I vaguely feel I've seen this already, but feeling sorry for the fairpack customers and also not understanding how a company that is simply collecting funds on behalf of low income people went  bust i thought I would look it up on the internet only to be shocked that to phone the administrators you have to use an 0870 number.

Disgrace.

~ Thread title amended by Dave

The address and fax lead back to The Insolvency Service, a government organisation. Geographical contact numbers for offices are on that website.

See http://www.farepakresponsefund.org.uk/

Dave wrote on Nov 7^th, 2006 at 6:44pm:

See http://www.farepakresponsefund.org.uk/

This Farepak Response Fund is operated by Family Fund, a registered charity. They have provided an 0845 number for contact.

Article in todays Sunday Observer.


"MPS have slated Farepak administrator BDO Stoy Hayward for setting up an expensive premium-rate telephone information line for victims of the collapsed Christmas savings company.
BDO Stoy Hayward will itself receive a portion of the money earned from the 0870 telephone line, which charges 8p per minute during peak hours, 5p per minute in the evening, and 3p per minute at weekends.

The accountancy firm says this is intended to cover the costs of handling compensation claims from up to 150,000 Farepak savers, and strongly denies it is profiting at the victims' expense."


http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1956915,00.html

buzbee wrote on Nov 26^th, 2006 at 1:55am:

Article in todays Sunday Observer. "MPS have slated Farepak administrator BDO Stoy Hayward for setting up an expensive premium-rate telephone information line for victims of the collapsed Christmas savings company. BDO Stoy Hayward will itself receive a portion of the money earned from the 0870 telephone line, which charges 8p per minute during peak hours, 5p per minute in the evening, and 3p per minute at weekends. The accountancy firm says this is intended to cover the costs of handling compensation claims from up to 150,000 Farepak savers, and strongly denies it is profiting at the victims' expense." http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1956915,00.html

On page 2:

A spokeswoman for the National Consumer Council said: 'There are a lot of clever people at BDO Stoy Hayward. You would think they could organise something that wouldn't penalise the poor claimants.' Ofcom has also expressed concern about 0870 numbers. A spokesman for the telecoms regulator said: 'The problem is that consumers sometimes think they will be charged the same as for a national phone call.'

I wonder how consumers got THAT impression?

farci wrote on Nov 26^th, 2006 at 12:56pm:

A spokeswoman for the National Consumer Council said: 'There are a lot of clever people at BDO Stoy Hayward. You would think they could organise something that wouldn't penalise the poor claimants.' Ofcom has also expressed concern about 0870 numbers. A spokesman for the telecoms regulator said: 'The problem is that consumers sometimes think they will be charged the same as for a national phone call.' I wonder how consumers got THAT impression?

..or why they (Ofcom) wont do anything to stop this misleading of claimants/consumers.

The administrators themselves have an 0870 to contact them so I guess it was enevitable to use an 0870 for needing to make a claim to them.

Check out their 'Contact Us' page.

I suggest we email them.

bbb_uk wrote on Nov 26^th, 2006 at 1:42pm:

The administrators themselves have an 0870 to contact them so I guess it was enevitable to use an 0870 for needing to make a claim to them. Check out their 'Contact Us' page.

But under Locations they list the geographicals for all offices.

BDO's Reading office is at the same address as the Government's Insolvency service. The Kings Wharf, Reading address is given on the Farepak website. So the alternative to the 0870 could be the Reading BDO office which is 0118 925 4400. I suggest that we list this as an alternative for people to call.

The fax number quoted on the Farepak website is 01793 606057 and appears very similar to Farepak's switchboard number which is 01793 606000 and is listed in the Say no to 0870 database. I therefore assume that the fax is at Farepak's office.

I have listed the Reading office number in the database as an alternative to BDO's 0870.

I notice that the line is administered by Opal Telecom, part of the Carphone Warehouse, who are no strangers to the 0870 number.

jimjim wrote on Nov 26^th, 2006 at 5:05pm:

I notice that the line is administered by Opal Telecom, part of the Carphone Warehouse, who are no strangers to the 0870 number.

Or to 'creative' ways to squeeze more out of punters!

bbb_uk wrote on Nov 26^th, 2006 at 1:22pm:

farci wrote on Nov 26th, 2006 at 12:56pm: A spokeswoman for the National Consumer Council said: 'There are a lot of clever people at BDO Stoy Hayward. You would think they could organise something that wouldn't penalise the poor claimants.' Ofcom has also expressed concern about 0870 numbers. A spokesman for the telecoms regulator said: 'The problem is that consumers sometimes think they will be charged the same as for a national phone call.' I wonder how consumers got THAT impression? ..or why they (Ofcom) wont do anything to stop this misleading of claimants/consumers.

Off topic on Farepak but relevant to BBB's comment.

I recently had a belated reply to my letter to MEPs concerning Ofcom's obligations under the EU Universal Service Directive as it relates to the provision of pricing information. See this thread http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1157980303/15#15.

Viviane Reding, European Information Commissioner told my MEP that:

"...It is fundamentally the role of the National Regulatory Authorities in each member state to ensure the obligation...is implemented..." MEP Davd Martin comments this responsibility is for MPs at Wetsminster, although Commissioner Reding "would..appreciate to stay informed". In other words, any complaints that Ofcom is not doing its job must be routed through Westminster.

This is an official opinionandn could prove grounds for further action through parliamentary questions. I have no confidence that my MP would give a damn. So, would anybody on this forum like to have copies of my correspondence to take this further through a sympathetic MP?

If so, PM me or post a comment

Dixon Motors has gone into administration and the administrators, BDO Stoy Hayward, have issued a freephone number for customers. It is 0800 612 1340. Is this a turnaround?

More from BBC News here.