There's a whole lot more aggro to it, but basically Carphone Warehouse have a scam involving their 0870 number which will never be answered, and I've exposed it. OK, the video drags on a bit, but I didn't want to put any edits in so it's clear there's no cheating!
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=2407663456841645458

I've told OFTEL, they say to check with a lawyer, which I briefly did, and he says that if a charge is made with the expectation that a service will be provided, and that service ISN'T provided (even after the company has been told), then an offence has been comitted.

Have a look at this thread about an Ofcom "own-inniative investigation" into possible misuse of 087 numbers. You could contact Matthew Peake, the case leader.

I also suggest you report this to your local trading standards.

It is also worth reporting this to Nokia. Did you buy your phone from CPW or was it that Nokia directed you to them?

Nokia may decide to take away CPW's 'repair centre' status if it provides bad customer service like this.

I agree with Dave's comments above.

You could also consider approaching some newspapers that have highlighted the issues with 0870.  Maybe even watchdog!?

I've sent you a PM.

BTW, thank you for going through all that trouble of making a video to highlight problems us customers face which Ofcom likes to believe don't exist at all.

toast wrote on Mar 30^th, 2007 at 4:45pm:

There's a whole lot more aggro to it, but basically Carphone Warehouse have a scam involving their 0870 number which will never be answered, and I've exposed it. OK, the video drags on a bit, but I didn't want to put any edits in so it's clear there's no cheating! http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=2407663456841645458 I've told OFTEL, they say to check with a lawyer, which I briefly did, and he says that if a charge is made with the expectation that a service will be provided, and that service ISN'T provided (even after the company has been told), then an offence has been comitted.

A well presented video that accurately reflects how so many businesses in the UK fleece the long-suffering customer while the regulator sits on its fat corrupt corporate backside and does nothing. As I'm sure you are aware, the scam also extends to primary health providers, aided by the odious NEG plc, whereby a patient is expected to call a premium rate 0844 number simply to make an appointment while NEG rakes in a tidy profit.

Good luck should you decide to pursue this further.

Wow! That is absolutely crazy!! It just shows the lengths to which companies will try and rake as much money off unsuspecting consumers. I'm so glad the TalkTalk broadband support number is free from a TalkTalk landline (yes, I know it is still an 0870) because I swear they keep you on hold deliberately to make profit on that (despite being free from our landline), even after the "big boss" said they had slashed call waiting times. If it hadn't have been free, I probably would have gone and strangled someone at head office for keeping me on the phone so long...

James

I recently UPGRADED through the CARPHONE WAREHOUSE, I wish I hadn't of bothered now.

All I seem to get now is text after text, and call after call from them hassling me...

I will NOT be using this company again....



BTW - Top Video, and you have highlighted how the rest of us feel about this rip off of NGN numbers

Carphone Warehouse.  Each store has its own 0870 number for which SAYNOTO0870.COM has no geographic equivalent.

If you want to query something with a particular store that is not covered by one of the automatic telephone options,  staff only seem to answer the phone if they are not busy with shop customers - leaving the telephone caller hanging on a presumably high call rate.  >:(

Quite right too, nothing more annoying than being served by an assistant and they stop to answer the phone, leaving you to twiddle your thumbs. Well I don't, I walk out. >:(

There are some other numbers here....

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/commerce/servlet/gben-server-PageServer?ARTICLE=MAIN.UK.INTERNET.CONTACT.CONTACTPHONE

Whilst having a go at Carphone Warehouse, let us not forget that its subsidiary Opal Telecom is the provider of the 0844 numbers used by NEG for its Surgery Line system - http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1160182005.

It would not be unreasonable to assume (although I have not checked) that the same company provides the 0870 numbers used by Carphone Warehouse itself. As a "self-provider" of network telephone services it has even less justification for using revenue sharing numbers.

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Sep 9^th, 2008 at 9:44pm:

It would not be unreasonable to assume (although I have not checked) that the same company provides the 0870 numbers used by Carphone Warehouse itself.

For the 0800 and 0870 numbers listed here, "Opal Telecom" is the provider (surprise surprise!)