http://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=150217&d=337&h=24&f=254

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By Marcel Le Gouais

The Business Mortgage Company has axed its 0870 numbers.

Andy Young, chief executive officer at TBMC, says the Cardiff-based buy-to-let and commercial mortgage specialist has replaced them with local numbers.

He says: “Over the years we have received several comments about the fact that TBMC uses an 0870 number for its main business lines.

"Although these numbers are no more expensive than the normal national rate for calls from landlines, the cost from mobile phones is significantly higher and of course a lot of intermediaries place calls to TBMC whilst out of the office.

“Some of our business introducers felt we were charging a premium to contact TBMC.

"This was not the intention, but we have decided that it would be better for everyone to switch to using local numbers instead.”

He adds: “We have looked at the implications of changing our main business numbers and have put a communication plan in place to ensure that the transition is made smoothly without any disruption to the service that TBMC provides.

"We have a switchover period of about a month and have made several announcements via email and the TBMC website.”

TBMC’s new telephone number is 029 2069 5400 and its fax number 029 2069 5401.
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idb wrote on Sep 20^th, 2007 at 3:27pm:

Andy Young, chief executive officer at TBMC, says the Cardiff-based buy-to-let and commercial mortgage specialist has replaced them with local numbers. He says: “Over the years we have received several comments about the fact that TBMC uses an 0870 number for its main business lines. "Although these numbers are no more expensive than the normal national rate for calls from landlines, the cost from mobile phones is significantly higher and of course a lot of intermediaries place calls to TBMC whilst out of the office. “Some of our business introducers felt we were charging a premium to contact TBMC. "This was not the intention, but we have decided that it would be better for everyone to switch to using local numbers instead.”

How is it that when the worlds salesmen generally seem to be congenitally stupid that they are the ones who make all the money and usually pay us analytical types peanuts.

Still at least they took the right decision in the end even if only because of the perceived high mobile phone call cost.

Interesting that such a change by such an organisation (i.e. a commercial one) still rates a piece in the local newspaper.

idb wrote on Sep 20^th, 2007 at 3:27pm:

http://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=150217&d=337&h=24&f=254 << By Marcel Le Gouais The Business Mortgage Company has axed its 0870 numbers. Andy Young, chief executive officer at TBMC, says the Cardiff-based buy-to-let and commercial mortgage specialist has replaced them with local numbers. He says: “Over the years we have received several comments about the fact that TBMC uses an 0870 number for its main business lines. ...

It is at this point the cynical side of me expects the next line to read:

"Therefore we've taken the decision to replace our expensive 0870 numbers with Low Call 0844 numbers. yada yada yada..."

Anyway, hat's off to them for finally waking up!

Quote:

By Marcel Le Gouais   "Although these numbers are no more expensive than the normal national rate for calls from landlines, the cost from mobile phones is significantly higher and of course a lot of intermediaries place calls to TBMC whilst out of the office.   “Some of our business introducers felt we were charging a premium to contact TBMC.

Well, first, of course, as we all know, the highlighted statement is total garbage!

However, what is interesting is that it appears to be the "business associates" of TBMC who have been raising merry hell. You can imagine that a lot of calls to a mortgage broker will be from real estate agents, out on the road with clients, and when they got their mobile bills....... shock, horror!  >:(

Yep, I'd think I was paying a premium to reach them too, if I was in that situation!

I think I have commented before that it is not only the 'end subscriber' that is directly paying for this rip-off. Business to business call charges must be horrendous - and we all know who ultimately picks up that bill...... However, I guess that real estate agents in the UK are self employed like here, and so they must pay their own call charges from their commission?

I suppose that - despite the 'national rate' garbage, you should be grateful for every small chink in the armour!