London Bombings - Profit oppertunity from the misery of others

daveboy

Many are killed on the roads every year - 5 were killed near Carlisle only the other day.

But that's been forgotten about already.

I find it laughable that, once again, we are debating pennies when there is a far larger picture - we have a government that doesn't care, a Prime Minister that doesn't care.

Hotels raising prices is totally wrong. But then you could also argue about the fact that those that were injured and killed paid for a ticket beforehand.

Personally, the hypocrisy of people at the moment, both of politicians and of the public, is bordering on ridiculous.

The country voted Blair, Blair made us a target. We were hit.

I don't see anyone pointing the finger where the blame actually lies.

santana-mx3

Smiley_Mum wrote:

I was surprised at the 0870 number but like someone posted up the thread, if I was searching for info on a missing loved one, I'd pay whatever to find out they were ok. As for the hotels doubling their rates, well I think that's a pretty poor show but they are probably thinking that there will be a drop in tourist numbers due to the attacks so make money while they can... :-(

I think the fact that those searching for info on a missed loved one wouldn't care how much they had to pay is the whole point. That's why they can easily get away with charging whatever they want. I would have thought they would be able to do this at short notice with a geo number (after all, we managed fine with them and with freephone numbers in the past). I was disappointed to see that the number was an 0870. I realise that costs have to be covered but it still doesn't seem right. But this is obviously just a bad decision in pre-planning on how to handle emergency information lines - not a case of people deciding to to make money out of this particular disaster. However, as others have said, in view of everything that's happened, this is a very small issue and anyone needing to phone the number has had a very useful service for a price they certainly wouldn't begrudge (or even think about).

The idea of hotels doubling their price is really awful. Perhaps they felt there was more risk taking people in last night but it does seem more like just plain profiteering. Although it was mentioned on the news on Radio 2 this morning, by later on in the morning it had been toned down to reflect that it was only isolated cases which is good to know.

jockettuk

mabey they havnt mentioned were the money is going because A. as yet not accident fund set up and b they didnt think it wasnt high on the list of prioritys.

As for people and hotels etc charging more. ive yet to hear from someone who was actually charged double.. my brother paid £60 from london to peterborough in a taxi to get home this is cheaper than it would normally be. Give credit were credit is due and stop whinging abt the nity grity after all people have lost limbs people are still dying and me well im grateful my loved ones are fine.. not everyone can say that.

jockettuk

daveboy wrote:

Many are killed on the roads every year - 5 were killed near Carlisle only the other day.

But that's been forgotten about already.

I find it laughable that, once again, we are debating pennies when there is a far larger picture - we have a government that doesn't care, a Prime Minister that doesn't care.

Hotels raising prices is totally wrong. But then you could also argue about the fact that those that were injured and killed paid for a ticket beforehand.

Personally, the hypocrisy of people at the moment, both of politicians and of the public, is bordering on ridiculous.

The country voted Blair, Blair made us a target. We were hit.

I don't see anyone pointing the finger where the blame actually lies.

all the finger pointing will happen in the future at the moment its a clean up operation and a lot of funerals to organise..

Raggie

I do not think it is right to be an 0870 number.. and agree with the posters above.

WHA

Re hotels, having read today's papers and looked at various internet news sites, I have found no other "complaints" about hotel overcharging. It seems like this is just another "one off" situation that has been taken out of all proportion. The hotels have been found guilty on this site without any real evidence at all. Worse still, a poster on the discussion thread has made unwarranted allegations against "small hotels" in general without any facts whatsoever. I really don't see the need for people to get wound up about this at all. The entire subject is just hearsay. If anyone has "real" information, then let's hear it!

ooo000ooo

Just a thought and i may be wrong but i think it's easier to direct the traffic on an 0870 number to a number of locations than a specific geographical number. Therefore rather than having all calls answered at a single call centre which may not be manned 365 days a year and the problems of getting it staffed at short notice the calls can be farmed out to smaller centres where staff change duties for the period that the emergency number is live?

Tojo_Ralph

Whilst we are on the subject of those who are profiteering from the fallout of Blair's phony war ...........

http://www.detnews.com/2005/nation/0507/07/A03-240209.htm

trisontana

On the subject of hotel prices. It was pointed out on the radio today that the person who complained had checked out of his hotel that day, decided he would not be able to get home and so decided to stay another night. This is when he found that the price had risen, As the guy on the radio pointed out, the original hotel booking had probably been made some time ago at a discounted rate. Uses of this board know how variable hotel prices can be. So in effect, when he re-booked, he was treated as any other person would be who goes into a hotel and books a room for that night.

worldtraveller

WHA wrote:

Re hotels, having read today's papers and looked at various internet news sites, I have found no other "complaints" about hotel overcharging. It seems like this is just another "one off" situation that has been taken out of all proportion. The hotels have been found guilty on this site without any real evidence at all. Worse still, a poster on the discussion thread has made unwarranted allegations against "small hotels" in general without any facts whatsoever. I really don't see the need for people to get wound up about this at all. The entire subject is just hearsay. If anyone has "real" information, then let's hear it!

Whether or not you choose to believe the comments made in the following BBC link, several people seem to think that some hotels were indeed profiteering from the situation (others thankfully were also very generous & helpful):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4662809.stm