Tomorrow Morning BBC1 TV at 9.15am -- a new series on "RIP-OFF Britain" commences and the first edition will contain a piece about the use of 084 numbers by public services and ubtilities.


In the first of a series of these programmes three “Rottweilers” get their teeth into the rip off behind 084 telephone numbers.   Veteran reporters Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Jennie Bond present the series.

This episode will expose the subsidy obtained by both commercial and public service providers at the expense of their users who pay premium rates to call 084 telephone numbers, although they are not honoured with the classification of being a “Premium Rate Service”. Where no fee is advised as being levied for the service, callers are being ripped off by the provider, the organisation they are calling, not by their telephone company.

We do not know exactly how this topic will be handled and presented so it will be interesting to see how the BBC will present it.   It is likely that the topic of 084 number rip-offs will only occupy a short slot within a 45 minute programme covering many other alleged "rip-offs" throughout the utilities industry, and it will be interesting to see if reference to the use of 084 within the NHS is mentioned.

Remember, BBC 1 TV at 9.15 am Monday 30th November 2009.   Let's see if we can say well done to Auntie BBC.

Having just viewed this episode, which is not the easiest activity from Florida, I can only conclude that Ofcom's Gareth Davies appears to be a complete "waste of space", and a shining example of this organ's pointlessness and incompetence.

Following a major item in Series 1 and a plug for SayNoTo0870 in Series 3, I understand that BBC Rip-Off Britain is still keen to cover this issue in Series 4 (which is currently being prepared for broadcast in the late Autumn).

Rather than a full item however, the plan is to cover the issue in the context of the "Pop up" shop being held in Gateshead on Sat / Sun, 16 / 17 June.

Although there is a genuine "walk-in" element to this, the producers are very keen to hear from people who are able to attend the event and are ready to be filmed talking about how they have been ripped-off, with "an expert".

Anyone keen to contribute should contact the BBC via the contact us form on the Rip Off Britain web page, as soon as possible.

(Timing is important as some of the show content is prepared in advance.)