I thoroughly agree with your sentiments, however if everyone who uses this website to help each other and obtain the geographic number of a  particular number, and let everyone know, then we ( the telephone subscribers ) can play the respective companies at their game!!  In my opinion, OFTEL / OFCOM or whatever should have NEVER allowed all of these 0845 / 0870 / 0898 / 0906 etc numbers to spring and force everyone who telephones these, so the  respective companies can take their cut of the cost of the call from us - it's a bloomin rip off!!!

James Bond

Boycotting is the ideal solution, but the main trouble seems to be that most folk (ie those not familiar with this site!) do not understand the rip-off, and think that because the company says "National  Charge Rates apply" that they are getting a normal cost call, whereas we know that it is about 16 times more expensive than a 'normal' geographic number using a carrier!! 
However, apart from sites like this ( and there are still only a comparatively small number of people read them) the scam will not get "media coverage" simply because, if you notice, nearly all newspapers/magazines/TV programs are all USING 0870 numbers - and do turkeys vote for Christmas??
So how do we widely promote the message?

Chris.

What are you saying, here, and to whom??  Found it difficult to follow your point.

If only a complete boycott was possible....
This morning I phoned Comet on the geog number in the list (Fareham) and was told I needed to phone a brach to check at item was in store.  So I would have to dial "0870..... ".  After a short, friendly debate about 0870 being a covert premium number he simply gave me the local number.  One more for the list - and hopefully made someone else aware of the campaign.
  8)

my bank - Abbey refused to give me an alterantive number - but I did find it here -

I did email them and complained that when I called their 0845 number it was putting through to another bank.

well the issed me with the 0161 numner asap and sent me £20 compensation.

I know try to email 3 firms a day saying I was getting another business when I called their 0870 number.

Im sure they then get intouch with the provider and asking why they have problems

worth a try!


G

Quote:

From the Sunday Times today:
January 23, 2005
How to beat banks’ 0845 phone rip-off
BANKS and utility companies are raking in millions of pounds a year by forcing customers to pay more than expected for using 0845 and 0870 numbers. But The Sunday Times can disclose a simple ploy to get round these rip-offs.
Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, has been inundated with complaints from consumers who believe the companies using these numbers are unnecessarily prolonging calls. It has launched an investigation into the lines as a result.
Ofcom said: “Consumers have become concerned that the revenues that businesses such as call centres may be able to obtain for receiving inbound calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers may provide an incentive for some companies to prolong calls. We are looking at ways to address these concerns.”
Consumers spend more than a £1 billion a year calling 0845 and 0870 numbers. However, there are ways to avoid using these numbers to contact banks.
The codes do not work from overseas, so companies have to give travelling customers a different, local-code number. But these numbers also work from within Britain. Just remove the +44 UK code and add a zero. Barclays customer services, for example, can be reached on 02476 842100.
For local-code numbers for other companies, visit Saynoto0870.com which lists alternative numbers for many well-known firms.
Telecoms companies generally charge between 1p and 5p a minute for 0845 calls, while 0870 numbers can cost 10p a minute. But charges can be even higher from a mobile phone. A peak-time call to an 0845 number on the Orange Everyday 50 tariff costs 12p a minute. The same call to an 0870 number costs 35p a minute.
These so-called “special service” numbers are used by many organisations, including cinemas, hotels and even government departments. However, Ofcom’s figures reveal that banks and utility companies use them the most.
All the Big Four banks’ customer-service help lines are 0845 numbers and some also use 0870 lines. Alliance & Leicester and Lloyds TSB employ the dearer 0870 numbers for certain services, while NatWest only allows customers access to their branches through 0845 lines.
Caroline Harris of NatWest said: “Introducing 0845 numbers meant we could ensure customers could always contact their branch through a local-rate number.” However, she refused to disclose how much the bank makes by using 0845 lines.
Special-service lines were designed to help firms handle high volumes of calls. But the fact that they are money makers has made them popular, whether or not the organisations have high call volumes.
Chris Williams of Uswitch.com, a comparison website, said: “Firms usually get a cut of the call charge from the phone company. On average they make about 2½p a minute from a daytime 0870 call and ½p a minute from an 0845 one. So there is definitely a financial incentive for companies to keep customers on the phone for as long as possible.”
Ofcom wants to introduce maximum 0845 and 0870 charges of 4p and 8p a minute. However, the ceilings will apply only to numbers operated by BT.
A spokesman for Which?, the consumer lobbyist, said: “There is a lot of confusion among customers about how much it costs to call these numbers. One of the main problems is that Ofcom can only introduce price ceilings for BT because it is the dominant telecoms provider. It has no real way of regulating other companies’ charges.”
The numbers are often described as local or national rate, but increased competition means many people pay more to ring an 0845 number than they do to make a local call. This is particularly true for those with plans that include free minutes because there is always a charge for 0845 and 0870 numbers.
Ofcom said: “Discounted call packages mean consumers contacting organisations close to their homes would often be better off calling local numbers rather than 0845 or 0870.”
The regulator is planning to introduce guidelines to help give consumers a clearer idea of 0845 and 0870 charges. But critics believe more should be done to improve clarity, especially as rates vary so much. Some 0870 numbers cost 10p a minute, while others charge only 10p a call.
Williams added: “The cost of the call usually depends on the one or two numbers that follow the initial four digits. However, without contacting your telecoms provider, it is pretty much impossible to know how much you are going to be charged.”

A combination. The NatWest spoke does not know quite what they are talking about, having been poorly briefed by someone with little telecoms understanding - save perhaps that provided by an 087 or 084 provider?