I've just heard a radio advert for volunteers to join the Samaritans, and was quite shocked to hear the number would-be volunteers are asked to call: 08705 62 72 82

It's bad enough that people in need of help have to use an 0845 number. I know their local numbers aren't kept top secret, but someone in need isn't going to spend time looking for them, so might end up paying a fortune, especially as I suspect they are likely to use a mobile. It's about time the switched to an 03 number.

But to expect potential volunteers to dial an 0870 number is disgraceful. I imagine being a Samaritan is very trying indeed, and besides, no-one who gives up their time to do charity work should have to pay for the privilege.

It is very difficult to have to class organisations that do genuinely "good work" along with ripoff merchants, but this is what we must do.

If they were to explain that many potential volunteers are happy to make a modest contribution towards the adminstrative costs of handling their enquiries, to make this fact clear to callers then I would have much more sympathy.

To lose the subsidy of operating costs that is provided by revenue sharing would make a hole in the budgets of many charities. Unless the fact that callers are making a donation by calling a revenue sharing number is made plain, then there can be no justification for this underhand method of funding.

I personally feel that charities which need to raise money from telephone calls should always do so openly, by using properly recognised 09 premium rate service numbers. These are well known as being revenue sharing and the calling cost must be declared.

The Samaritans have a longstanding history of incorrigible arrogance towards 0870 misuse and consistently refuse to accept that they cost more to call or to offer a geographic alternative.

The controlling minds there just will not accept they are wrong in this issue.  I spent quite some time on this with them a couple of years ago by email and by phone and couldn't get anywhere.