After my wife went bonkers on the Hallmark Channel Quiz and spent £250 on 09 numbers, I wondered if anyone had geographic alternatives to 09 numbers?



Edited by bbb_uk to amend title

Why have you given a subject of "H" to your message?  Do you expect people to find that helpful?

But in answer to your question, there aren't usually geographic alternatives for premium-rate 09 numbers, because they are usually used for legitimate revenue-share services.  Also, unlike 0870 & 0845, use of these numbers is regulated by ICSTIS.

If your wife spent too much money because the cost of the calls was not clearly indicated in advance, then you may have cause for a complaint to ICSTIS, but if your wife merely ignored the cost, then it's probably a matter between the two of you!   ::)

Dunno why it was "H". Apologies.

Thanks for the reply. I'm just wondering how it works. Presumably the 09 number is diverted and put through to a "real" telephone line, with an answering device there.  Presumably this line has a geographic number assocated with it,  then presumably its technically possible to get through on that, enter the Quiz, or whatever, but at a much reduced rate. Then the problem is simply getting the geographic number. Or is it a completely different system?

Would appreciate clarification. Cheers

tiger303 wrote on Mar 29^th, 2006 at 4:13pm:

After my wife went bonkers on the Hallmark Channel Quiz and spent £250 on 09 numbers, I wondered if anyone had geographic alternatives to 09 numbers?

If you have a BT line, BT will activate Premium Rate Call Barring free of charge.

My wife doesn't make 09xxx calls.

Any more.

tiger303 wrote on Mar 29^th, 2006 at 4:59pm:

I'm just wondering how it works. Would appreciate clarification. Cheers

'Fraid I can't help with that - I'll leave someone else to answer.

The chances are that the Hallmark Quiz premium rate number redirects to a geographical number.

It would be near impossible to find this number simply because we are only able to find geographical numbers for companies using these type of numbers if they've had a geographical number beforehand and changed over to one of these more expensive numbers but still kept their existing geographical number, or if we are lucky, some other various methods but most of time our success depends on the fact that they widely used geograhicals in the past but just got these more expensive numbers that sill redirect to their old geographicals.

I believe the only way of getting this information is from someone who works for Hallmark's IT/Telephony Dept, or the provider of the 09x number.

I suggest barring this number as mentioned by Bill.

Breaking her fingers is the next alternative. It would be my first choice if it happened with my phone!

a very nice man wrote on Mar 29^th, 2006 at 8:04pm:

Breaking her fingers is the next alternative. It would be my first choice if it happened with my phone!

Now that's not "very nice".  :o :P

we're all entitled to a day off once in a while ;)