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A list of companies that don't use any non-geographic numbers is an excellent idea, and  would be a valuable addition to the site. However, companies that use 0800 numbers should be listed too - strictly speaking, they are non-geographic numbers too, but I for one don't complain when I have to call them!

Re: Boycott 0870 companies? « Reply #2 on: Jun 19th, 2004, From jbp435.
Hi,
I’ve only just found the “saynoto…” site and saw your message.

You asked, “So how do we widely promote the message?” Have you seen the business section of the Sunday Times, 23rd Jan.?
It's also now on this forum, posted on 23rd Jan.
I've scanned it and sent it to everybody on my contacts list, over 500 people. If we all do the same, we MAY get somewhere with regard to “Publicizing” this diabolical RIP-OFF! As well broadcasting the existence of this site.

January 30, 2005
A&L ‘forces savers to use rip-off numbers’
A reader says the bank subjected him to a ‘Gestapo-style interrogation’ when he tried to avoid its 0870 line. By Jessica Bown
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER has angered consumer lobbyists by refusing to accept calls from a customer trying to avoid high 0870 telephone charges.
Most of the big banks use 0845 numbers for their customer-service lines. These cost up to 5p a minute and can make the companies about Åp a minute.
But Alliance & Leicester insists that customers call an 0870 number for general information about its accounts. These lines cost up to 10p a minute and can make about 2Åp a minute for the bank.
Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, is investigating the use of 0845 and 0870 lines after complaints from consumers who believe companies using the numbers unnecessarily prolong calls to increase revenue.
Last week The Sunday Times suggested a way to get round paying rip-off rates to call banks and other companies on these numbers.
So-called special service numbers such as 0845 and 0870 do not work when called from overseas. The banks must therefore give customers an alternative number if they are travelling abroad. But these numbers also work from within Britain — you simply remove the +44 UK code and add a zero.
Alternative local-code numbers for many well-known firms are also available through the website Saynoto0870.com.
Last week’s story drew a big response from readers who have faced larger than expected phone bills after calling 0845 or 0870 lines.
Mick Fowell, a retired contracts manager from Gimingham in Norfolk, used the local-code number to call his bank, Alliance & Leicester, in the way we suggested.
He said it worked the first time, but when he called the same number again a few hours later he was questioned and told he would have to call the 0870 line because he was telephoning from Britain.
Fowell, 66, said: “I was delighted to find a way round calling these expensive numbers. But I was subjected to a Gestapo-style interrogation when I used the local code to call the bank again.
“When I confessed I wasn’t calling from abroad I was told, very firmly, that my call was not acceptable and that I must call the 0870 number instead. The same thing happened when I tried again later that day. I am so disgusted that I am considering switching to a rival bank.”
A spokesman for Alliance & Leicester said: “It is not generally our policy to refuse to take calls from customers who call the international local-code number from within Britain.
“But we would urge people to use the normal customer-services number because it puts them through the automated security system. This is designed to ensure that they get through to the right person as quickly as possible.”
Alliance & Leicester refused to disclose how much money it makes through its 0870 customer services line because it is “commercially sensitive information”.
The bank argues that anyone calling the local-code numbers from outside the local area would pay a national rate that costs the same per minute as an 0870 call.
However, the national-rate cost of an 0870 number is based on BT’s now-defunct standard plan, and many people can now call other parts of the country much more cheaply.
Some even have a set amount of free minutes included in their contracts, but these do not apply to 0845 and 0870 numbers. There is always a charge for calls to such lines.
Alan Williams of Which?, the consumer lobbyist, said: “Calling 0845 and 0870 numbers is dearer than calling local-code lines for lots of people.
“We think it’s wrong of the bank to refuse to accept calls from people using the local-code number and would like to see all companies offering customers an alternative to 0845 or 0870 lines.”
Some readers also wrote in expressing disappointment that Ofcom was not doing more to prevent banks and other companies from boosting profits by charging customers more for access to basic services.
Maurice Redman from Edinburgh said: “ The government should either make Ofcom put a stop to this scam or replace it with an organisation that will.”
Ofcom cannot introduce price ceilings for telecoms companies other than the dominant provider — BT. But it plans to reduce BT’s price ceilings to 4p and 8p a minute respectively and is considering handing responsibility for the policing of 0845 and 0870 numbers to Icstis, the premium-rate phoneline regulator.

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Of course the regulator will call this a 'value-added' service. The bank, apparently, does not make enough money.


Why is it that ISPs can provide 'pay as you go' internet with the revenue generated by 0845, but poor Alliance & Leicester require the revenue of 0870?

Great Idea.

Make sure to tell them and Why your doing it.

Better still if you've been a long standing customer of some such offending institution , tell them you're leaving and why.

Bear in mind though in most cases they'll be as misled as everyone else and require educating & convincing to change their misguided ways.

(Don't be so hard on them if they at least give equal prominence to a geographic alternative 'though.)

What a good idea.

However, how do we start such a database?


Trevor

The 0870/0845 numbers arer so prevalent that it is pretty well impossible to avoid these companies, although I have found that my bill has reduced considerably with the excellent alternative numbers found on this site (I'm on BT Option 3 so 0845/0870 can have a big impact as I'm not paying for other calls)

I do agree that if you can find an alternative supplier who uses geographic numbers and everything else is equal you should transfer your business and tell the original supplier why.

I wonder how much first time business these suppliers miss out on. If I'm looking for something I will always call those supplying geographic number first. If I find 2 or 3 and at least one of those meets my price and quality requirements the decision is made and the 0870/0845 suppliers have missed out on my business (even if I could have looked them up on this site).

As more people become aware of the 0870/0845 issue more companies who use these numbers (for sales enquiries) are going to lose out to competitors who don't. The problem is they won't see (for quite sometime anyway) why they lost the business, because they will have not got the calls in the first place.

Of course the worst offenders are those that use 0800 for sales and 0870 for after sales calls (particularly complaints!)

Re the suggestion of a list of suppliers who use geographic numbers or have changed to geographic number - I think that is an excellent idea. I would certainly use it and add to it.