Wall Of Shame - Companies changing 0870/45 to 0871/44

malc_b

As many may know Ofcom is changing the rules so that 0870/45 numbers are now included in free minutes and flat rate tariffs. Consequently many companies are moving to 0871/44 which are still semi-premium rate like 0870/45 were. The only reason for this is to continue ripping off customers. All the old arguments of needing a uk wide number, call centre number etc. still apply to 0870 so the only reason is to continue the profit stream, i.e. ripping off their customers. So here is a

Wall of Shame

Alliance & Leicester (Commercial Bank)

Add in any others you know

Heinz

There's already a Hall of Shame running on SayNo but, IMHO, it'd be easier to just add the 'good guys' to their Hall of Fame.

ABN

malc_b wrote: »

As many may know Ofcom is changing the rules so that 0870/45 numbers are now included in free minutes and flat rate tariffs.

Could someone explain this to me.

Have been looking into changing supplier / packages etc. They all proudly tell you that all local and national are free but when pressed about 0845/0870 numbers they state that they are NOT included hence not free.

So if the rules have changed why would it appear that BT's, Talk Talk etc call plans still charge for them?

derrick

malc_b wrote: »

As many may know Ofcom is changing the rules so that 0870/45 numbers are now included in free minutes and flat rate tariffs.

OfCoN are doing nothing about 0845 numbers.

Heinz

And Ofcom's final decision about 0870 calls is likely to be yet another fudge - last I read was that they are proposing (ridiculously) that telcos must charge the same as they do for 01/02 calls unless they publicise their charges well.

bigsaverCol

I've searched for links explaining the new charges but can find nothing.
0871 0844 Etc. Someone explain what is changing to what and what may be free and what may not.
Barclaycard Business just changed from 087? to 084?. Would they have gone from 12p to 4p because their old number will be free?

Heinz

bigsaverCol wrote: »

Barclaycard Business just changed from 087? to 084?. Would they have gone from 12p to 4p because their old number will be free?

No. Many firms which were using 0870 numbers are running scared to either 0844 numbers or 0871/2 numbers because Ofcom's original proposal was to bar revenue-sharing on 0870, require all telcos to carry 0870 calls at the same cost as 01/02 calls and include 0870 calls in any inclusive packages.

As they've been covertly skimming money off the top of all such calls from the financially less-aware for years, changing to 0844 and 0871/2 (which will continue as revenue-sharing) allows them to continue making their 'stealth revenue'. Sky, for example, is in the process of changing from 0870 (6p/minute peak, 1½p/minute off peak on a BT landline) to 0844 (5p/minute at all times).