BT call upon Ofcom to scrap rip off 0845/0870 numbers.

pricefighter

Even BT are now admitting that 0845/0870 numbers are a rip off.
Read this article in todays Scotsman.
http://business.scotsman.com/banking.cfm?id=764772005

Looks like the say no to 0870 campaign is getting through to the people that matter.Might be an opportunity now for Martin MSE to start his suggested petition against them.

Tim_L

No, this is a sneaky trick to cast aspersions at low cost competitors, as it enables BT to say that the competition are charging up to 6 times the cost of the BT rate. Typical of BT in fact.

BT know that 0870 and 0845 numbers aren't going to be removed as the call centre operators want them and would resist any measures banning them. It does say in the article something about "if they can't be removed everyone should pay the same price for them", which is the actual message BT want to promote. For Joe Public the impression that after all the low cost operators cost more than BT on something will stick and become an inhibitor to changing from BT to anything at all.

In fact if you read it carefully the whole of the article is saying: "BT are honest and upfront even if it costs us money, our competitors add hidden charges and cost you more money", and they use the worst cases to cast aspersions at everyone equally.

Which is a bit rich coming from a company that increased standing charges for people not even using their services so that we can "benefit" from a package we can't can't even use.

Nicholas

Tim_L wrote:

Which is a bit rich coming from a company that increased standing charges for people not even using their services so that we can "benefit" from a package we can't can't even use.

That is not quite the whole story. There are companies such as OneTel out there that would be very happy to have you as a rental customer. Unfortuately, these other companies are then able to block you from using other services such as 18866 etc. BT can't do this so they have to resort to other tactics.

I can see the point you are trying to make, however.

pricefighter

Tim_L wrote:

call centre operators want them and would resist any measures banning them.

Yes so they can continue to rip off Joe Public!!!

mike_paterson

Nicholas wrote:

That is not quite the whole story. There are companies such as OneTel out there that would be very happy to have you as a rental customer. Unfortuately, these other companies are then able to block you from using other services such as 18866 etc. BT can't do this so they have to resort to other tactics.

I can see the point you are trying to make, however.

Onetel have never stopped me from using 18866 and 1899 - I use them all the time and in fact place only free calls via onetel at evenings and weekend.

pricefighter

mike_paterson wrote:

Onetel have never stopped me from using 18866 and 1899 - I use them all the time and in fact place only free calls via onetel at evenings and weekend.

But they could if they choosed to do so.Where as Bt cant.

Tim_L

I think the Onetel point is that if you sign up for line rental with them they can (and I think do) block prefix dialers. If you're still using BT for line rental there's no problem as they have a statutory duty to provide access to competitors.

pricefighter

Tim_L wrote:

I think the Onetel point is that if you sign up for line rental with them they can (and I think do) block prefix dialers. If you're still using BT for line rental there's no problem as they have a statutory duty to provide access to competitors.

Yes sorry you are correct .I thought they were using One Tels line rental. .However i do believe that even if you are on CPS that alternative carriers can block calls to indirect 0844/0845/0870 access numbers if they want to,thats where the BT 1280 overide facility would be useful.

April2

pricefighter wrote:

Yes sorry you are correct .I thought they were using One Tels line rental. .However i do believe that even if you are on CPS that alternative carriers can block calls to indirect 0844/0845/0870 access numbers if they want to,thats where the BT 1280 overide facility would be useful.

Precisely why I'd advise not to change your line 'supplier' from BT for the sake of a small saving.

Keeping your line rental with BT, using a CPS operator for free weekend (and evening if you're lucky enough to have signed up in time) calls, 18866/1899 and some of the numerous dial-through companies but still having the 1280 'hop back onto BT' capability is the way to go.

bbb_uk

I agree with April completely. It's keeping our options open.