Hey everyone.  First of this is an excellent site, I don't know how you do it but its really good the way you get the original numbes!

Does anyone have the alternative number for Hammersmith & Fulham CAB?  They used to have a normal number, I'm trying to find my phone book cos I know it's in there!

It would be useful to list all the CAB's in London I think, at the moment theres only a few and none are in London.   :-*

~ Edited by Dave: Thread title amended

I know that some of the larger CABs (eg Cambridge) have, quite disgracefully, gone over to 087X or 084X numbers.   I found the best way was to contact a smaller office.   Our local one can be accessed by link from the local council website so that is worth a try.   Also, sometimes our local CAB doesn't answer the phone so it is quicker to email them and request a return call.   Hope this helps but I agree it would be good if more CAB geo nos could be found and posted in the database.  I did complain when I had to contact the Cambridge admin office (who couldn't transfer me) & they said they would pass on the complaint as they seemed unaware of the NGN issue.

Barbara wrote on Mar 16^th, 2007 at 10:48am:

I know that some of the larger CABs (eg Cambridge) have, quite disgracefully, gone over to 087X or 084X numbers.   I found the best way was to contact a smaller office.   Our local one can be accessed by link from the local council website so that is worth a try.   Also, sometimes our local CAB doesn't answer the phone so it is quicker to email them and request a return call.   Hope this helps but I agree it would be good if more CAB geo nos could be found and posted in the database.  I did complain when I had to contact the Cambridge admin office (who couldn't transfer me) & they said they would pass on the complaint as they seemed unaware of the NGN issue.

It did cross my mind to contact a larger office and ask to be transferred but because of the type of company they are I just have visions of them telling me they cant do that!  I cant wait for them to e-mail me back, they're opening times is from 2-4 today and I really need to speak to them, I'll just have to try and sneak a call from the office!
You would think that based on the service they are providing the number would be free!!

Think we should rember that CAB's are charities, not profit making organisations.  If use of 0870 numbers helps them to maintain their otherwise free service to the public, i support it.

chris153 wrote on Mar 17^th, 2007 at 3:39pm:

Think we should rember that CAB's are charities, not profit making organisations.  If use of 0870 numbers helps them to maintain their otherwise free service to the public, i support it.

And using, say, a 5p per minute at all times 0904 94 number would enable them to do that transparently.

Welcome to the SayNoTo0870 forums BTW, chris153.

Quote:

Think we should rember that CAB's are charities, not profit making organisations.  If use of 0870 numbers helps them to maintain their otherwise free service to the public, i support it.

We should also remember that the clientele of CABs are usually people who cannot afford to seek advice from, say, solicitors and are generally hard up.

Also to be noted is that CABs are funded by Government but the people at the front end are usually unpaid volunteers.

Fair point.  I suppose using any number with an 090 prefix would scare many people off using the service, whatever the call charge was.

chris153 wrote on Mar 18^th, 2007 at 3:17pm:

Fair point.  I suppose using any number with an 090 prefix would scare many people off using the service, whatever the call charge was.

Which rather proves the point about 0870 numbers - they are covert money-makers whereas 09 numbers are not.

An 0904 94 number, at 5p/minute at all times, would be less-expensive than a 7p/minute 0870 number when CABs are open - during the week!

lompos wrote on Mar 17^th, 2007 at 5:07pm:

Quote: Think we should rember that CAB's are charities, not profit making organisations.  If use of 0870 numbers helps them to maintain their otherwise free service to the public, i support it. We should also remember that the clientele of CABs are usually people who cannot afford to seek advice from, say, solicitors and are generally hard up. Also to be noted is that CABs are funded by Government but the people at the front end are usually unpaid volunteers.

exactly!  I think its very out of order that they would do that considering the circumstances people are in that go to them for help.  In the end I had to sneakily call them from my office and I was on the call for 20 minutes!  I mean it was beneficial but expensive!