on 0800 123123 has been there for years to catch people out that dial Santander's number incorrectly.

The announcement on 0800 123 123 also states very clearly that it is provided by goldennumbercompany.com. The 0900 number they advise is quite obviously one they provide and make money from. @maggiesoup, you can't blame Santander if you mis-dial and land with sharks.

Did you dial it? When I did, it was unobtainable.

I only dialed the 0800. Being tight-arsed, I didn't try 0900.

RG2015

maggiesoup said:

APOLOGIES!  Yes, I did dial the wrong number ie without the 9. However, the message mentioning Goldennumber company meant absolutely nothing to me.  I'm not that young and awaiting a cataract operation so eyesight isn't 20/20.  Would have thought Santander could have forced this company out of business as clearly it relies on its customers dialing the wrong number.  No, I didn't call it as I Googled "how much does an 0900 cost" and one website came up with being charged £25 as soon as you dial it so I didn't want to try it.  Sorry for any inconvenience caused and to the moderator for the extra work.

I wouldn't worry about inconveniencing the moderator, and in my opinion you have have provided some useful information.

RG2015

colsten said:

RG2015 said:

colsten said:

JezR said:

0800 123123 is not Santander's number - 0800 9 123123 is. 
The message on 0800 123123 has been there for years to catch people out that dial Santander's number incorrectly.

The announcement on 0800 123 123 also states very clearly that it is provided by goldennumbercompany.com. The 0900 number they advise is quite obviously one they provide and make money from. @maggiesoup, you can't blame Santander if you mis-dial and land with sharks.

Did you dial it? When I did, it was unobtainable.

I only dialed the 0800. Being tight-arsed, I didn't try 0900.

I meant the 0800 123 123 number and now I see there is a connection on my mobile but not on my landline (which I only use for free numbers).

colsten

RG2015 said:

bradders1983 said:

So this is the OP's error and nothing to do with Santander, could a mod please remove the libel from the thread title?

I disagree. Santander should have given the correct number of 0800 9 123 123 not the premium rate number.

If @JezR is correct, Santander is at fault here and this warning is appropriate.

PS. I stand corrected. 0800 123 123 is unobtainable so the OP did make a mistake.
As it is not a valid number, I don't know what number they actually did connect with.

I just dialled 0800 123 123 again, and again got through to the announcement of that goldenballs company

Important to note that there is no evidence whatsoever that Santander ever gave out that number to anyone.

RG2015

bradders1983 said:

So this is the OP's error and nothing to do with Santander, could a mod please remove the libel from the thread title?

The OP could modify the title to something like "Warning about trying to call Santander on 0800 123 123" if they wanted.

colsten

maggiesoup said:

..... Would have thought Santander could have forced this company out of business as clearly it relies on its customers dialing the wrong number.  .....

I doubt the company, as morally repugnant their exploitation of mis-dialling might be considered, could be forced out of business by anyone.

If you read the article that has been linked above, you can see that Santander took legal advice over the matter in 2016. I would guess, but can't be sure, that the company were asked to alter their announcement to the wording it has now, i.e. they are stating that the number is owned by them, and they are no longer stating that people should add the 0900 number to their contact list.

IANL, but I would think this is the best Santander and their lawyers could possibly have achieved. There is no law against one of the number firms to offer the 0800 123 123 number. Your anger should be directed at goldenxxxx, not at Santander.