Excellent article in their latest magazine as follows. Apologies for typos:


Watch that number!

Beware using telephone numbers starting 0844, 0845, 0870 or 0871. These 'non-geographical' numbers - where the cost doesn't relate to where you're calling - can cost more than normal geographical-based calls, which usually begin 01 or 02.

Whilst 0870 and 0871 numbers were always charged at a premium, the original intention of local rate 0845 numbers was to allow people to ring national firms without paying long distance call charges. This has all changed because most call packages nowadays price local and national calls at the same rate and, very often, below this standard local rate charge. Furthermore these non-geographical numbers are rarely included in the 'free minutes' packages offered by many phone providers.

So whilst an 0845 number was traditionally a way of a company providing you with added benefit, many large firms such as British Gas now generate significant profits from you dialing their 0845 number. Furthermore it is estimated that 10 million people have to use these numbers to book appointments with their doctor's surgery, a practice which has recently been criticised. So before dialing an 08 number, try and identify the normal geographic number. If an alternative number is given for international callers try that: simply replace the +44 with a '0'. Another way of identifying the lower cost alternative is to use the website: www.saynoto0870.com.

To read the article as published, it can be found on page 2 at http://www.lowes.co.uk/Resources/Magazines/Documents/Lowes%20Magazine%2001_2009.pdf.

N.B. For those who may wish to read other articles, there is an important disclaimer regarding the content of the magazine at http://www.lowes.co.uk/Disclaimer.aspx