http://www.redissue.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=341485

<<
Ever wondered why they keep you on hold for so long?

From the Sunday Mirror.
GREEDY companies are ripping off customers by encouraging them to needlessly dial 0870 and 0871 numbers... and then keeping them on hold.

[...]

Now a Sunday Mirror investigation can reveal how not only are callers being kept hanging on the line for an average of five minutes - but when they dial the alternative "area" number the company answers almost straight away.


The worst offender we found was the Manchester United ticket line, which left customers hanging on the line for up to 19 minutes - racking up a bill of £1.90 and a profit for the club of 76p.


But when we rang the landline number we got through in just a minute and it cost only 3p.


Phone regulator Ofcom has announced that from next year firms will be banned from sharing in the profits of 0870 and 0871 numbers. But last night there were calls for the ban to come in immediately.


SO WHO'S MAKING MONEY OUT OF YOU?

MAN UTD

0870 442 1994

Took 19mins to get through on ticket line, costing £1.90, with 76p going to soccer club

0161 868 8000

Took 1min to get through and cost 3p


NORWICH

0870 410 2102

A 15-minute wait for car insurance, costing £1.50 and making them 60p

0114 291 3602

1min 10secs to get through. Cost 6p


A&L

0870 901 1001

Took 9mins to get through to mortgage line and cost 90p, with 36p going to them

0800 056 3254

Answered straight away and was free


DVLA

0870 240 0009

Took 7mins and cost 70p, making the DVLA 28p

01792 448 2341

Answered straight away and cost 3p


DHL

0870 110 0300

Took 6mins for postal company's customer services to answer. Cost 60p, with 24p going to firm.

01332 816960

Took 1min to get through and cost 3p


ALTON TOWERS

0870 444 4455

Took 5mins to get through to ticket line and cost 50p, making the fun park 20p

01538 703344

Took 30secs to get through and cost 3p


PASSPORT OFFICE

0870 521 0410

Took 4mins, costing 40p, with 16p going to the Passport Service

020 7035 4848

Took 1min to get through and cost 3p


DELL

0870 908 0800

Took 2mins for technical support to answer. Cost 20p, making the computer firm 8p

01344 373727

Took 10secs to get through and cost 3p


NATIONWIDE

0870 530 2019

Took 2mins and cost 20p, with 8p going to the building society

0800 302012

Took 20secs to get through and was free


EASYJET

0871 244 2366

Took 2mins and cost £1.30, with the no-frills airline pocketing 8p

01582 525001

Took 2min to get through and cost 6p
[...]
>>

Good for the Mirror (however if they peer inwards they would see they themselves are prolific users of 0871).

Interesting number for DVLA (01792 448 2341) - the SayNo database has 01792 78 2341.

No seven digit numbers behin 01792, so I fear that the poor soul on 448234 (if a valid number) will be drowning in calls - and qualifying for a free number change fom BT, or at the Mirror's expense (no reason for BT to pay).

bill wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2007 at 4:00pm:

Interesting number for DVLA (01792 448 2341) - the SayNo database has 01792 78 2341.

The 448 number does not exist, just tried it and get the looooooooong drone.

A forthcoming Ofcom ban on 0871 numbers earning revenue.  I hardly think so. ::)

Hi everyone,

I haven't posted for ages !!  Naughty me !! 
In the past I've sometimes had my posts moved as I have put them in the wrong place...but I do always try to do the right thing.....and ultimately to help others by sharing the geo numbers that do work.

Today I needed to speak to Dell regarding an online order.   :-/
I'm pleased to say that the number listed by idb works !!
>> 01344 373727 <<
The number is for UK customers, and has 4 options.
Number 4 is for Customer Services.
I spoke with a very helpful American chap, who even offered to call me back, and he then transferred me to complaints.

I have Unlimited LandLine calls from my Mobile (Orange)
So this call cost me £0.00
Yippee !!   ;D

smileyeyes wrote on Apr 9^th, 2013 at 12:00pm:

In the past I've sometimes had my posts moved as I have put them in the wrong place...but I do always try to do the right thing.....and ultimately to help others by sharing the geo numbers that do work.

I think you've done it again because this thread has nothing to do with Dell, but thanks for the help anyway.  :)

P.S. The text colour is not particularly helpful.  ;)

kasg.....
This is why I posted the information about a Dell UK phone number..
I typed Dell in the Search option..
and saw the post from IDB, who listed the Dell geo number.
As I wanted to verify IDB's post, I really did think it was logical to Reply it.  :)

So sorry that my font colour is not to your satisfaction   ;D

smileyeyes wrote on Apr 9^th, 2013 at 7:11pm:

This is why I posted the information about a Dell UK phone number.. I typed Dell in the Search option.. and saw the post from IDB, who listed the Dell geo number.

OK, I missed the Dell number buried in there. There are a number of Dell-specific threads if you just search the subject rather than the whole message, but they are admittedly fairly old. But please stick to black text unless you are emphasising something. :)

Oh, and the Dell number is already in the database as a verified entry.

smileyeyes wrote on Apr 9^th, 2013 at 7:11pm:

So sorry that my font colour is not to your satisfaction   ;D[/color]

smileyeyes,

I personally dislike most examples of forum pedantry but in this case they are probably right and the best place for you to post about Dell would be to post either in any existing thread entitled Dell in the Geographical Requests forum section or if there isn't such a thread then start a new one with the Start New Topic button whilst on the forum page at http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?board=test whilst already logged in to the forum.

There are already 10 threads in the Geographical Requests forum section with Dell in the Subject line but they are all from more than two years ago so it may be better to start a new one depending on what you find in those existing threads.  You can find the existing threads about Dell by using the Search option in the forum.