London Blasts 0870 'helpline' generates revenue for Met Police!

CrazyChemist_2

0870 1566 344

This is the premium rate emergency helpline number issued to concerned friends/relatives of victims of the London Blasts yesterday.

However, this number generates revenue for the Metropolitan Police (or some other "beneficiary") for every incoming call, and charges up to 8p per minute, even more from payphones, for what is essentially a long wait, then a recorded message, before cutting you off! :mad:

Furthermore, 0870 numbers can't always be dialled from abroad, so this is not only a money-making scam at the expense of the London Blasts, but also terrible inconvenience for relatives/friends abroad. I quote from a post from SayNoT0870 which quotes from an OFCOM Source:

"Ofcom is aware that callers may experience difficulty in accessing UK
non-geographic numbers from outside the UK. This results from uncertainties
over financial returns for routing between international operators caused by
the variable cost of calls and imbalances between charges that can be
retained or passed on through international arbitrage. UK residents dialing
the non-geographic numbers of other countries from the UK frequently
experience the same or similar problems.

I understand that the Daily Telegraph is doing an article for tomorrow's (Saturday) issue about this. See this post from SAYNOTO0870.COM.

I wonder why an 0800 number wasn't used in this case?

Heinz

Or just an ordinary 01 or 02 geographical number ........

derrick

Because as all issuers of these revenue sharing numbers, they are a bunch of money grabbing ba****ds

CrazyChemist_2

They may argue that an 01 or 02 would not give the same "call handling capabilities" or something along those lines.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if ID cards get whizzed through parliament now.

pricefighter

CrazyChemist wrote:

They may argue that an 01 or 02 would not give the same "call handling capabilities" or something along those lines.

Modern systems can now give the same call handling benefits whether you use a ngn or a geographical number.

In a recent press release the Met Police say they have handled 104,OOO calls so far thats an awful lot of money some one has earned out of these despicable bombings.

Alfie_E

CrazyChemist wrote:

I understand that the Daily Telegraph is doing an article for tomorrow's (Saturday) issue about this. See this post from SAYNOTO0870.COM.

I wonder why an 0800 number wasn't used in this case?

As I write, the thread on SAYNOTO0870.COM has been taken down. One minute it was there, the next… gone. Let's hope the website administrators haven't been "lent on" by those in authority, and let's hope any Daily Telegraph article doesn't go the same way.

I too was completely amazed at the issuing of a 0870 number. I shall be writing to complain about this. However, I shall be waiting until after all the bodies have been recovered, and after any official service in memory of those who died. (And, when I've got the postal addresses that were on that thread that got pulled, which I didn't think to take a note of.)

The 0870 number is punishment for not using the 0800 Anti Terrorist Hotline to warn them before the event. :rolleyes:

pricefighter

Unfortunately the thread was wiped in error by one of the Mods on the 0870 site.A new thread has been started go to https://www.saynoto0870.com look under geographical chat.

Good news a geographical number has been released due to the pressure put on by say no to 0870 contributors its 0207 158 0010.

CrazyChemist_2

This is a thread to replace the deleted one!

It was an accidental error by the one of the Moderators. THey are doing all they can to restore it again.

By the way, the new number (geographical) is 0207 158 0010 but they continue to promote their 0870 money-making number. :rolleyes: :mad:

blueghost

i wasn't surprised to see an 0870 number, no wonder it took them so long to release a number for the public as it no doubt took them a while to register it etc.

DonnyDave

Alfie_E wrote:

As I write, the thread on SAYNOTO0870.COM has been taken down. One minute it was there, the next… gone. Let's hope the website administrators haven't been "lent on" by those in authority, and let's hope any Daily Telegraph article doesn't go the same way.

Apologies, I deleted it by mistake.

A member came to me saying that they had posted and it wasn't showing. Their post showed after making a test post, and it was that test post I went to remove.

Daniel is working on restoring the thread. I have sent him pages 1, 2, 4, and 5 from my browser's cache, but I don't have page 3. If anyone has it, please email it to him: support [at] saynoto0870 [DOT] com

I will let you all know on here when it's all back.

Dave
Say no to 0870!

superfurry

This is crazy - what about using 0845 ??? Why do they want to make money, I hope they give all proceeds to any fund set up for the casualties and dead ( as the grand prix gig is doing this Sunday in Silverstone - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4663729.stm)

This story is even more sickening - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4662809.stm - Hotels 'cash in' on bomb attacks. There should be a name and shame on these.