Hi All,

Is there a standard complaint letter available on this site please?  I've briefly searched across all forums but no luck so far.

Having failed using the phone, I now want to write to a private company complaining about 0870 issues and seeking the equivalent geographical number.  I'm after something that I can cut and paste from and then add to.

Thanks in anticipation and Keep Up The Fight!

Cheers
Garry

PS I've only briefly looked through some FOI postings - is there any requirement on companies to disclose their geo number ?

The purpose of the FOI act, is for public sector bodies to comply with requests for information that they hold.  The request for a geographic number, and the amount of money they earn from them, is quite a popular request from members of this site.  You can also ask for anything from minutes of council meetings, to who supplies the coffee for their vending machines!!

Commercial companies are not required to disclose information, however a public sector organisation such as the DVLA, or Inland revenue would only release the geo number because of pressure of the FOI act, and not of concern of customer relations.

A commercial organisation of course might take customer relations into account, and many do give a geo number at the request of a customer.  Whilst they do not have the FOI act to contend with, they do have to keep their customers happy.

Therefore in the spirit of customer goodwill, and commercial pressure, a company can give you their geo number, but there is no legal, or regulatory obligation to do so.

If you wanna know who the act applies to have a read here
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00036--p.htm#sch1

And keep clicking continue.
I just found out the act applies to "The Post Office", could be interesting to send an FOI to them about their use of 0845's

With regards to standard letters, they are generallya  waste of time. Far better to write your own bespoke letter.

Thanks for your replies, guys.

As regards an example letter, I'd definately add my own paragraphs (my specific experiences etc) and might even tweak the original wording.

I'm just after a few succinct sentences that summarise the 0870/0845 rip-off issues without me sounding like I don't know what I'm talking about!

I believe it should be role of this site to assist others with a similar viewpoint to challenging those companies that blindly adopt 0870 probably without knowing the issues.  In fact I would go as far as to say this site ought to have a kind of SayNoTo0870 Protest tool-kit!!  This would gather together example letters/emails, tips for obtaining geographical numbers, contact details for OFCOM including details of any current/recent/forthcoming consultations, contacts of relevant MPs/select committes etc, and details of any relevant other sites/groups who share similar views!

Any help with an example letters (cut and paste paragraphs even ) would be much appreciated?

Regards
Garry