London Bombings - Profit oppertunity from the misery of others

santana-mx3

I don't think the OP or anyone else for that matter is more concerned about 0870 than about the loss of lives. I'm sure you don't really think that they are.

I feel that the use of 0870 was unnecessary. I realise that the decision was probably not made at the time of the disaster but at some time in the past, bearing in mind that an emergency of this sort was expected. Although costs need to be covered, the decision to use an 0870 revenue sharing number was I think a poorly thought out or badly informed decision. I personally don't think it was a desire for profiteering at a time of disaster though the fact that it could give that impression should have been considered (not now at the time of this disaster when there were more important things to think about, but when the pre-planning was carried out without any of these pressures). I also think that the difficulties of dialling in from abroad (sometimes works, sometimes doesn't) and the cost of dialling from mobiles and possibly running out of credit mid call are certainly relevant when considering the type of number to use.

It is of course of much less importance than the loss of lives, the rescue operations, any security issues etc and the saynoto0870 people have not said otherwise. They have simply tried to address these issues with a temporary solution for the present and to bring it to people's attention for future descision-making.

They could have assumed that those who needed to use the number have already managed to do so and therefore they could wait and address it later (to try to force a change for next time) but they decided to do it straight away to help those who still needed to use the number and because it is a little easier to get that result now.

I don't for one minute think that they did this INSTEAD of reflecting on what has happened or instead of mourning, instead of feeling outrage etc. Nor were they saying this issue was more important.

The issue about the use of 0870 numbers is a comparatively very minor one, but nevertheless one that needs to be addressed. This thread was about this issue. There are other threads about the terrible bombings themselves, the emergency service response etc.

bbb_uk

Remember its not just the cost of the 0870 that started all this (and the thread on saynoto0870), it is because at a time of such tragedy why was it chosen to have a 0870 number that does generate revenue. C&W have already admitted this and due to bad press have now decided to pass the profits on to the charity that will no doubt be setup.

A geographical number, 0800, 0844 & 0845 could have been setup but instead but chose a 0870 (very popular numbers within the government since Labour). Why was money even an issue at such time? When they set this up they obviously never used their brains otherwise they would have realised that outside the UK it can be very difficult to ring 08xx numbers, and more importingly ringing from a mobile or a payphone can cost around 40ppm. I realise that this price is set my the networks but had the government used a geographical number then this wouldn't have mattered.

Why is that in the USA, they set up a freephone number for US residents worried about loved ones in London at the time. Yet our own government was more concerned over money than convenience or anything else. They were adding insult to injury in my opinion.

In fact, I believe that freephone numbers in the US are common for times like these and during times of declared emergency it is not possible for emergency services to use anything that may cost the public more money than normal. Therefore, had the US a number costing the around the same amount as our 0870 then this would not have been allowed but of course here in the UK our government makes full use of these 0870 numbers.

I understand the reasons for not choosing a freephone number but it is possible to have all the features of a 0845/0870 number on a geographical number.

A geographical number was released (finally) due to the compliants and not to mention the newspapers getting involved.

How many people rung the 0870 number from their mobile/payphone just to run out of credit within possibly minutes due to the high costs.

I suspect that the networks have made a huge profit from this and if I can find out who to email I shall be asking if they have any intentions on donoting to charity the profits they made from people calling this number from their network - similar to what C&W are now doing (only due to bad press, etc but still nonetheless its better than them profiting).

Rikki

they have just arrested someone in connection with the bombings.

bbb_uk

I have emailed the four main networks and kindly asked them if they would consider donating the profit they got from their customers calling the helpline. I have had to guess their email address but as yet had no emails returned saying unknown recipient so I hope I have guessed their email addresses accurately.

I also included some other newspapers in this especially the The Mirror as it was them that appear to have got Cable&Wireless to donate their profits from this call to charity.

For those interested in this a bit more (including exactly who I emailed) then read this post from the SayNoTo0870.com forum.

IvanOpinion

I have just read on various sites postings that contain lists of email addresses for the people 'responsible' for the use of an 0870 number including high ranking police officers and officials with the advice to email them and complain about its usage. I really despair at the attitude of this sort of advice ... there will be a time and a place for this to be sorted out for the future, but now is NOT the time to cause many hours of police time to be diverted from what they need to be doing .. ie. finding those responsible.

Let the police do their job .. don't waste their time.

