On 22 Feb 2005, at 11:41, Debra Sobel wrote:

Dear,

Let me try to clear up some of the confusion surrounding 0870 numbers and why Watchdog uses one.

Thanks, but let ME clear up your confusion surrounding your 0870 number )))

0870 numbers are NOT premium rate numbers.

FALSE: Even BT's own website now describes 0870 numbers as "Premium Rate". How else would you describe a telephone number that costs more to call then a normal geographic number?? Anything else is semantic gymnastics.

http://www.bt.com/btcom_redirectLink.jsp?action=redirectLink&targetLinkID=PIS_UK....

Calls to our number cost up to 8 pence a minute (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays) and 5 pence a minute (6 p.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays)

FALSE: Some operators charge up to 10p a minute - and mobile operators are often 35p a minute.

and the BBC receives no income whatsoever from these calls.

YOU MADE A SHOCKINGLY BAD DEAL FOR ME, THE LICENSE PAYER:  Many companies make deals with telecoms suppliers where they get a good cut of the cost of calling 0870 numbers. Why did you at not least make such a deal with your telecoms supplier?

With average call lengths of one minute thirty seconds, 

SO WHAT?: What about those who's call length is a lot longer?

it is therefore cheaper to call the BBC than sending us a letter using a first or second class stamp.

NOT ALWAYS THE CASE - AND SO WHAT? Calling the 0870 number from my mobile will cost me a minimum of 35p. What about the cost of most telecom phone plans these days where the consumers get FREE phone calls within the UK? Or pay just a PENNY a minute for UK calls - like OneTel?? How does this help people with visual imparment problems? What about if people want to call you from abroad? - often 0870 numbers are not accessible from foreign countries. And email is FREE.

The reason for using an 0870 number is partly to enable us to give a better service to callers by allowing us to route the calls more efficiently and deploy call automation to handle peak demands.

Some of these technical benefits would not be available if we were to use geographical numbers instead

FALSE: Sorry - this is simply not true and is a myth told my the telecom companies (esp Capita) to rip the nation off. Speak to a good telecoms company (that is not trying to rip people off) and they will explain that ALL the technical benefits are available for geographical numbers.

(ie: those beginning 0207 for London or 0161 for Manchester etc) or would cost the BBC extra to provide, and that would take money out of programme making and could effect the level of service we are able to offer the viewer.   

Even if that is the case (which it is not); that's not the point. The point is that 0870 numbers are a huge rip-off; with the majority of callers unaware what it is costing them. Why should I pay for programming out of my call to the BBC? I pay the license fee for that.

It is also thought to be fairer to all of our viewers for a call to cost the same no matter where in the country you are calling from.  With an 0870 number our viewers in Scotland pay exactly the same as those in London.

FALSE: BT long ago removed differentation between Local and National calls when they moved ALL customers over to their "option" plans - where it's the same to call a local or national rate number. I have not been able to find one single telecoms company in the whole of the UK who charges a higher price to call nationally then to call locally. This is old hat.


OFCOM will be reviewing the use of 0870 numbers in August and we will of course follow any recommendations or rulings that they make.

Why not just read your own motto and apply it to your viewers: "Nation shall speak truth unto Nation" - "Watchdog shall speak truth unto it's Viewers". Why do you need to look to OFCOM of all people for moral guidance? If it's wrong but OFCOM says it's OK - does this mean you guys are off the hook? You should be LEADING not FOLLOWING. Many of the scams your cover are technically LEGAL - but that doesn't make them right does it?


I hope this helps you understand the reasoning behind why we use this number.

No it doesn't - it just shows your are appallingly badly informed. You are actively consipiring in one of the greatest rip-offs happening in the UK at the moment that effects almost EVERY CONSUMER in the UK.

How come BBC radio 4 "You and Yours" is running regular spots about this rip-off? Are you aware of this? Are you aware of the growing interest from the national press on this subject? For instance the recent article in the Sunday Times:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-529-1631727,00.html

Are you aware of the scam of doctor's surgeries using 0870 numbers and the questions that were raised in parliament as a result?

The interests of our viewers is always of paramount importance to us and we will continue to review the situation to ensure the most appropriate number is used to suit the needs of the public who use this service.

I would think the the "needs of the public (license payer actually)" are best served by only paying a penny a minute (or even nothing) to call Watchdog rather then at least 7 pence a minute!

END

I remember the good old 0181 811 8181 number the bbc used to use. I think this was watchdog.
It goes thru to crimewatch now.