This has been talked about before, (see here). I'm after my own 0870 to give to companies who refuse to give a geographical number (even if they're listed here!).

There's lots of 0870 providers, but which is best for home use? The requirements are obviously them allowing very low usage, as well as paying out from the first second of calls to the number and free setup/connection.

Here are the ones I have, some of which have been mentioned by others on this forum. If you have experience of these providers (whether they're happy with your low usage etc.), let us know how it's going. How many minutes have you accumulated?

Provider	Revenue	p per min	Setup	Remarks
	day	e&w
1st Stop Media Ltd*	1.5	0	£0	not accepting new customers
UK2Numbers	2	0.5	£9.95 (offer)
FleXtel	0.55	?	£0	they say in their FAQs that 0870 can be for personal use
RoboTelecom	2	0.5	£0	No minimum usage

Revenue is for lowest usage, so if there's usage bands, the lowest is shown.

From this list I think RoboTelecom give the best deal at 2p/min peak, no minumum usage and free connection! 8)

How does VAT come into this? Do I have to pay VAT on my revenue? ???

* Link removed to 1st Stop Media as it redirects to another site

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Good point Daniel.

RoboTelecom's T&Cs says that minimum payment is £50. If that's not reached, it's rolled over. However, it also says that the total will be reset to £0 if no payouts are made in a 12month period. They also charge £20+VAT to redirect to another geo number.

I think you'll find that robotelecom do charge an admin fee when you purchase a number.

I've looked at uk2numbers before and had some 0870 and 0871 numbers off them - they actually pay a higher rebate up to 3.4p/min for 0870s and 5p/min for 0871 numbers.

(uk2numbers will also price match, which is what they offered me)

I've earned around £120 from all the calls I've made companies (even BT ) make to call me

I've had a good look around, and the one that seems the best is Deltaphone.

They do charge £5.00+VAT connection, but everything else is free, including changes to the geographical number. You can make upto 6 in a year. You can also have the next sequential number free.

They specifically state that individuals can have their NGN numbers. There is also no minimum usage of 0870 and 0871.

The minimum payout is £20.00. Revenue is 1.2p in the daytime, 0.6p evening and 0.15p weekend. So they even pay out at the weekend (not very much admittedly) which some others do not.

They also offer voicemail and recorded messages and even divert to another number if it's busy.

I have got a free 0870 number from FlexTel which I now give out to everyone who are not family or friends.  The bank, mail order companies, work etc all have my 0870 number.

My landline number is ex-directory and with FlexTel you have the option of getting your number listed on all the Directory Enquiry services.  It was only a few days before it was listed on the BT online Directory Enquiry site.  And it's listed in the residential section, so when these companies search for my number that's all they get - 0870 xxx xxxx.

I also have a DECT handset, so that all these companies that call me can be 'put on hold' and the longer they wait, the more money I get!!  It's not a lot, but I am now able to get my own back on all these companies that rip me off.  I'll never become a millionaire but at least I get some satisfaction.  If I am out and have to ring home from a payphone I use the 0870 number and get a cut of the revenue from that call too.

Because it's 30p minimum fee from a BT Payphone, I call the 0870 number instead of 01 number and get a cut of the cost.

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I've looked at UK2Numbers and they seem quite good. A free 0870 number would be preferred, and their 2p payout in the daytime is one of the best for low users. Are they happy to have low users and how low do they allow?

The advantage of UK2Numbers is that although their minimum payout is £50, it is carried over each month. After a 12 month period if you haven't reached it, they will payout what ever the total is.

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I've looked at Flextel. They only payout when you reach £250! Their revenue thresholds don't work on a month by month basis, but on the amount of minutes that you've made (ie those that haven't paid out). To get to 3p/min for a single line you have to be on the phone constantly for just over 19 years!

To reach your first £250 (without referral commission) you have to rack up 42,500 minutes or 708 hours or 29.5 days! This is the main drawback to Flextel. Will you ever see your 'earnings'?

I think this is where the referral payments come in. It's like a pyramid scheme where the more you recommend or sell the more referral commission you receive. If you refer a high user you will be earning the same rate that they get upto their 500,000 minute.

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What's the dffierence between an 0870 and an 0871? They seem to cost the same (and the reward appears to be higher for the 0871). So why not plump for the 0871 instead?