Of course the press is jumping on this bandwagon ... do you think they really care ... probably not .. but it does sell their newspapers when they are seen to be bowing to populous mass appeal.

Ivan

pandas66

IvanOpinion wrote:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Ivan

PS: Thanks to all those who sent me a PM in support to my stance

Did you really get some Ivan ?? Dare you to name and shame................lol.
Or couldn't you read the tea leaves!

IvanOpinion

pandas66 wrote:

Did you really get some Ivan ?? Dare you to name and shame................lol.
Or couldn't you read the tea leaves!

Now, now Panda you know it is very bad board etiquette and in very poor taste to publicise the contents of PMs - did we not have this discussion a few months back?

Tea leaves ??????

Ivan

aliasojo

***Note from Board Guide: Please stick to original topic and refrain from personal insults, abusive posts or other personal bickering. I will delete any posts that do not adhere to this simple request.***

bbb_uk

IvanOpinion wrote:

I have just read on various sites postings that contain lists of email addresses for the people 'responsible' for the use of an 0870 number including high ranking police officers and officials with the advice to email them and complain about its usage. I really despair at the attitude of this sort of advice ... there will be a time and a place for this to be sorted out for the future, but now is NOT the time to cause many hours of police time to be diverted from what they need to be doing .. ie. finding those responsible....

A couple of weeks/months down the line do you actually think the government would bother to have even investigated any complaints of this nature?

At the time of such tragedy then in my opinion, no one should have made a profit on the misfortunes of others and more importingly the lack of knowledge (as most people are probably not aware of the high costs involved in ringing these numbers and the fact that companies/government even make a profit). The government in choosing this number has done the complete opposite.

At least now they've released a geographical so the expensive rip off costs of ringing the 0870 can be avoided providing people are made aware that calling an 0870 is significantly more expensive that calling a geographical which I believe most people are not aware of this. If it weren't for the bad press, etc then the government would have just had the 0870 number in place increasing the profits (due to revenue sharing) for all concerned.

If it weren't for the bad press, etc then people would still be ringing the 0870 and C&W would have not bothered to donate the huge profits it is making now.

I just hope that the networks consider doing the same and donate the profits it made to the charity that was setup to help the victims.

IvanOpinion

bbb_uk wrote:

A couple of weeks/months down the line do you actually think the government would bother to have even investigated any complaints of this nature?

I think that given the reports that appeared within a few hours and statements made by various government officials before the end of the day the government realised that the use of an 0870 number was a total 'fubar'. Therefore the continual clogging of senior peoples emails telling them this is counter productive and a distraction (unless thery are totally stupid I think that they have got the message).

At the time of such tragedy then in my opinion, no one should have made a profit on the misfortunes of others and more importantly the lack of knowledge (as most people are probably not aware of the high costs involved in ringing these numbers and the fact that companies/government even make a profit). The government in choosing this number has done the complete opposite.

At least now they've released a geographical so the expensive rip off costs of ringing the 0870 can be avoided providing people are made aware that calling an 0870 is significantly more expensive that calling a geographical which I believe most people are not aware of this. If it weren't for the bad press, etc then the government would have just had the 0870 number in place increasing the profits (due to revenue sharing) for all concerned.

I don't believe that the decision to use an 0870 number was profit driven - I don't know why it happened but assuming it was for no other reason than profit is like finding someone guilty before they stand trial. I don't understand the technicalities of it but I think I read somewhere that one reason was because they could immediately bring 5 times more operators on line than they could if they had have used some other number.

If it weren't for the bad press, etc then people would still be ringing the 0870 and C&W would have not bothered to donate the huge profits it is making now.

I just hope that the networks consider doing the same and donate the profits it made to the charity that was setup to help the victims.

Agreed - but I would go further, I think any profits made thru increased volume of calls should also go to the relevant charities.


What I am obviously failling to get across and just can not comprehend is that given the deaths of approximately 70 men, women and children and the horrible injuries received by hundreds more how on earth can people start thinking about money - why would money even cross someones mind?. I am not getting at the OP, because similar questions have been posted on umpteen other chatboards, it is just that the cost of a phone call would not even enter into my mind ... I have ranted about the 'me me me' society that we are building but have we really become so fixated on money?

Ivan

PS: I have started a totally unrelated thread in DT about 0870 numbers and would be interested in your coments since you obviously understand the principles behind them.