London Bombings - Profit oppertunity from the misery of others

Plasticman

ooo000ooo wrote:

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?

This is correct. The main call centre may be staffed by the Met police, but the overflow is handled by other Forces and can easily be managed by a non geographical number. Let’s keep this in perspective - this isn't an expensive 090 number, it's just charged at the national rate. I'm sure the people who had to call it are grateful for the service and really couldn't care about the few pence that it cost them. Nobody is making a profit from this - the cost to the police for this incident will be huge.

CrazyChemist_2

see this thread in the Home Phones board about the 0870 number which was used for this incident 'helpline'.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=682155#post682155

Plasticman

I still don't really understand the argument. We will all be paying for the policing of this incident, whether through a phone call to this helpline or through our taxes. This phone number is managed by the police service - they certainly won't be making a profit from what happened yesterday.

pricefighter

Plasticman wrote:

This is correct. The main call centre may be staffed by the Met police, but the overflow is handled by other Forces and can easily be managed by a non geographical number. Let’s keep this in perspective - this isn't an expensive 090 number, it's just charged at the national rate. I'm sure the people who had to call it are grateful for the service and really couldn't care about the few pence that it cost them. Nobody is making a profit from this - the cost to the police for this incident will be huge.

All the calls are in fact answered in the Casualty Bureau at Hendon.Officers from forces other then the Met Police,are helping out there.Modern call systems can use geographical numbers now and get the same call switching,stats,etc etc benefits as 0870.The old excuse its better for us to use 0870 is not acceptable.

The Commissioner has recognised its wrong to profit from an 0870 no in a disaster situation.(Also not forgetting the problems of calling 0870 numbers from abroad.) He has asked for a geo number to be issued thanks to pressure from contributors on the say no to 0870 site.

The geographical no is 0207 158 0010.

pricefighter

Plasticman wrote:

I still don't really understand the argument. We will all be paying for the policing of this incident, whether through a phone call to this helpline or through our taxes. This phone number is managed by the police service - they certainly won't be making a profit from what happened yesterday.

The revenue from calls to 0870 numbers is shared between the provider Cable and Wireless,and the renter of the service whoever it might be in this case.(Its not clear yet if the renter is the Met Police ).

Why should they profit from other peoples misfortunes? Should they not agree to give any profits made from this to the disaster fund?

Plasticman

pricefighter wrote:

All the calls are in fact answered in the Casualty Bureau at Hendon.Officers from forces other then the Met Police,are helping out there.

The Casualty Bureau was set up in my local Force yesterday and (I believe) was handling the overflow from the Met.

Plasticman

pricefighter wrote:

The revenue from calls to 0870 numbers is shared between the provider Cable and Wireless,and the renter of the service whoever it might be in this case.(Its not clear yet if the renter is the Met Police ).

Info on saynoto0870 indicated that the 'renter' was PITO. As the police service will be picking up a huge amount of the cost of this how can they be 'profiting'? I agree that Cable and Wireless profiting would be rather distasteful

1connect

pricefighter wrote:

All the calls are in fact answered in the Casualty Bureau at Hendon.Officers from forces other then the Met Police,are helping out there.Modern call systems can use geographical numbers now and get the same call switching,stats,etc etc benefits as 0870.The old excuse its better for us to use 0870 is not acceptable.

The Commissioner has recognised its wrong to profit from an 0870 no in a disaster situation.(Also not forgetting the problems of calling 0870 numbers from abroad.) He has asked for a geo number to be issued thanks to pressure from contributors on the say no to 0870 site.

The geographical no is 0207 158 0010.

Well done say no to 0870!
Also I am glad the commissioner agreed with the core principal of my original post that any form of revenue generating activity of this nature and under these circumstances is unacceptable and issued the 0207 158 0010 number.


Being a sceptic I wonder if this was the original help line number was connected to the 0870 number later.



Anyway thanks to all who replied to my original post, there have been some very valid points made.



My concern wasn’t just the distasteful nature of profit off the back off a disaster but also to where it will lead if we don’t speak out about it.



Perhaps in the future a 090 number at £1.50 pm+ or maybe a credit card admin fee / registration fee when you get through etc , sol clearly it is best to have a line drawn - and the line is - a free phone number or a geo number ONLY.



Anyway thanks to say no to 0870 they have made this point to the right people and got the message across that most people find the core principal unacceptable, they have agreed and put forward a geo alternative, also they will know the score for any future disasters, therefore we can all be glad with the end result.

1connect

trisontana

Scotland Yard have just published a number for anyone who has information about the bombings and the people who carried them out . That's an 0800 number. Double standards here!

pricefighter

trisontana wrote:

Scotland Yard have just published a number for anyone who has information about the bombings and the people who carried them out . That's an 0800 number. Double standards here!

They have had the 0800 789 321 number for many years and have always used it in there Anti Terriorist work.But i agree with you that double standards appear to be evident.

The choice of the 0870 no was clearly ill thought out ,and still they promote it alongside the geographical number no,incidentally which they say is for overseas callers.On sites eg London Ambulance. London Government only the 0870 no is shown.So still the wonga rolls on in to the coffers of C&W and the renter.Its an absolute disgrace!!!